The LJS Review

Introduction from the Chair of the Governing Committee of Laxton Junior School

Mrs Debbie McGregor

Itis a huge pleasure to report on a successful academic year for the school. Pupil numbers remain strong, with feedback from parent visits endorsing all that the school stands for: delivering a distinctive and outstanding education, promoting community wellbeing, integration with Oundle School and being in control of our market. These objectives are embedded in the daily life of the school, thanks to the care and commitment of Sam Robertson, the senior leadership team and all LJS staff.

The year started with the formal announcement of the results of the June 2022 Independent Schools Inspectorate inspection, placing the school in the highest possible category in all areas. The opening of the new Reception Classroom, Science and Engineering Lab and Art and Design Studio in September has created fantastic new learning spaces and was completed on time and on budget. The Reception facilities provide ‘best in class’ learning for 4/5 year olds, giving these children the opportunity for the strongest possible foundations for early years learning as they embark on their school life. Through the year the school delivered the full range of opportunities and activities across and beyond the curriculum: the STEAM Extravaganza, House Music competition, Speech and Drama competitions, the Year 1 and Year 2 productions, residential trips to Wales, France and York and and not forgetting celebrating the King’s Coronation along with the rest of the nation. These highlights are a reminder of the unparalleled opportunities LJS offers its children.

As this hugely successful and happy year draws to a close, it is with a heavy heart but also with immense gratitude we say goodbye to Sam Robertson. Sam has been a transformative leader at LJS and his impact on the school and its community has been profound.

From the outset, Sam’s vision for LJS was clear: to ensure it is a school where every child is happy and feels cared for, valued and challenged. He has achieved this vision through an unwavering commitment to the school’s values, his dedication to staff and their development, his passion for education and his strategic focus.

Under Sam’s leadership, LJS and its children have thrived. We have seen significant developments across the school,

both visibly, such as the much-loved Woodland Garden, and behind the scenes, leading the development of the curriculum to support a clear educational vision. But equally, if not more important, is the level of pastoral care that is so tangible when you walk around LJS and absorb all that is going on. Children at LJS feel safe to be themselves; to have a voice, take risks, make mistakes and discover who they are and what they are truly capable of.

Sam is a gifted and exceptionally thoughtful leader. He is always willing to go the extra mile for the entire LJS community, not least the children and staff body he cares for and values so much. It is no coincidence that LJS is a place where children genuinely look out for one another and delight in celebrating each other and their achievements, as evidenced in their unrestrained joy and excitement at the monthly celebration assemblies.

Sam’s legacy at LJS will be felt for years to come, and we are truly grateful for his leadership, his friendship and his dedication to LJS.

We also say goodbye to staff and children who have reached the end of their time at LJS. Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who is not returning, and we wish them well in their lives beyond LJS.

We look forward to the next chapter in the life of the school, welcoming the new Head, Lydia Waller, and working with her and the senior leadership team to plan ahead for the ongoing success of the school.

On behalf of the Governing Body, our thanks and appreciation to all staff, children and parents for your support and commitment to Laxton Junior School.

The Head Mr Sam

Robertson

it impossible to visit the classrooms and playgrounds, halls and gardens of Laxton Junior School and not feel an overwhelming sense of pride. This place, after all, is truly special because, wherever you go, there are children enjoying endless opportunities to learn, play and experience, and they are doing so alongside their friends. This is, for me, why we do what we do with such love and devotion; at our school, children are happy and, as my time at LJS draws to a close, it is this, more than anything else, that I am personally and particularly proud of.

These happy children are not so by accident, of course: they are surrounded by the support, encouragement and expertise of a staff and parent community whose dedication is absolutely unequivocal; they are given the opportunity to develop wide-ranging passions and talents; and they are inspired to learn and love learning, play and love playing, such that our school is somewhere skipped into every morning and left – with reluctance – at the end of the day.

It’s true, as well, that children, like all of us, will have moments of unhappiness, where challenge and struggle emerge into and through their daily experiences. These are an unavoidable part of school life, and yet they present opportunity to build the resilience, grit and confidence necessary to navigate, with success, through their future lives. In these moments, the LJS community is exceptional, building around each child bespoke care and support, which is tailored to their needs and fuelled by a genuine kindness.

With this all said, how could I be anything other than enormously proud of our school and the extraordinary efforts that children, staff, governors and parents invest into the incredible provision it offers. This year, spectacularly captured and celebrated by The Review of 2022-2023, has been a further testament to Laxton Junior School’s determination to be an outstanding provider of independent education.

Indeed, the academic year began with the strongest endorsement of our school’s quality with the outcomes of last year’s ISI inspection published to our community. Alongside the confirmation of full compliance against the Independent School Standards and Regulations, our academic and pastoral provision were both recognised as being ‘Excellent’, the highest grade in an ISI inspection. Furthermore, and connecting with my belief that happiness matters, I was so proud to read the following in our report:

‘Children of all ages and abilities demonstrate outstanding knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum. This confirms the school’s successful fulfilment of its aim to provide a high quality and inclusive education with children’s happiness at the heart of its approach.’

Schools, though, must never stand still nor spend too long basking in their successes; the world is constantly evolving, and we must do the same if we are to provide our children with experiences that are rich and relevant. As such, this year, we have implemented a number of important strategic developments, which have further enhanced our approach and ensured the education we provide continues to be inspiring and forward-thinking.

The stunning redesign of our Reception indoor and outdoor classroom space, alongside an ongoing focus on the importance of play in child development, has seen our youngest children enjoy a brilliant year. Supported by our partnership with leading Early Years thinker, Greg Bottrill, and continued professional development for staff, we have ensured there is an exceptional harmony flowing through the curriculum, the environment, the approach and the children’s learning experiences.

New iPads and Microsoft devices have enhanced pupilengagement with technology, and delivered outstanding opportunities for innovative teaching and learning. Whether this is developing digital media, bringing abstract mathematics to life, creating visual effects through greenscreening or stop-motion animation, or incentivising children to practise spelling, the new devices are having significant and sustained impact.

The importance of developing 21st century competencies, such as critical thinking, creativity and collaboration, drives our approach to STEAM education. Indeed, a highlight of the academic year was the STEAM Extravaganza, which saw our community embrace the wonderful possibilities that emerge when combining science, technology, engineering, art and maths. Making use of our new Art

& Design Studio and Science & Engineering Lab, every child designed and made a toy, which was wonderfully showcased in the LJS Toy Shop.

Our school is certainly embracing an exciting future but these developments offer little if not for the sensational dedication of the LJS staff team, who give so much, so often and so well. They have my thanks for all that they do to inspire and support our children, and it is my firm belief that a more impressive team would be very hard to find.

When you care so much about a place and its people, it is impossibly hard to say goodbye; yet, whilst I am sad to leave, I am also reassured on three fronts: first, that the school has appointed a superb new Head, in Mrs Waller, who will continue to drive LJS forwards with a relentless focus on our children being happy; second, that I leave feeling proud of what our community has achieved together over six wonderful years; and third, that a new and exciting life awaits my family in Scotland, which we are – with the appropriate amount of trepidation – all looking forward to.

I have felt blessed to be a part of our school’s ongoing and incredible journey; a journey that has – amongst so much else – helped me see the wonder of an LJS education through the eyes of our parents, as my own daughter enjoyed an incomparably brilliant first year of school. To the LJS community of governors, staff, parents and –especially – children: thank you. It has been a privilege to work alongside you and, I know, not a day will go by when I won’t remember our school with the utmost fondness.

‘Schools, though, must never stand still nor spend too long basking in their successes; the world is constantly evolving, and we must do the same if we are to provide our children with experiences that are rich and relevant.’

Objective 1

Through this objective, we seek to create teaching and learning opportunities that result in excellent progress being made by all children in all aspects of the curriculum. This section of The Review highlights the very many fantastic moments, this year, in which our academic and co-curricular programmes have combined to ensure that we are constantly delivering an education of the very highest quality. More than anything, it aims to outline how we have continued to instil in every child a love of learning that will last far beyond their time at Laxton Junior School.

Scholarships and Exhibitions

We are delighted that, as they conclude their LJS education, the following children have attained scholarships and exhibitions at their senior schools.

Senior School Destinations

We have also had children progress to a range of other local schools including:

Benjamin O’Brien Academic Scholarship Oundle

Yasmin Hindmarsh Academic Exhibition in Mathematics Oundle

Jossie Chapman Music Exhibition (Baritone) Oundle

Charles De Pree Music Exhibition (Tuba) Oundle

Cecily Holloway Music Exhibition (Trombone) Oundle

Florence Spencer Music Exhibition (Tuba) Oundle

Isabel Puthucheary Music Exhibition (Violin) Oundle

Bourne Grammar School

Latimer Arts College, Kettering

Prince William School, Oundle

Maidwell Hall School

Stamford Endowed Schools Oakham School

Oundle School

Teaching and Learning

LJS has relished the opportunity to embed and perfect the new initiatives employed over recent years. Teachers have continued to develop their craft within these new but considered methods to ensure that each child is able to strive for success.

Skills that will take children into their senior schools and beyond remain incredibly important to us. Our children leave us with a sense of confidence that is simply ever present. Our teachers’ innate skill with children enables this to be possible. We balance the ‘bread and butter’ teaching with the ability to develop each child’s softer skills. Our safe environment teaches our children to become ‘comfortably uncomfortable’. They learn to self-regulate from as young as four years old. The fear of failure simply does not exist here.

The cornerstones of our approach are:

Assessment

Assessment within the classroom feeds into our planning on a lessonby-lesson basis. Our teachers assess ‘on the spot’ through methods such as questioning, discussion, written work, and explanations using concrete resources.

Responsive planning

Our planning on Microsoft OneNote enables us to annotate, and adapt our planning so that it is bespoke to our children’s needs.

Responsive teaching

Each lesson builds upon the previous one in response to each child’s need.

✓Marking for learning

Live marking and live feedback, at the point of learning in the classroom, ensures that the children are able to reflect and improve their work at the most crucial and impactful time.

Our classrooms offer each child the opportunity to collaborate and learn independently, in equal measure. This is coupled with a layered skills-based approach to ensure curriculum foundations are strong and underpin learning.

Developments in Technology

We recognise the role technology will play in the lives of our children in the future and therefore the importance of mastering technology in the classroom from a young age. Children at LJS should leave us equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a digitally-driven world, fostering critical thinking, innovation and adaptability. This year, all year groups were supplied with iPads, and training is continually provided to ensure our children benefit from a variety of apps that enhance their skills in research, collaboration and number fluency, to name a few. Padlet has become incredibly popular with our Year 5 and Year 6 children. It enables teachers to customise a bespoke platform in which children and teachers can add videos, links and images, writing in real time. This enhances, but does not replace, the use of the traditional collaboration of ideas on a large piece of sugar paper!

What is Padlet?

Padlet is an online collaborative platform that allows users to create digital bulletin boards or “walls” where they can post and organise various types of content such as text, images, videos, and documents. It enables individuals or groups to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and engage in interactive discussions by easily adding, commenting, and reacting to the posted items. Padlet is great for use in educational settings as it facilitates child participation, brainstorming, knowledge sharing and creative expression in an engaging and interactive way.

Year 6 use their own tech in the form of the Surface Go. They engage with these across the curriculum in preparation for their senior schools. Our STEAM fortnight extravaganza benefitted greatly from our determination to drive technology forward within our classrooms. We are blessed to be so well integrated with our Senior School colleagues who offer their time and expertise on a regular basis. Our children immerse themselves in SciTec experiences and our colleagues from Oundle School immerse themselves in us! You can read more about the STEAM Extravaganza on page 23 and about one of our trips to SciTec on page 40.

Hear from our children

“Our classroom is comfortable enough to ask questions and get things wrong”

“When we work in a group, we each have an assigned role – it helps us focus”

“We learn at our own pace”

“We help each other with ideas and slowly they improve”

“We polish our writing and maths so that we learn how we can improve”

“We are a pack and we look after each other when we learn, even when we are playing football”

“Padlet is brilliant! We can all work together as a class to share ideas”

Outdoor Learning

Allthe children across the school have continued to venture outside for their learning, for both curriculum and specific outdoor learning activities. The garden is flourishing, with the hedgerows and plants beginning to mature and each of the areas are naturally finding their purpose as the garden evolves and grows with our children. The art wall is being used for a variety of writing and drawing tasks, the teepee for a warm base and the bandstand for larger gatherings.

Examples of how we use the Woodland Garden to support and enhance our curriculum

Year 1 Science

Exploring and finding a range of plants and flowers to support their plant topic.

Year 2 Maths

Supporting their tally marking and bar chart work by using tally charts to count objects and the wildlife in the garden.

Year 5 Geography

Recreating parts of coastline using sticks and other natural resources to support their topic.

What kinds of things do we get up to on our outdoor learning days?

• Years 2, 5 and 6 worked in teams to use a bow saw, to saw rounds and then used palm drills to create wooden hangings.

• Year 4 and Year 5 learnt to use a sheath knife correctly, learning to whittle tent pegs.

• All year groups undertook a range of teamwork challenges to develop their skills, focussing on the 4 ‘Cs’: communication, care, consideration and collaboration. *

• ‘Mindfulness moments’ are incorporated into many of our outdoor learning days, using our senses to take time to reflect on what we can feel around us and taking the time to discuss these as a group

What we love about outdoor learning

“Fire lighting is great fun”

“I like whittling sticks with knives”

“I liked making the dens and then having water thrown on top to see if we would get wet inside our den”

“The woodland garden is great for playing hide and seek games –there are always new hiding places to find”

“I love hot chocolate and marshmallows around the fire (of course!)”

Sharing our Woodland Garden with wildlife

Nothing makes us happier than when new wildlife arrives and calls the woodland garden home! This year, the children have made bird boxes and hung bird feeders in the garden to continue to encourage the bird life. We were delighted when red kites returned to nest high up in the tall trees.

Parents in Partnership: welcoming parents to explore the Woodland Garden

We welcomed our Year 6 parents to join for their children’s last Outdoor Learning session at LJS before we waved the children off to their senior schools. The children and parents joined together to play a game before taking on an outdoor task.

Music

Music continues to flourish and thrive at Laxton Junior School, as there are numerous opportunities for the children to grasp. More children than ever before are involved in music outside of the classroom and we hope to continue to build on this as we move into the next academic year, looking at new ways to engage and inspire the children.

2022-2023 Musical Highlights

• Brass Musician Day – brought together all the brass players from LJS, along with those from other smaller primary schools in the area. Even our Year 4 children, who had only been playing for a few weeks, were able to get involved! It finished with a short concert to parents to showcase both individual ensembles from different schools, as well as a few collaborative pieces.

• LJS Winter Concert – 120 children came together as all of our instrumental ensembles and choirs performed in the Great Hall at Oundle School. It is a fixture of our events calendar and a great way to get everyone in the festive spirit.

• Crash Into Christmas – a much loved and highly anticipated event at the very end of the Michaelmas Term. The second annual House Sing event took place, with everyone performing a Christmas-themed song for the judges. Songs included Feliz Navidad, Must Be Santa and Jingle Bell Rock, with the winning performance of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree coming from Burghley!

• LJS Christmas Service – a beautiful way to end the Michaelmas Term. As always, it was held at Oundle School Chapel, starting with a solo by Cecily Holloway. There were performances by both the Junior and Senior Choir and rousing hymns for the congregation to join in with.

• Oundle Sings – 175 Year 5 children from eight different primary schools came together at the Great Hall at Oundle School for the first Oundle Sings. The event was themed around Music from the Movies and included performances by the Year 5 children from Oundle Primary School and LJS as well as collaborative songs from Oliver and Matilda.

• LJS House Music – a true highlight of the musical calendar that allows the children to take centre stage. This year, we returned to live auditions, with 120 children taking part in the first round. This was whittled down to just four finalists from each House in both the Junior and Senior categories. The final round was held at the Great Hall and watched by parents. We welcomed Mr Philip Montero, Head of Woodwind from Warwick School, to adjudicate this year’s competition. Special congratulations go to:

o Molly Hammond-Chambers (Junior Musician of the Year Winner)

o Toby Deane (Junior Musician of the Year Runner-Up)

o Charlie de Pree (Senior Musician of the Year Winner)

o Hana Gibbon and Lila Burman-Roy (Senior Musician of the Year Runners-Up)

• Community Concerts and Sense Sensation – our popular community events have continued throughout this year, with members of the local community being treated to both solo and ensemble performances. A highlight was the Reception Nativity and Year 2 Strings, part of the event before Christmas.

• LJS Summer Concert – Building on the successes of the Winter Concert, the Summer Concert involved 131 children from Years 2 to 6 in all of our instrumental ensembles and choirs. The concert opened with our brass players marching into position at the front of the Great Hall, as well as huge collaborative music-making with the first ever LJS Orchestra and a 101-strong LJS Choir, made up of Junior, Senior and Staff Choir members.

• Examinations – our children have continued to sit face-toface music exams with Trinity, ABRSM and Rock School throughout the year. 106 exams have taken place this year with 30% of children receiving a distinction.

Winner of House Music Burghley

Winner of House Sing Burghley

201 instrumental lessons per week

Instrument types played by LJS children

25% Piano

15% Voice

10% Percussion

18% Strings (including harp)

7% Guitar

17% Brass

8% Woodwind

‘More children than ever before are involved in music outside of the classroom’

Sport

Overthe past year, our talented children have participated in a diverse range of sporting disciplines through their Sport and Games programme, including Rugby, Football, Swimming, Hockey, Netball and Cricket. Their dedication, skill, and teamwork have been truly commendable, resulting in a year filled with achievements and memorable moments.

In Rugby, our boys and girls demonstrated exceptional passion and commitment. They exhibited outstanding teamwork, strategic thinking, and admirable sportsmanship throughout the season. Their hard work paid off with a series of impressive performances. Our boys’ and girls’ Football teams also showcased their incredible talent and displayed their technical ability with finesse and precision. Their unity and understanding on the field was evident, leading to remarkable performances at the IAPS competitions this year.

The Swimming team have worked tirelessly this year and were suitably rewarded with many swimmers setting new personal records – and in some cases, school records! Their relentless training and ‘un-wave-ring’ determination culminated in a string of exceptional performances at swim galas, home and away. On the hockey field, our children displayed exceptional skill, agility, and a keen sense of strategy. They embraced the spirit of the game and displayed outstanding teamwork throughout the term.

In Netball, our girls’ team exemplified grace, agility, and tactical understanding. Their tireless commitment to the sport and their consistent support for one another helped them to record some impressive victories. Their remarkable performances have set a benchmark for excellence within our school community. Our young cricketers displayed tremendous talent and a true love for the game. Their technical proficiency, combined with their strategic thinking, resulted in several outstanding victories and commendable performances in both Boys’ and Girls’ IAPS competitions.

Last but by no means least, we are thrilled to share the resounding success of our unified Sports Day for all children from Reception to Year 6, hosted at the Oundle School Athletics Track. The day was filled with joy, enthusiasm, and an incredible sense of camaraderie. Our young athletes showcased their talent and determination across a wide range of events, from sprints to relays and field activities. The atmosphere was electric, and the House spirit was inspiring. It was a truly memorable day, fostering a strong sense of community and a love for physical activity. We are immensely proud of all our children and their achievements this year.

Sports Day Champions Lilford

Cross Country Champions Gloucester

Rugby Champions Burghley

Hockey Champions Lilford

Boys Hockey Champions Whitmore

Tennis Champions Lilford

Cricket Champions Gloucester

Swimming Champions Lilford

Netball Champions Lilford

Spotlight on our Head of Sport

Weare delighted to welcome our new Head of Sport, Simon Eldridge, to LJS. Simon already knows LJS really well, as he joins us from Oundle School where he was a Deputy Housemaster as well as Sports Development Co-ordinator, looking after sport in the younger years.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what drew you to join LJS?

Sport has always been a constant strand throughout my life. From playing sport in primary school, all the way through to completing my Postgraduate degree, sport has been with me every step of the way. I came to Oundle with ambition in 2018. After two successful years coaching and managing within the sports department, I was appointed Sports Development Co-ordinator in 2020 and then Deputy Housemaster a year later. I arrive with extensive sector knowledge and first-hand experience of delivering a high-performing and fully inclusive sporting programme. I am also extremely fortunate to have already worked closely with Laxton Junior School throughout my tenure at Oundle School.

I was attracted to LJS because of its strong commitment to holistic education and the value it places on physical activity and sport. The school’s focus on creating an inclusive and supportive environment aligns with my own philosophy. Additionally, the school’s emphasis on fostering a love for sports and promoting lifelong physical activity resonated with my own passion for instilling healthy habits and positive values through sports.

What are you most excited about in your new role?

I am most excited about the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of each and every child through PE, sport and games. We have incredibly talented children, outstanding facilities and knowledgeable and passionate teachers here at LJS. I look forward to creating a fun and engaging environment where every child feels valued and motivated to participate. The prospect of working

with enthusiastic children, dedicated teachers and supportive parents fills me with excitement as I embark upon this new role.

What do you want children at LJS to take away from participating in sport?

Participating in sport provides valuable opportunities for children to learn and develop skills that extend beyond the field or court. My ultimate goal is for all children to be well-prepared for the sporting offer at their chosen senior school. I would want all LJS children to acknowledge and take away the following key aspects from their participation in sport:

What plans do you have for the sports programme at LJS?

Ask a child why they play sport, and the most popular answer is always ‘because it’s fun’. Fun is an essential ingredient to any sports programme. This emphasis would mean that we aim to challenge what traditional success looks like in sport by moving away from a sole ‘winning’ focus. I instead look to instil a fun positive culture which leads to a strong desire to participate and engage. This desire to participate will lead to greater contact time, enthusiasm and enhanced learning which will undoubtedly result in ‘winning’ as a by-product. This will help ensure that we are competitive to our highest level. I look to embed this culture from EYFS all the way through to Year 6 Games and beyond by implementing novel approaches such as integrating Technology within Sport and PE.

The successful application of this aim will be down to the collaborative approach from all staff, parents and children. This whole school initiative will undoubtedly contribute to an improvement in our sporting programme.

How do you balance the needs and interests of all children, from competitive athletes to those who may be less inclined towards sports?

It is crucial to create an inclusive and supportive environment that caters to the needs of all children, regardless of their athletic abilities or interests. I aim to offer a diverse range of activities within their sports to test and challenge all at the appropriate level. By providing accessible options for both competitive athletes and those less inclined towards sports, we will create a platform where all children can find and engage with activities they enjoy. We look to offer enhanced fixture opportunities by creating competitive teams across all abilities. We aim to create a positive environment and one which encourages participation and celebrates individual progress. We will promote the values of teamwork, fair play and emphasise the importance of personal improvement and effort, as well as success in competition.

Health: Engaging in sports helps develop their fundamental motor skills, co-ordination, strength, and endurance. It promotes a healthy lifestyle and fosters habits of regular physical activity that can benefit their overall well-being.

Learning: Sport provides a platform for children to develop and learn, build self-confidence, selfesteem and self-discipline. Giving children the opportunity to learn and compete in all sports, they also learn to set goals, work towards achieving them, and experience personal growth through selfimprovement and overcoming obstacles.

Teamwork: Sport gives the opportunity for children to learn the importance of teamwork, co-operation, and effective communication. They learn to work together towards a common goal, appreciate the strengths of others, and understand the value of collective effort.

Fair Play: Participating in sport teaches children about fair play, respect for opponents, officials and teammates. They learn to compete with integrity, display good sportsmanship, and promote our school values.

Resilience and Perseverance: Sports offer valuable opportunities for children to face challenges, experience setbacks, and learn how to bounce back. Through competition and training, they develop resilience, perseverance and the ability to handle both success and failure with grace.

Enjoyment and Lifelong Participation: Above all, I want children to develop a love and enjoyment for sports and physical activity. I hope they find a lifelong passion for staying active, engaging in sports and understanding the benefits of an active lifestyle for their overall health and well-being.

By nurturing these aspects through sport participation, our children can take away important life lessons that will serve them well beyond their school years.

‘I aim to create a fun and positive culture surrounding sport – for children to Love the Game’

‘I was attracted to LJS because of its strong commitment to holistic education and the value it places on physical activity and sport’

Drama

Another year has flown by, and the Drama department has kept up the momentum and energy needed to entertain the school. We have continued to enjoy using the studio at the Oundle School Sports Centre for Years 3-6, with the beautiful view framing lots of lively lessons.

Key Stage Two Drama lessons have used a combination of scripts, improvisation, games and activities to work on speaking and listening, voice projection, presenting skills and performance. Children have worked in pairs, small groups and whole class situations and everyone has been a performer and audience member at times.

Year group assemblies and performances have continued to be a highlight of each term, and this year they have all surpassed themselves!

• Year 2’s Great Fire of London Assembly: the children shared facts, sang songs and delivered a flawlessly fluent performance to set the bar extremely high.

• Year 6 delivered their Remembrance Assembly, which this year focused on those who were left behind – the families, young wives and children waiting to hear good news from far-off lands.

• Year 5 presented an enlightening assembly about the Tudors. Although Henry VIII did get a mention, it was refreshing to hear about other people, places, palaces and events from that time.

• Christmas week then gave our youngest children a chance to shine as EYFS presented the Nativity story with words and songs from locations around the school grounds.

• Year 4 performed an assembly inspired by their class English stories. We wandered through the wardrobe to Narnia and the children shared where they would like to be transported to. Their ideas were both inspiring and imaginative.

• Year 3’s assembly was also inspired by their English text. They presented the Black Dog and gave us a myriad of advice and tips for whenever we feel afraid or overwhelmed.

• Finally we had the Year 1 performance of There’s a Sunflower in my Supper. The children worked incredibly hard to learn lines, songs, cues and actions, and the finished product was outstanding.

A mainstay of the Summer Term is always the much anticipated Year 6 Production. This year it was Alice in Wonderland. In a little over two weeks, 40 children had honed their acting, singing, dancing, costume changes, set changes and general brilliance to deliver an amazing extravaganza. We are so lucky to have the use of the Stahl for this each year, and the children loved being performers and heading off backstage each day to prepare and perform.

The Year 6 production was brilliant – I really enjoyed singing ‘I’m Late!’”

Livi

Constance

Drama is not just about performing here at LJS, as every child also has the opportunity to go the Stahl Theatre to watch a play. In December, the younger children and Key Stage Two watched two different presentations of Alice in Wonderland, and great fun was had by all. It was inspiring to see how a story can be adapted to suit different ages and cast sizes – from three in the Lamphouse Theatre Company production to 40 in Year 6.

The end of the year sweeps us up in emotions as our last performance is always the Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly. Tissues at the ready as anecdotes, memories and songs take us on their journey from Reception to senior school. And meanwhile, behind the scenes, plans are afoot to start all over again for 2023-2024.

The Speech and Drama Competition offered children the chance to perform individually to the school, parents and our guest judge. This year, we managed to persuade Matt Burlington, Head of Drama at Oundle School, to do the honours and he was, as every judge always is, blown away by the talent and confidence of our children. Well done to the three winners – Sebastian Makhzangi, Olivia Joyce and Benjamin O’Brien – and all of the fabulous finalists.

The Year 6 production was amazing, especially the costumes.”

‘My favourite trip was to Woburn Safari Park. I liked it when we could see the sea lion. When it came really quickly towards us, we all screamed!’

Andrew

School Trips

of our best school memories are created during school trips. Our school trips and visiting guests prove to be powerful tools that reinforce understanding, develop curiosity within our children and build upon their understanding of equality and diversity.

Not only do these opportunities support classroom learning, but they bring experiences to life. Children’s excitement is sparked by immersing themselves in the world about which they are learning.

‘The Holdenby House Trip was good fun. We got to do lots of things the Victorians did, like polishing the cutlery and the saddles’

Noah

West Lodge Farm, Desborough

Grimsthorpe Castle

Holdenby House

Woburn Safari Park

Trip Highlights 2022-23

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

York Residential

Sports Tour, Bletchley Park

Birchen Edge, Peak District

Rutland Water

Nature Reserve

Tudor House Workshop

Mandir (Hindu Temple), Wellingborough

Year 2 Year 3

Roman Day

Frontier Centre Residential

Flag Fen Archaeology Park

Year 4 Year 5

Naturebase, Wales Residential

Burghley House

Year 6

France Residential Year R Year 1

Peterborough Cathedral

Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Peterborough

Many

Jorvik get ready, Year 4 are on their way!

One highlight of the trips calendar is the Year 4 trip to York. Olivia, Year 4, shares her experience.

Year 1 explore Rutland Water

‘We looked for lots of different birds on the lake and in the sky. We went on a hunt to see what different animals and berries we could find on our walk. We went into the bird hide and we looked for the different birds: I saw ducks, geese and swans.’

Edmund ‘We really liked the trip and we would like to go back. It was a bit tiring because we did lots of walking, but I liked looking at all the birds the best. I also liked finding worms and things on our nature walk.’

Violet

This year, Year 4 travelled by train to York for their residential trip. It was a very busy few days, with lots planned.

The adventure started by meeting at the railway station in Peterborough. We took over most of a platform, and the noise level was huge as everybody was buzzing with excitement. On the train we were allowed to talk and share pens with a few others around us; I chose to draw pictures with Kiki. The comfortable journey passed quickly.

Our first stop in York was to Pizza Express. We ate a three-course meal and satisfied our hunger with delicious dough balls, pizza and ice cream!

After lunch, we walked to the Minster. We learnt that a minster is a huge, important church that was attached to a monastery. York Minster has high, domed ceilings and lots of religious paintings on the walls. There were gold chairs (that we weren’t allowed to sit on) and a large, round stained-glass window called the Rose Window.

After the Minster, we visited York’s Chocolate Story and learnt about the history of chocolate. Year 4 were able to watch chocolate being made. It was then our turn when we were allowed to make our own chocolate lollipops which we decorated. This was a fun activity, and I would love to do it again.

Finally, we finished our first day by arriving at our hotel and being allocated our dorms. I think everybody had been waiting for this, as we were all tired from our busy day. After a scrumptious evening meal, we played Top Trumps with the teachers until it was time for bed. I shared my room with Lulu, creating jokes and magic tricks whilst we lay on our beds.

There was great excitement the next morning as we woke to a layer of snow on the ground! We didn’t have time to play in it though, as another full day lay ahead of us. First on our agenda was going to the Jorvik Dig, which some people found challenging to pronounce. We learnt that Vikings pronounced York as Jorvik. Archaeologists worked to uncover this Viking mystery and help to piece together the history of York over the last 2000 years. Some of us became archaeologists ourselves!

Next was a very popular activity, as we visited a fudge factory! We now understand how fudge is made and that it contains a lot of sugar. We were given a slice of fudge each and STRICTLY told not to eat it until we returned home. That was so hard and I’m not sure everyone managed it.

I really enjoyed this trip and learnt a lot about Vikings, York and fudge. I liked being away from home overnight and wished we could have stayed a little longer.

STEAM Development

This year brought with it the grand opening of our brand-new STEM lab. As soon as they set foot through the doors, children are immediately immersed within a professional laboratory which oozes quality and encourages curiosity. Our children have enjoyed sinking their teeth into all the new space has to offer. Whether this be using the flexible layout of the classroom to broaden group discussion or implementing the latest technology, from microscopes to Augmented Reality, this room has quickly become the heart of many new scientific discoveries!

Talking of discoveries… there has been an abundance of these being made throughout the wide range of workshops and STEAM-based extra-curricular clubs which have now been established. The huge success of last year’s Green Power Racing Club has been followed this year by the exciting work undertaken as part of the STEM Challenge Club. I think we can all agree that these bright minds are going places!

The abundance of fantastic workshops has included a visit from STEAM Co. in which children were awe-struck when launching rockets built in school up to 200 feet into the sky. Children also put their engineering skills and creativity to the test, using new tools and resources to produce cardboard creations ranging from cardboard suits of armour to robots and working solar systems. As if this wasn’t enough, children in Year 6 also got to grips with laser cutters whilst moulding mini rocket cars as part of the Blood Hound Racing workshop.

What is the STEM Challenge Club?

This hands-on afterschool club has seen children set themselves the challenge of creating inventions that will make the world a better place. Our two suggestions for world leaders include: edible sweet wrappers to reduce landfill and pollution, and an automatic seed-planting robot to help reduce deforestation!

There is no denying that this academic year has been a brilliant one for all things science and engineering at our school, with countless achievements and advancements. However, we are already excitedly looking forward to building on these successes, as we continue to foster a passion for scientific exploration and pave the way for new breakthroughs and discoveries.

Aswe reach the end of the academic year, our aspiring learners can reflect on what has been an incredible year of science and engineering at Laxton Junior School.

STEAM EXTRAVAGANZA 2022

Undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the year was the STEAM Extravaganza, a school-wide event spanning across two whole weeks. This event was designed to enthuse and broaden children’s skills across all elements of STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art and maths). Through the production of toys that incorporated mechanisms and engineering aspects, children from each year group in school were able to engage with the principles of STEAM in a fun and interactive way. The hard work of the children culminated in the LJS Toy Store, in which parents were invited to celebrate their children’s work and re-live their youth by playing with the toys created alongside their children. The STEAM Extravaganza was a resounding success and it truly captured the imagination of our wonderful children.

A Year in EYFS

InSeptember 2022, we eagerly welcomed a new group of Reception children into our completely re-imagined Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) environment. The transformation of our two Reception classrooms into one space over the summer break was remarkable. It was clear from the very first transition session in September that our new single, spacious, vibrant and flexible learning area was doing exactly what we had planned, now urging and enabling our youngest children to explore as they embarked on the beginning of their educational journey.

At the core of our vision, brilliantly executed and brought to life by our architects and chosen building partners, lies a deep understanding of the power of play and childled learning. While the aesthetics of our new space are undeniably impressive, the real power lies in the endless possibilities it presents. Intentionally designed to be flexible, with a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors, the environment allows children to transform and adapt areas based on their imaginative ideas and interests. Today, the role-play area might be a cosy home corner, tomorrow a vet’s surgery, and the day after, a

sewing room – these transformations even take place during the course of a day! The children were so enthused by the King’s Coronation that Coronation Corner took up residence for a number of weeks. Innumerable Kings and Queens were crowned, with the pomp and circumstance that was seen in Westminster Abbey recreated over and over again. This adaptability ensures that we are able to respond to interests show by the children and also means that children feel a sense of ownership over their play, fostering intrinsic motivation and promoting overall wellbeing within the learning space.

Outside, the large sand pit is always popular and we have been thrilled to watch the children use the tower and ramp in ways that we never imagined. The canopy has enabled us to use the space all year round, whatever the weather. The outside space is simply an extension of the inside, with junk modelling often happening in both locations and negotiations for the tape being undertaken! Large loose parts see the children creating vehicles, buildings, bridges and many other structures. Throughout the spaces, there are zones and spaces big and small; there are nooks and crannies, the indoor treehouse being the feature that visitors are amazed by. The stairs enable gross motor skills to be honed, whilst the upstairs and downstairs spaces have windows into the corridor. Glazed with soundproof glass, the windows provide an alternative view of the world for the children, as well as enabling adults to take a peek into the world of the smallest members of LJS. How many schools have an indoor treehouse? We don’t know, but we love ours!

Of course, no design is perfect and very quickly we began to make changes and adaptations to improve upon what was already a brilliant design. One of the features that can be found both inside and outside are chalkboards. Within half an hour of the children arriving to take ownership of the space, the outside chalkboard had been filled and the children were chalking on the brown painted wall. It matters not and the children continue to chalk on the brown as well as the black! By March, we had added a second indoor chalkboard. So popular is the largest chalkboard that Year 6 came to use it for their leavers’ video; we’re happy to share!

Research consistently emphasises the significance of play as the foundation for effective learning in the early years and indeed beyond. Children thrive when they are genuinely engaged, and we empower them to become active participants in their own learning journeys. This approach cultivates a deeper understanding of concepts and enhances knowledge retention; rather than filling the children up with knowledge, they acquire that knowledge, along with many skills, through their play. Through play, our children transform into scientists, investigators and problem solvers, they embark on experiments, test hypotheses and master skills, as they explore and make sense of the world around them. In contrast, traditional teaching methods centred on rote memorisation and

drills often fail to resonate with young learners, lacking meaningful context and understanding. When children own their learning, it sticks – it is as simple as that.

It is such a privilege to witness and be a part of the remarkable learning journey of our Reception children. Looking back at their tentative first steps into our new space last September, it suddenly feels like so long ago. To see the tremendous progress they have made and their readiness to move to Year 1 and all the exciting times that lie ahead for these bright little people is immensely rewarding. We have waved them off on to the next stage of their journey and will ready the space for our new Reception children in September.

‘So popular is the largest chalkboard that Year 6 came to use it for their leavers’ video; we’re happy to share!’

“I like Creative Clay because you get to make things”

Clubs

Afterschool, we offer a wide selection of clubs which enhance our whole school curriculum and offer even more opportunities for our children to try new and exciting experiences. Children can select from a choice of different activities, whether it be using logic or experiencing languages, being active, creative or mindful, we are keen to ensure there is something for everyone!

“You get to play with toys and you can chose whatever you like. I really like it because there are lots of toys – and train tracks – that you can choose”

“I like that we can use the Mobilo and Lego and everything else in the building of stuff. I like to make a snake sometimes and some ships”

“Quiz Club is the best because you get to do cool quizzes and play games”

“We get to go outside and take photos and get to edit the photos after”

“I like it because it was quiet, and I got to draw lots of things”

“We have really enjoyed Book to Film as in this club we have the chance to relax as well as enjoy amazing new, exciting stories as a book and then a film”

“Netball Club taught me new skills and I enjoyed spending time with my friends”

“We do lots of relay races and we could win Most Valuable Player of the week”

“I like it because you get to do Cosmis Kids Yoga, and sometimes we get to play outside on the Reception area and we get to wave at people in Griffin. I like using the pens in the Reception area too. It’s really fun bouncing onto the bouncy blue thing too”

“I like Multi-Sports because we get to do all sorts of sports and work together in a team a lot”

“I like that I get to spend some time with my friends and also, last week, we made bubble wands and we were allowed to make any shape we wanted. It’s lots of fun. It’s the best fun you would ever have!”

“I love Art Attack because we look at the work of different artists and make creations in their style. My favourite was Jackson Pollock; it was really fun splattering paint to recreate his effects”

“I really like Nature Detectives because you get to find and make stuff!”

“I love Hockey Club because I learn cool new moves which I can then use in matches”

“I really like that you can learn how to make different things like animals. And I also like that if you don’t want to make something then you can just make something else. You can learn new things without any instructions”

“My favourite club is Cross Country because you can run at your own pace and challenge yourself to do more laps”

“Engineering Club is brilliant. I enjoy building imaginative creations with special tools”

“It was fun to learn from other people in Debating Club”

“I like it because I really like drawing and we get to draw something and then we get to build it”

I really enjoy Chess as I get to play with my friends. I like to challenge myself and I am getting a lot better at it”

Through this objective, we seek to support our community to feel happy, safe, respected and valued; its ongoing development ensures that our level of care continues to be exceptional and that, whenever required, our support structures prioritise the positive wellbeing of those in need. This section of The Review outlines the incredible work being achieved across the community to ensure that the relationships we have with each other and those around us are positive and nurturing, and result in a fantastic togetherness that embodies and emboldens our desire to make this school as happy and as safe as it can be.

Safeguarding and promoting the well-being of our children is a collective responsibility; every individual who interacts with children plays a crucial role in this endeavour. Here, we highlight the key areas on which we have focused our efforts throughout the year, showcasing some standout moments. This underscores our commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for our children.

Countering Bullying

• Anti-Bullying Week 2022 had the theme ‘Reach Out’. The theme was decided following nationwide consultation with teachers and children by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

• We created a school ‘Reach Out’ display where each child in the school created a handprint, unique to them, showing who they could reach out to or why they are unique.

• Years 1, 3 and 4 took part in anti-bullying workshops led by OpenView Education, a theatre-based workshop group and an associate member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

• Odd Socks Day highlighted our individuality and celebrated what makes us unique!

Online Safety

• The theme for Safer Internet Day was ‘Want to talk about it –making space for conversations about life online.’ We celebrated by putting the children’s voices at the heart of our learning and encouraging them to shape the online safety support that they receive.

• In Computing lessons, children have been sharing their knowledge on online safety with each other.

o Year 5 and 6 have discussed what a safe internet should look like and what each of us in the community can do to achieve this.

o Year 2, 3 and 4 have been reviewing apps and games they like to use and explaining what we can all do to use them safely.

o In Reception and Year 1, we have been playing games on how to stay safe, not just in the online world, but in everything we do. These two things regularly cross over and it is always a great way to introduce online safety to younger children.

In one Anti-Bullying Week activity, Year 5 used freeze frames to show acts of bullying: repetitive, on purpose and with a power imbalance. They used role play to share ideas on how to make the situations better.

How do we promote pupil wellbeing?

Knowing our children well Developing a sense of belonging

Promoting Mindfulness

Delivering engaging assemblies

Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Curriculum

Our Relationships Education Curriculum

Our Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Curriculum Interventions

Through the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP)

Pastoral Care

AtLaxton Junior School we place our children’s wellbeing front and centre, ensuring that each child feels supported, valued, and nurtured. Through a range of initiatives and programmes, we actively promote and prioritise the wellbeing of our children, enabling them to flourish both academically and personally.

Spotlight on interventions

Positive interventions in schools provide targeted support to address specific needs or challenges that children may face, helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By prioritising holistic development and offering tailored assistance, we ensure that every child receives the necessary support to reach their full potential. These interventions create a nurturing, inclusive environment where children feel valued, understood and empowered, resulting in improved overall outcomes and a positive school experience for all. The skills and techniques children learn will be an invaluable resource for them as they grow and will remain with them into adulthood.

Lego Links

Lego Links is a play-based intervention which supports team work and collaboration.

‘I like Lego because I like building things. It helps us in teamwork’

Managing Emotions

Using the book, My Hidden Chimp, children have learnt about how to manage their feelings, thinking and emotions.

‘I love to sit on bean bags and I like it when we have biscuits. The activities are fun’

Zones of

Regulation

Zones of Regulation is a framework that teaches children to be able to identify and manage their emotions. This is through the four colours blue, green, yellow and red. It provides children with the awareness of how to use their own ‘toolbox of strategies’ to support self-regulation in various situations.

‘It helps you to learn how you feel inside’

Spotlight on assemblies

Assemblies are exceptionally important for us at LJS. They provide opportunities to address important topics related to personal, social, and emotional development, foster understanding, empathy and positive attitudes and promote a sense of community and shared values. The overarching themes this year have been the cornerstones of Our Mission: we want our children to be Confident and Resilient, Kind and Respectful, Open-Minded and Well-Rounded, Collaborative and Independent Themes have also included: British Values, Mindfulness, Respect, People Who Care, Anti-Bullying, Growth Mindset, Mental Wellbeing, Online Safety, World Book Day, Charity, Health and Wellbeing, First Aid, Celebration.

My favourite assembly!

I like it when Mr Robertson asks us to come up and take part in little mini plays – it’s really exciting!

– Manahil

I really like singing assemblies because I really like to sing, ‘Build It High’

Effie

My favourite is celebration assembly – you get to celebrate and be proud of things you have done

– Alex

I like the House charity assemblies so we can learn about how to help wildlife

– Jonty

Who has visited us at our assemblies this year?

I like music assembly because we make up actions to go along with the songs and it is often funny!

– Kiki

In addition, we have had the following visitors who have come to speak to the children:

Sarah Kerr-Dineen, Head, Oundle School: the importance of collaboration, confidence, kindness, and being well rounded.

Rev Coulter, official Chaplain to LJS: Harvest, Christmas, Easter and End of Year services as well as whole school assemblies on being open-minded and resilient.

Sunita Prasad, Little Inspirations: Diwali Assembly.

Ruth Jampel, Judaism for Schools: Judaism Assembly ‘Journey Round a Jewish Home’.

Maya Bullen, Restless Development: The Schools’ Triathlon and the causes it supports.

Fil Kamps, ex-elite deaf football player: inspirational assembly followed by practical session on sign language and body language sport activities.

Nekoda Davis, Mintridge Foundation: positive mental wellbeing and how sport and exercise can support positivity of mind.

I like all assemblies because everyone gets together –

Mariam

Rev Annabel, St Peter’s Church, Oundle: resilient people.

Lucy Shepherd, explorer: Adventures in the Amazon Rainforest and the Arctic, and the challenges she has faced crossing rivers, avoiding jaguars on the hunt and knowing how to escape poisonous snakes. She also ran a workshop with Year 4 to kickstart their Explorers topic, and with Year 6 to look at Mountain Environments.

Listening to our children

AtLaxton Junior School, our children are not only thoughtful and creative risk-takers, but also bring a distinctive viewpoint on the pupil experience. By actively involving them in decision-making processes, we have witnessed meaningful transformations and improved outcomes for everyone. This approach not only fosters a sense of empowerment and inclusion but also nurtures their unique potential.

How do you know you are listened to at school?

‘Teachers have conversations with us’

‘Adults look at you when you are talking and they listen and ask you questions’

‘I can put ideas in the School Council box and then they get read out and discussed at meetings’

‘When I need help I can ask for it and someone helps me’

‘We can raise money for different charities that are important to us’

‘I voted for spaghetti bolognaise as my favourite lunch and we have it on a Monday!’

‘We vote for Head Boy, Head Girl and School Council Reps’

‘I told my teacher I like birds and we made paintings of birds!’

‘Teachers ask our opinion – like asking our ideas for where to go on a school trip’

School Council

• Ensured ‘pupil choice’ lunches feature on each menu cycle

• Redesigned Countering Bullying and Cyberbullying posters ready for the next academic year

• Provided feedback on extra-curricular clubs and activities

• Suggested ideas for the 2023-2024 assembly themes and topics

• Begun planning how to make the LJS playground an even happier place

• Found out which songs people wanted playing at the infant and junior PFA discos

Digital Leaders

• Delivered Online Safety Assemblies

• Reviewed and updated the Online Safety Pupil Charter

• Started planning Online Safety Day 2024

• Learnt about new applications on the iPads to be able to support friends

Eco team

• Proudly hoisted our new Eco Schools Green Flag up the flag pole

• Met with representatives from the Oundle School Catering Team to explore what they are doing to reduce waste and reduce the school’s impact on the environment.

• Met with representatives from Support Services to explore what they are doing to reduce waste and reduce the school’s impact on the environment.

Play Leaders

• Introduced new and exciting playground equipment

• Learnt a range of new games to implement and led on the playground

• Shared the ideas and thoughts of their peers with other members of School Council

• Started designing praise postcards

• Provided plants to every classroom to improve air quality, aid memory retention, reduce stress levels and increase energy level

• Ran a House Litter Pick competition

• Support the ‘World’s Biggest Toy Swap’ to promote reusing and recycling toys

Parents in Partnership

Our Parents in Partnership sessions continue to be well attended and are a great way for parents to engage with a wide range of topics and areas of focus related to their child’s learning. Sessions range from hands-on workshops to sharing strategies to help parents support their child at home.

PFA

TheParents and Friends Association continues to support LJS in so many ways. As well as raising money for LJS projects that benefit each and every child, PFA events provide opportunities for the LJS community to come together.

It is important to the PFA that 20% of the profits are donated to a charity that is chosen by the LJS School Council. This year, they voted to support Allergy UK. The current LJS project is to landscape part of our grounds to provide a carefully designed play area for our children, to be brought to fruition during the forthcoming academic year. Thank you to all those who have supported our events, by attending, donating, buying and volunteering.

Fundraising and Community Events

• Termly uniform sales

• Cookies and hot chocolate sales

• Christmas Fair – complete with traditional games, refreshment stalls and the centrepiece: a stunning Christmas tree in the centre of the car park

• Christmas Discos for Infant and Junior Children

• Summer Discos for Infant and Junior Children

Events supported by the PFA

• Paying for each child to attend a Kid Lit event at Oundle Festival of Literature

• Support for the Year 6 Leavers’ Party

Objective 3

Through this objective, we seek to emphasise the importance of our position as the 4 to 11 day-school of Oundle School. This section of The Review highlights the many aspects of our provision that ensure we are offering the same level of quality as that delivered by the Senior School, as well as the brilliant work being achieved, across both schools, to strengthen the bond between us and further develop a fluid transition from one to the other.

The Junior Houses at Oundle School

SCOTT HOUSE THE BERRYSTEAD

Justover the road from LJS, Scott House and The Berrystead, our junior day and boarding Houses, share the idyllic grounds of the Berrystead Gardens. We caught up with Fiona Quiddington, Housemistress of Scott House and Sophie Fonteneau, Housemistress of The Berrystead, to hear from them about what makes the junior years, and their Houses, so special.

Scott House is entering its fifth year – as we continue to grow and evolve, there is no complacency in this House, we like to reflect on what we do well and what we can do better. With a two-year cycle of pupils coming through, we have a continuum of new pupil initiatives and perspectives on what we offer to the School community.

Our House is big, nearing 100, but our warm and homely atmosphere has not been compromised.

We have carefully thought out a variety of spaces – café, study room, vegetable garden – and things to do, such as board games, craft and ball sports, so all pupils develop new areas of interest, and do this together.

The staff in House are contagiously supportive, dynamic and enthusiastic. We enjoy watching the eleven-year-old join us and emerge into the thirteen-year-old ready to leave us for the senior Houses. So much happens in these years; voices change, mullets may appear(!)… with new opportunities come newfound self-esteem and hormones, changing the brain and body. Parents are part of this community as we work together to support these exciting changes and challenges.

In short, this is a home. A House by name only.

Mrs Fiona Quiddington, Housemistress

I have loved my time at Scott House and I am sad to be leaving this year. Being head of Scott has been a great opportunity and It has been wonderful to work with Mrs Quiddington. It is nice to meet new people like the boarders and it is also nice to be able to share the Berrystead gardens with them.

The Tutors in house are amazing and are always there to talk to if you need to. Overall I have found my time in Scott House a perfect experience to meet new people and learn new things.

Freddie, Head Boy, Scott House

Scott House Grozone Garden

The most exciting thing we have developed recently, alongside the extension, is our garden space at the rear of the House. A brainchild of Archie Humphrey, our Conservation Rep, and Noah Dyball, our Food Rep, the GroZone Garden has gathered pace recently. The plants have arrived, thanks to the expertise of the Oundle School Gardening team, who sourced a lovely range of vegetables, fruits and flowers. The Gardening Team meet with the children at lunchtimes, giving tips on weeding, planting and teaching them how to nurture this beautiful space for us all to enjoy. You can follow the garden’s progress on our House Instagram account.

Once we get growth, pupils can take home various fruit and vegetables and create a dish for their families – then share this on a House Team dedicated to our use of our produce – Soil to Stove.

The Playground, Waterbeach Barracks

For the first time this year, Scott House visited The Playground at Waterbeach Barracks, just outside Cambridge. This is an ex-military training course which is 1km long with 30 obstacles!

Their ethos is about having fun in fresh air, and meeting individual and team challenges, with a lot of mud thrown in. Some of our favourite challenges were the cargo net crawl, climbs and Ninja Warrior-style warped walls! The photos speak for themselves!

I always refer to The Berrystead House as an extended family of over 40 members where everyone can relax and be themselves, be happy and establish long-lasting friendships. It is so rewarding to observe them gradually grow into more confident, independent, empathetic children.

What I feel the most proud of is to see so many former Berrysteaders come back as Community Action students, full of very fond memories and stories from their first two years at Oundle School, and being so supportive to the youngest children.

Mme Sophie Fonteneau, Housemistress

In the Berrystead’s free time, we have a lot of things to do, especially on weekends, such as the giant water slide, trampoline, laser shooting, paintballing. On school days, after we have finished our busy days, we get to relax with our friends both after school and after prep. These are the times when both years get to bond and play together in the Berrystead gardens, and it is very clearly a highlight of your time at The Berrystead.

There are many sports that you can choose to play, from the full-sized basketball court in the gardens, cricket in the gardens, or football in the gardens as well. In the winter, if it is cold outside, you can choose to go to one of the four common rooms, to talk to your friends or even watch TV, with the permission of someone, of course. Free time is one of the highlights of your time at The Berrystead, especially in the summer when it is hot and sunny.

Alistair,

The Berrystead

If you would like to visit either of our Junior Houses please contact Oundle School Admissions on: admissions@oundleschool.org.uk or 01832 277125.

Leadership Day at Oundle School

The morning commenced with a talk on leadership, with children asked to contemplate what makes a good leader, what makes people different and ‘if chefs work with ingredients, what do leaders work with?’ A pool task was next up, with children asked to work in teams to solve two challenges. The first was how a farmer could get a fox, a chicken and some grain (in this case a beanbag) from one side of the pool to another, while the second was saving an important vial of medicine from getting wet while under ambush. It was fascinating to see what assumptions were made (was speed really designated as a measure of success in the first task?), how disagreements in approach were resolved and how roles were apportioned within the teams.

The second part of the Challenge took place in Heron Rogers Wood. Once geared up in Army camouflage gear and daubed with the appropriate face paint (essential for

preventing light reflection from faces, apparently), it was time for a game of hunters and the hunted. The children learnt that it was all too easy to rush off without thinking and that time spent in preparation, discussions around tactics and working as a team rather than as individuals, would ultimately reap better rewards. Map reading skills were up next, with children tasked to orienteer around the sports pitches in order to locate an important element of their lunch. After the much welcome lunch and pit stop, it was time for a few last reflections on leadership, with the added benefit of hindsight, and to head back to LJS. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to be challenged outside their comfort zone and to have a glimpse into the world of CCF too. Many thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Mansergh, Contingent Commander of the CCF at Oundle, and his team.

OnFriday 9 June 2023, Year 5 was invited to an Oundle School Leadership Challenge Day run by the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) staff.

‘I really enjoyed the pool task. It was challenging, but we worked really well together as a team and we managed to solve both problems’

‘The game of hunters and the hunted was really fun. It was a challenge to stay hidden, but it was also really exciting to try to catch the other team’

Working together with Oundle School

Aspart of the Corporation of Oundle School, our children have access to a wide range of facilities that enrich their experiences; it allows them to meet new people and take their learning to new and exciting places. It also allows us to host events, such as Sports Day and the Year 6 production, at venues where the children really feel special.

Our children also benefit from the expertise of Oundle School’s subject-specific teacher for workshops and clubs – this allows them to get completely immersed in their learning and to develop their skills in a fun and challenging environment. In addition, we welcome pupils from Oundle who help out in classrooms and with extracurricular activities for their Wednesday afternoon volunteering activity – it is always a joy to witness the bonds that form… particularly as we remember many of the ‘big boys and girls’ from when they were little ones themselves.

A trip to SciTec

Our experience at SciTec was truly extraordinary. Mr Peverley greeted us and introduced three students who would be helping (they were all in Sixth Form).

Our first activity was fire-writing, which involved drawing an outline of something and then painting over it with sodium nitrate so that the fire would be attracted to one line. When the fire showed its face things became even more exciting. After the fire-writing, Mr Peverley explained why he had a love for chemistry. He demonstrated some epic explosions and even popped some Jelly Babies (apparently they had been very naughty!).

It was a wonderful afternoon of Science, thanks to Mr Peverley.

This year we took part in the inaugural Oundle School STEM Challenge. Children all worked on a project together and then presented this, alongside children from other schools, at the STEM challenge day – as well as taking part in a range of STEM activities. Well done to the team from LJS who won the challenge with their brilliant presentation. Scan this QR code to see a short film from the day!

Objective 4

Through this objective, we seek to strengthen the reputation of our school as a nationally recognised independent junior school; in doing so, we wish Laxton Junior School to be considered, by both prospective and existing families, the school of choice for the local community, with a full roll and waiting lists for each class. This section of The Review shares the work being done in support of this ambition and outlines how we have grown our status as a superb provider of independent education over the course of the academic year.

Laxton Junior School has continued to develop its Open Day experience with three family days where parents who are keen to understand what the school has to offer can join us on a Saturday to ‘stay and play’.

Open Day

Ably supported by our brilliant Year 6 pupils, who help run a range of fun activities created with pre-schoolers in mind, families can explore our EYFS space and the Woodland Garden, catch up with staff and other parents, and most importantly have some fun! These informal afternoons give us the opportunity to show what LJS’s community is all about in a really relaxed and authentic way.

At this year’s Summer Term event, we welcomed Mrs Waller, our new Head. It gave her chance to meet and chat to parents – in particular our new families who are joining in September.

The feedback from parents who attended was overwhelmingly positive. They appreciated the opportunity to have a relaxed and informal look around the school, and they were particularly impressed by the way the Year 6 pupils interacted with their younger children.

‘It was great to see how the Year 6 pupils were so natural with the younger children. They were really patient and helpful, and it made the whole experience so enjoyable’

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Our social media accounts provide an authentic portrayal of life at LJS. We share news and updates about the school, as well as glimpses behind the scenes of our daily activities. Our social media channels have been a great way to connect with our community. We now have almost 1000 followers on our main Instagram account, and our Power of Play account continues to grow as a valuable resource for parents and practitioners looking for ideas and inspiration on engaging with children in EYFS.

One of the things we are most proud of at LJS is our strong sense of community. We believe that everyone who is part of our school family should feel connected, and our social media channels play a vital role in helping us achieve this.

Laxton Junior School Education

Objective 5

Through this objective, we seek to embrace the local, national and global trends that are affecting the world that our children are both living within and will eventually emerge into, and will ensure that we are offering an innovative and relevant educational experience throughout their time at Laxton Junior School. This section of The Review delves into the outstanding work that has been done in support of this, through charity work, pupil voice, community partnerships and a commitment to sustainability.

Community Partnerships

LaxtonJunior School remains committed to continuing to develop new links with our local community and this year has seen us re-establish prior links as well as making new ones, and we look forward to building on this as we move into the next academic year.

Community Partnership Highlights

• Continuing to deliver our Community Concerts and Sense Sensation events to local elderly residents of Oundle. There have been performances by a number of children from Reception all the way through to Year 6.

• Delivering the House Christmas trees to local residential care homes and the local Baptist Church to spread a little festive cheer!

• Inviting members of the local community to watch the first performance of the Year 6 Production.

Community Kids Club

• Continuing our work with Barnwell Park, with the children heading down once a week during the first half of the Michaelmas Term and the Summer Term to work with the rangers and help out around the Park.

• Re-establishing links with Abbott House, which has included taking the Community Kids Club to spend time with the residents during the second half of the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. The time was so beneficial both to the residents and the children from LJS, as they played board games and cards, drew pictures together, read together or just talked. The children even organised a mini Christmas party and Easter egg hunt for the residents.

• Linking with our House Litter Pick Challenge, as the club has got out into the local community to collect rubbish from hedgerows, bushes and grassy areas.

Sustainability

Followingthe success of achieving our first EcoSchools Green Flag last year, we have worked hard this year to continue where we left off. We invited all children to apply to become Eco Team members and, following presentations to their forms and a vote, twelve new members joined the Eco Team in September.

One of our new team’s first tasks was to work with Nick Tebbs, Head of Grounds and Gardens at Oundle School, to get every child involved in sowing wildflower borders in the Cheatle Field to improve the biodiversity in our school grounds.

At the end of November the Eco Team, along with the Head Boy and Girl, were invited to plant some native tree saplings in the Cheatle Field as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project. Overall, around 200 trees have been planted and it was great to get the Eco Team involved in this.

In January, the Eco Team met with representatives from the Oundle School Catering Team and Support Services to explore what they are doing to reduce waste and reduce the school’s impact on the environment. The children asked lots of well-considered and relevant questions and have agreed some brilliant changes:

1. We now have a meat-free day once per week to reduce our consumption of meat.

2. Yoghurt pots are now separated from the other waste, washed and sent for recycling.

3. Our ice cream is now made with sustainable palm oil.

In March, the Eco Team asked if every form could have a classroom plant, as it has been proven that plants improve the air quality, aid memory retention, reduce stress levels and increase energy levels. Each class chose their (drought-resistant) plant, including Areca Palms, ZZ plants, Devil’s Ivy and even a cactus, which arrived just before the Easter break. We shall be introducing more plants to classrooms next year too!

We kicked off the Summer Term with an Earth Day assembly and welcomed Camilla Sherwin of Oundle Waste Less (OWL) to talk to the children about the importance of picking up litter in our communities. We then introduced the House Litter Pick Competition, inviting every child and their families to go out into their communities to collect litter and then record the data on an online form. The challenge lasted for two weeks with good results: 83 bags of litter were picked up after a total of 1835 minutes of litter picking! Gloucester narrowly beat Whitmore to the coveted title of ‘Best Litter Picking House’. We aim to run this competition again next year and remove even more litter from our local areas.

On Friday 23 April, as part of our Earth Day celebrations, we took part in the ‘World’s Biggest Toy Swap’. The children were asked to bring in good quality toys, which they didn’t want any more, so that they could swap these for another toy. The Eco Team sorted out all the toys, completed a quality check on them all, and then ran the toy stalls for all the children involved. This was a fabulous success, with lots of happy children! The remaining toys, games and puzzles were donated to the charities Oxfam and East Anglian Air Ambulance.

On 7 October, we had our whole school assembly outside at the entrance to the school, and the Eco Team from 20212022 proudly hoisted our new EcoSchools Green Flag up the flag pole. Our two Year 6 Eco Team members from last year were invited down from Scott House to reflect our commitment to across corporation engagement in environmental issues.

Eco-Schools Green Flag award 2023

The Eco Team are particular fans of the new electric vans the porters use!

‘We love the variety of activities that your EcoCommittee have planned, from planting wildflowers and putting up bird nest boxes to organising a litter-pick and a river clean’

OPEN Learning Partnership

Thepartnership has had a busy year of opportunities for children and staff with other schools, and educational establishments, for the mutual benefit of all. With a calendar now thriving with sustainable, quality learning experiences, providing child and family online events and webinars, face-to-face workshops and road shows, and inter-school competitions, our children have even more partnership opportunities presented to them than ever before.

It is hard to choose a highlight from all the wonderful partnership events. Some Year 5 and 6 pupils joined the Oundle Mathematics Enrichment Conference at the Oundle School Great Hall, enjoying the challenge it provided. Year 5 enjoyed a fabulous day of ‘Oundle Sings’ with 175 children from many local schools singing songs from the movies and finishing the day with an uplifting concert. Year 3 took part in a fun and friendly Athletics afternoon which allowed all 130 children to try out various Athletics events, in mixed school groups, but also competing for medals in each category. There was great team spirit and some very impressive performances.

Many children have also taken part in the now established ExpertEd: Live! sessions, which offer the opportunity for schools to connect live with experts from across the UK and internationally from the comfort of their own classroom or home. The ‘Midweek Maths’ and ‘Summer Science’ series have also been popular, aiming to offer some stretch and challenge to children and to encourage conversations about Mathematics and Science between capable young people and their parents. New this year was the addition of ‘So you want to be a linguist?’. The Partnership has provided valuable, challenging and fun opportunities.

Fundraising and Charities

Laxton Junior School is committed to giving back to the community. Every year, the school organises a number of charity events, many of which are inspired and led by our children. Thank you to everyone who has supported with donations, contributions and time.

We have supported an incredible range of charities including:

Young Minds Hello Yellow Day

Harvest Stamford & Oundle Food Bank

Harvest produce sent to the two food banks, donated by LJS families

Children in Need

House Charity Events

Eve in Northampton, Second Helpings in Stamford and Thrapston Food Bank

Gifts given to Father Christmas

One of the most important aspects of Laxton Junior School’s charity work is the child-led House fundraising. Each House is responsible for organising their own fundraising event, and the children are given a lot of freedom to come up with their own ideas. This helps to develop the children’s leadership skills and to give them a sense of ownership over the fundraising process.

Miss Yiend runs the Marathon! School’s Triathlon

Huge congratulations to Miss Yiend who ran the London Marathon in April. She ran the 26.2 mile course in just over 4 hours… and was even spotted on the television!

Running for Bliss, a charity set up to support parents and families of premature or sick babies, she raised a whopping £5,300.

Hoorah for Miss Yiend!

Every year Restless Development train, mentor, nurture and connect thousands of young people to use their youth power and lead change.

Many of our children participated in the School’s Triathlon to support this work, and they raised £6,984.59.

This is becoming an annual event that children look forward to.

Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal £190.16

Staff Salvete

We are delighted to welcome Gemma Amos to the LJS family in September.

Miss Amos joins the school as our new PE and Games Teacher for 2023-2024. Miss Amos is an exciting and dynamic practitioner, who comes to us with fantastic experience of teaching Sport. We are hugely pleased about her appointment and know that she will deliver a wonderful standard of sporting education to our children.

Olivia Balchin will be joining us in the role of Year 2 Form Teacher.

Miss Balchin is an inspiring and talented teacher who cares deeply about children, their learning and well-being; I am certain that she will be a brilliant addition to the LJS team and will provide a super education to the Year 2 children next year.

We welcome, also, Sappho Holland to Laxton Junior School in September

Miss Holland is an outstanding Early Years Foundation Stage practitioner who brings with her excellent experience of supporting the youngest children in school. Miss Holland has a superb understanding of how to inspire learning and play in Reception, and she will certainly have a fantastic impact next year.

Ruth Holt will become a Year 5 Form Teacher next year.

Miss Holt is an experienced and exciting teacher who brings with her a wealth of experience working in schools such as ours. Miss Holt was hugely impressive at interview, and demonstrated a strong understanding of supporting children and their families at this crucial stage of their education.

Finally, supporting across Year 5 and Year 6 next year, we have appointed Demelza Howitt as our upper Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant.

Mrs Howitt is currently providing learning support in a prep school, and has excellent experience in this regard. She is a very good appointment and we look forward to the support she will provide to our oldest children.

Mrs Lydia Waller joins us as Head of Laxton Junior School

Following a rigorous recruitment process in February, Mrs Waller was named the unanimous choice of the Governors to take over as Head in September 2023. Mrs Waller brings with her a wealth of experience, joining us from Pennthorpe in West Sussex, a co-educational prep school for children aged between 2 and 13, where she was interim Head.

During her ten years at Pennthorpe, Mrs Waller has worked across a broad range of roles, including Head of English, Assistant Head Pastoral, and Deputy Head. She has also held teaching positions at Heath Mount School, where she was Head of History, and Bishop’s Stortford College Junior School, where she taught History and English. Mrs Waller also holds a Masters in School Improvement and Educational Leadership.

We are delighted to welcome Mrs Waller, along with her husband Simon, an Old Oundelian, to the community and look forward to seeing LJS continue to evolve and thrive under her leadership.

Staff Valete

Rachel Danby will be saying goodbye to LJS after nine outstanding years. Miss Danby has been a brilliant member of our Sports team, leading excellent learning across PE, Swimming and Games, as both Assistant Head of Sport and, more recently, PE and Swimming Lead. She has played a major role in the development of sport and sporting opportunities at LJS, and always put the children and their sporting experiences at the centre of her approach. Miss Danby will be very much missed next year, and we wish her all the very best with the exciting next chapter in her life.

Jo Norwell will also be leaving, having supported learning across the school as an Educational Support Teacher. She has brought excellent knowledge, understanding and experience to LJS during her time with us, and has been a supportive and impactful member of the team. We wish Mrs Norwell all the best for her future.

‘I am incredibly excited to be joining Laxton Junior School with its exceptionally skilled staff and its wonderfully inquisitive and engaged pupils. I am committed to building upon the school’s legacy of excellence and am eager to play my part in shaping the next generation of confident, compassionate and creative individuals. I am honoured to be offered this opportunity and am greatly looking forward to getting to know the whole community.’

Reflections from the Head Boy and Head Girl

It has been a huge honour to have the role of Head Boy this year. When my name was called on Speech Day, I had never felt such a swirl of feelings, and stepping onto the stage that day is one of my proudest moments. Since then, the role has launched many fun opportunities my way and I will never forget this year.

When I reflect on my time at LJS, I remember all the fun things I’ve done, from the Frontier Centre to France, a trip to the Synagogue to a trip to Wales, and Sports Day to SciTec. I was very proud laying the wreath, as my first official Head Boy job, at the Oundle Town Memorial Service. Another of my highlights of the year was the Year 6 production. Getting to work together as a team was wonderful and we got to perform on a professional stage!

LJS has had lots of moments of achievement and celebration this year – STEAM week, House matches, the Triathlon and visiting speakers. Our school has been filled with questions and laughter, energy and determination every day, and each child at LJS has contributed to this. We should all be proud of what we have accomplished together.

Ambar, I cannot thank you enough for how supportive and helpful you have been as a Head of School partner. You are kind, caring and have been a joy to work with.

Cherish the memories we have made together and take the lessons you have learned here with you. Remember, you can achieve great things, and I have no doubt that you will continue to shine wherever you are.

Henry Huettner, Head Boy

It is with great honour that I am writing this to share the amazing journey I have been on being Head Girl of LJS. Getting a chance to represent the school with Henry, in the best way we can, has been such a mind-blowing experience that I have embraced every moment of and enjoyed immensely.

In my very first month in the role, we awarded the Cup of Kindness; it was very nerve-racking to stand up in Celebration Assembly for the first time and having to write and deliver a mini speech, as well. We are very proud of all the winners – it’s very well deserved! Moving into Christmas time we were given the honour of sharing a reading in Chapel and to help Mr Robertson in Crash into Christmas –the reading in Chapel and puppet show performance needed different skills but they were both great experiences. Another great opportunity was when we had a chance to represent LJS at the Oundle Remembrance Service where I got to lay a beautiful wreath, on behalf of the school. That really was a special and memorable occasion that I hope to hold in my heart for the years to come.

For all the children at Laxton Junior School, I hope that the future ahead may be bright and that we can rely on you to be the best versions of yourself you can possibly be. Always keep going even if times seem tough because there is always an opportunity that is waiting for you. Remember to have faith in yourself, and that you learn from your mistakes!

To Henry, I am forever grateful of all the support and help you have provided throughout the year. You have been great to work with and you have been fun to have as a Head of School partner. Your kind and caring nature has been wonderful, and your enthusiasm has been never ending from the very start of the year. Thank you.

To all the heroic, amazing teachers at LJS I just wanted to give a special thank you. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for all your brilliant help and support along the way.

Ambar Mann, Head Girl

We want to say a big thank you to Mr Robertson. Thank you for being there for us every day, leading assemblies, caring about us, organising everything and making sure the school is as excellent as it can be!

You have always been so kind, have shown great resilience dancing, singing, doing magic, and trying to get people to tuck their shirts in!

And we really enjoyed you letting people throw things at you – like cream pies and water balloons!

You have shown us that learning is not just about books and experiments and facts and numbers, but also about discovering our passions, being creative, and never giving up. You have taught us, every day, to live the LJS Values and Mission, and we believe in ourselves

more because of the opportunities and fun we have at our school. You are a role model to us all and we hope that the new Head will lead in the same inspirational ways that you have.

We wish you all the very best of luck on your new adventure. We will all miss you.

Henry and Ambar