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What a fantastic term it has been in Junior School. A particular highlight was the wonderful festive performance by Year 3, whose confidence and joy shone through every moment. Their rousing singing of our much-loved annual tradition, The 12 Days of KPJA Christmas, truly captured the spirit of the season and filled the hall with cheer.

We are incredibly proud of all our pupils for the enthusiasm, effort and resilience they have shown throughout the term. From classroom learning to performances and special events, the children have embraced every opportunity with positivity and determination. As we head into the final days of term, there is a real sense of excitement and togetherness across the school community — it certainly feels as though Christmas has well and truly started.

As we reach the end of another term, it is always tinged with sadness as we say our goodbyes. We wish Mr Burnham, Class 11’s teacher, all the very best as he moves on to pastures new following a period of absence. We wish him every success for the future. Mrs Thompson will continue to lead Class 11, with additional cover provided as necessary to ensure continuity and support for the children.

I would also like to extend a huge thank you to our amazing PTA for arranging the much-loved Winter Wonderland. Events like this raise valuable funds for those extra ‘nice things’ that the school budget does not always allow for, and they simply would not happen without the dedication of our volunteers. They have done a fantastic job organising events for our school community. However, it is with a heavy heart that we now look towards closing the PTA, as we currently do not have enough volunteers to sustain it. This would mean the end of the additional events the PTA organises, including discos and future Winter Wonderlands. If you are interested in joining the PTA and helping us continue to provide these special experiences for our children, please contact the school — we would love to hear from you.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our staff, who have worked exceptionally hard throughout the term. KPJA prides itself on being a family, and I am truly grateful for the support and care that staff show one another every day. What an awesome team!

I am now off to join our whole-school Christmas sing-along and would like to wish everyone a peaceful and restful break, filled with joy and merriment. Merry Christmas!

Mrs Walker

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In Year 3 science, students have been exploring the concepts of forces and magnets through a variety of hands-on activities.

They began by investigating push and pull forces, as well as gravity, by throwing a ball around the classroom and observing how these forces influenced its movement. To further develop their understanding of forces, the students explored friction by using various wooden planks with different surfaces and testing how the same piece of equipment moved down the surface and how this affected the time it took for it to move. This allowed them to see how friction can slow things down.

Finally, the class delved into the fascinating world of magnets, investigating how they attract or repel objects. Students had the chance to identify magnetic items around the classroom, gaining a deeper understanding of how magnets work in real-world contexts.

Year 3 students have been practising incredibly hard to put together a wonderful Christmas extravaganza for their parents. The children showed great dedication as they learnt the words and actions to a number of festive songs, rehearsing carefully and supporting one another along the way. They also built upon their own emotions and confidence to bring the performance to life on stage, showing enthusiasm, joy, and pride in their achievements. After performing brilliantly for the whole school, the students went on to share their Christmas extravaganza with their parents, making it a truly special and memorable occasion for everyone involved.

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At the start of November, some of Year 4 went to Whitemoor Lakes. Whilst there, the children took part in a wide range of thrilling challenges. One of the highlights was abseiling, where pupils bravely climbed down tall walls, encouraging one another every step of the way. The zipline was another firm favourite, with the children supporting those who felt nervous, cheering as they zoomed down.
The group also tested their strength and determination during climbing activities, learning how to trust their equipment and support their friends. During archery skills, pupils practised focus, patience and control as they aimed for the targets, improving with every turn.

Throughout the trip, children showed excellent teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm. Many pupils tried activities they had never done before and were incredibly proud of themselves for giving everything a go. Staff at Whitemoor Lakes praised the children for their positive attitudes and good behaviour.

We were really proud of the children who came to Whitemoor lakes, they represented KPJA well.

Our favourite parts were;

" Ziplining was my favourite because I love the speed of it " - Nicoleta

"Zip wire because I have never been on one before" Oliwier D
" Zip wire because it is very fast I also liked spinning plates because it takes a lot of skill" Antony

"Abseiling because we were jumping off which was fun!" Ariose

"The obsticale course as we had to swap quickly to win" Adel

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Year 5 have had a wonderfully busy and creative time across the curriculum! In our reading lessons, we have been enjoying the inspiring story Wonder, exploring its powerful themes of kindness, empathy and acceptance. The children have shared thoughtful ideas and made excellent links to their own experiences. In writing, Year 5 have been working hard to develop their skills by creating an engaging diary entry based on Wonder, focusing on expressing thoughts and feelings clearly, and a persuasive letter to Scrooge, using strong arguments and emotive language to encourage him to change his ways.

In PE, the children have been developing their teamwork, coordination and batting skills through cricket, showing great sportsmanship and enthusiasm. Design and Technology has been full of excitement as pupils designed and built their own wobble bots, testing and improving their creations, as well as crafting eye-catching Christmas pop-up books using clever mechanisms. In computing, Year 5 have been learning how to edit videos, combining clips, adding effects and thinking carefully about how to present information clearly and creatively. It has been fantastic to see the children’s confidence, creativity and resilience grow across all subjects.

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In Year 6, we have had a cracking term! A highlight we would love to share with you is our DT day. We used our knowledge of electricity and circuits to create our own steady-hand games, like the 'Operation' or 'Buzz the Wire'. By working together despite some technical hiccups, everyone managed to get their game working and functioning like a real game. I think we have some budding games designers!

Thank you to all of our parents who have supported us this term, and Merry Christmas!

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We think it would be fair to say that the Winter Wonderland event was a great success!

Firstly, thank you for all your donations and to all our volunteers. We really couldn't do it without all your help and support.

So far we have raised a terrific £886.15, which will be a great help to the school.

Don't forget that we are always on the lookout for volunteers. A sign-up sheet can be found in the school office.

Merry Christmas,

PTFA

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A huge thank you to our wonderful parents for raising over £1,000 for the Great Athletes charity in November! Your generosity helped make a fantastic fundraising event possible, and the children had an amazing time taking part in the circuit with Paralympian Sean Rose, combining fun, fitness, and inspiration.

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INMAT Stars December 2025

Class 1

Aldrin, Mila, Cataleya

Class 2

Alaine, Layla, Valeria

Class 3

Mylo, Nyemwererai, Bayden

Class 4

Freddie, Kaynan, Bianca

Class 5

Oliver, Angelos, Eva

Class 6

Ekam, Willow, Farshel

Class 7

Muhammad, Andee, David

Class 8

Amelia, Harva, Peter

Class 9

Sarah, Duke, Nolan

Class 10

Pretty, Reana, Amun

Class 11

Alston, Emmanuel, Shashini

Class 12

Kaine, Henry, Johanna

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STARS!!

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We are always looking for members to join the PTA - If you are interested in volunteering for any of our events we have sign up sheets in our office. Please come in anytime between 8am-4pm to sign up.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 11th February - Valentine Bake Sale 3:15pm

Thursday 12th February - School Disco

Thursday 9th July - End of Term Disco

The PTA is a vital part of our school community, but unfortunately, without parent participation, these events will not be able to go ahead.

School Council

Excitingly, each class has elected a student councillor for this academic year. These representatives worked with their classes to generate ideas to make our school an even better place. The students and their councillors did an excellent job and many of their suggestions were approved. Some ideas have already been implemented, including a bracelet-making club and a buddy bench on the playground to help students feel supported and included. The council also proposed lesson ideas for class assemblies, such as “How to add to your own happiness and the happiness of others.” The Student Council has shown that student voices can lead to meaningful and positive change across our school.

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