Key Concepts: Ambition, Resilience

In Autumn 2024, our Key Stage 1 children thought about what it is they would like to be when they grow up and kick-started their project with a career's day. The children dressed up with a fabulous range of costumes of what they would like to be when they grow up! 

We explored the lives of significant individuals in history, comparing Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole - who had a dream of helping others - and discovering what impact they have had on modern nursing today. We even met a modern-day nurse and found out more about how to help people who might need first aid or are injured. 

After this, we looked at Tim Peake and Neil Armstrong and their ambitions of travelling into space. We thought about why both of their lives are significant for the world, internationally, and Britain, nationally. 

Through our art, we explored colour and shape through looking at the paintings of Paul Klee and Alma Thomas, learning how to mix different colours and how we can use different brushes and types of paint to create different effects. We also took inspiration from Henri Matisse to create collages of what we would like to be when we grow up. 

Thank you to all the parents who came to see what we had been up to in our workshare event at the end of term!

Key Concepts: Community, Change

In Autumn 2023, our Key Stage 1 children discovered how life in their local area has changed since the Victorian times. We looked at old photographs of our schools and the local towns to try and spot the differences that we could see. We also explored how toys may have been different for our parents, grandparents and for our great-grandparents! 

We also thought about how transport may have changed since the Victorian times, and looked at how cars have changed over the years. We went to Beaulieu Motor Museum to find out more, and even got to sit on top of some of the old vehicles! By looking at George Stephenson and the development of the first railways, we saw that many of our local towns used to have railways that have now been closed. Did you know you can still walk the old railway and see the station at Breamore?

In our art, we developed our drawing skills by creating our own characters in the style of Quentin Blake - using a variety of different styles of lines. We also used wire to create sculptures inspired by Celia Smith. 

Key Concepts: Creativity, Problems

In Autumn 2024, our Year 3&4 children discovered pre-history by learning about life in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. 

Outcome: Living History Festival

On a crisp winter's morning, we welcomed families from across the federation to join us for a living history festival. The children in Year 3&4 planned and delivered their own activities based on their learning from across the term. In the hall, families tried their hands at cave art and Roman frescos, and created their own roundhouses to add to a mini Iron Age settlement. For those who were willing to brave the cold weather, they were shown how to light their own fires and build their own shelters. The children's confidence and enthusiasm shone through all morning! 

Our artwork was also displayed in the Downton Library for the public to see. 

All the children talked confidently and enthusiastically about their subject. This tells me that they have had the opportunity to learn from confident, enthusiastic teachers who haven’t just reached for the history books but have bought this subject to life for them.

-Parent Feedback, Living History Festival

Key Concepts: Justice, Power

In Autumn 2023, Year 3 & 4 built their understanding of a key period of British history, characterised by numerous invasions by different settlers. It's really important for our children to understand that these invasions have given Britain its very rich history! We went back in time to 43AD, with the two great Roman emperors Caesar and Claudius, who separately invaded Britain (but with varying success). What was their lasting impact on our country? Were they met with any resistance? - we looked at the motives and story of the great female warrior, Boudicca. Jumping forward to another significant figure, we also evaluated whether King Alfred the Great truly was 'great'- how reliable is the evidence that was captured at that time? We enjoyed a case study of the Viking settlement of Lindisfarne. We all have a really clear idea of these people as ferocious raiders - however do the Vikings deserve to be remembered for more than this? Was there more to these people than meets the eye? A key concept of this project is to unpick the idea of justice. Can we ever say it was 'just' for these settlers to invade Britain as they did? Is it ever justifiable for one people to invade another? Is it acceptable when are there natural resources at stake? When there are farming or trade opportunities to build upon?

As part of our art, we looked at sculptures by Anthony Gormley and Barbara Hepworth before creating our own models out of clay. We visited the Southampton Art Gallery and had a lesson on how to make our own version of one of the sculptures there. We also developed our skills with drawing portraits, using Roman busts as our inspiration for our work. 

Outcome: Art Gallery

We were delighted to display our artwork from this project in the Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury for members of the public to see! 

Key Concepts: Justice, Equality

In Autumn 2024, our Year 5&6 children took a tour through the 20th Century, discovering how equality within our society has changed over time. They began with our local history study of the Titanic, exploring the class systems in Britain in the early 20th Century. Through this, they explored the fates of real passengers - looking at primary sources such as ship logs and death records - and the significance of the sinking for people both locally and internationally. They visited the Seacity Museum in Southampton to learn more about the causes of the sinking, and the facilities onboard the ship for different classes. 

Returning to the mainland, they explored the rise of Women's Suffrage and their campaign for the right to vote. The children learnt about how the lives of women changed during the World Wars as they were needed to work in industries whilst the men went to war. They discovered that these changes didn't necessarily cause an immediate change to society after the war, but women gradually began to work more after this. 

Widening their search for 20th Century equality worldwide, the children explored racial inequalities through a study of Segregation in America, Apartheid in South Africa and Windrush in Britain. They discovered more about the lives of Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr and compared their protests to the Black Lives Matter campaigns in the modern day. 

Through their art lessons, the children developed their skills in painting and printing; creating landscapes which conveyed a place of significance to them, inspired by local artists, and propaganda-style screen prints in the style of Shephard Fairey. 

Outcome: Ignite Speeches Event

In the evening of December 5th, the federation's children and families returned to school to listen to children present a speech that they had written at our bi-annual 'Ignite Speeches' conference. These speeches are written by the children and take the form of a short 5-minute 'Ted-Talk', on a subject of their choosing inspired by their project. Congratulations to all the children who stood up to make their speeches - it was a fabulous event, as always! 

"I was so impressed by the confidence of the speakers. It was wonderful to see them all master their nerves and recall their points. Many spoke with remarkable passion and feeling. Pupils will surely remember this night for a long time."

- Parent Governor Feedback, Ignite Speeches

Key Concepts: Belief, Faith

In Autumn 2023, our Year 5&6 children discovered more about Ancient Civilisations and how their beliefs had inspired their actions. We learnt about the Ancient Egyptians and their beliefs around the afterlife, learning more about mummification and the significance of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. We took a trip the British Musuem in London to see Egyptian and Greek artefacts up close, before watching the 'Lion King' musical in the West End. 

After learning that the Ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods, we compared this to the Ancient Greek civilisation, who also worshipped multiple gods. We learnt about the roles of men and women in Ancient Greece, the introduction of the Olympics and Greek myths such as Odysseus. We were thrilled to take part in a drama workshop and watch a performance of Perseus and Medusa. 

We then jumped forward in time to learn about the Golden Age of Islam in Early Baghdad - comparing this to life in Britain during the Anglo-Saxon period, and marvelling at their technological advances. 

As part of the project, we also learnt more about Islamic beliefs and how these are shown through the actions of Muslims today. We visited the Medina Mosque in Southampton and met the Imam there to learn more about their beliefs, the mosque itself, the five pillars of Islam and their daily prayers. We would like to thank the Imam and Hamza and his family for making us feel so welcome and for the squash and biscuits they provided us with. 

Outcome: Art Exhibition at St Mary's Church

Parents visited us for our carol service at St Mary's Church in Fordingbridge, where we also displayed our artwork from this project in the lead up to Christmas. Our art was inspired by Alaa Awad, a modern artist who takes inspiration from Egyptian tomb paintings. We had also created our own versions of Greek pottery, which communicated an aspect of everyday life. 

"What a fabulous exhibition! Thank you for letting us celebrate the children's work. It was certainly a captivating topic and you can see that in their efforts."

- Parent Feedback