Week beginning 6.7.26– Another Week of Learning, Adventure and New Beginnings

As another busy week comes to a close, I have been reflecting on just how much our children have experienced over the past few days. It has been one of those weeks that perfectly captures what makes Southill Primary such a special place to learn, with children embracing new opportunities, showing resilience and creating memories that will stay with them for years to come.

Transition Days

One of the highlights of the week has undoubtedly been our transition days. It has been wonderful to see children spending time in their new classrooms, getting to know their teachers and beginning to build excitement for the next stage of their learning journey. Change can sometimes feel daunting, but our pupils approached it with confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm. It has been lovely to see children supporting one another and staff already getting to know the wonderful personalities that will fill their classrooms in September.

Year 4 Adventure at WEOC

Our Year 4 pupils also enjoyed an unforgettable day at WEOC. Throughout the day they challenged themselves with activities including paddleboarding, tunnelling, climbing and traversing. Watching children encourage one another, celebrate successes and persevere when something felt difficult was a real reminder that some of the greatest learning happens beyond the classroom. Many children stepped well outside their comfort zones and should feel incredibly proud of everything they achieved. Experiences like these help to build resilience, confidence and teamwork—qualities that are just as important as academic success.

Bringing Learning to Life with Now Press Play

Across the school, we have also been trialling Now Press Play, an immersive audio learning experience that has transformed classrooms into exciting adventures. Wearing headphones, children have travelled through history, explored different environments and become active participants in their learning rather than simply reading about it. The excitement and engagement have been wonderful to see, with pupils fully immersed in each experience while developing their knowledge across the curriculum.

Year 5's Residential Adventure

Meanwhile, our Year 5 children have been enjoying an incredible residential visit to St Briavels Castle. Reading their daily updates has made it clear just how much they have packed into the week. From exploring the beautiful Forest of Dean and learning archery and fencing skills, to cooling off with water challenges and enjoying campfires complete with marshmallows and songs, every day has brought new adventures.

The excitement continued as the children spent a full day on the River Wye, developing their canoeing and paddleboarding skills. Their teamwork, determination and resilience shone throughout the day as they supported one another, built confidence on the water and embraced every challenge with smiles on their faces. The week was made even more memorable with a spectacular medieval banquet, where the children stepped back in time to enjoy feasting, entertainment and even a knighting ceremony. These are the experiences that children will remember long after they leave primary school, and we are incredibly grateful to the staff who have given so much of their own time to make these opportunities possible.

One More Week to Go!

As we approach the final week of the school year, there is certainly no slowing down. We still have many exciting events to look forward to as we celebrate another fantastic year together.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday for our last 'full' week of what has been another fantastic year at Southill Primary.

Matt