Year 5 Bring Their Learning to Life Through Two Inspiring Educational Visits
Year 5 have enjoyed two fantastic educational visits recently, giving them the opportunity to bring their History and Geography learning to life through hands-on experiences.
Their first trip took them to the Museum of Liverpool, where they participated in an engaging Anglo-Saxon and Viking artefact-handling workshop. Rotating around four interactive stations, focusing on writing, daily life, warfare, materials and grave goods, the children explored a fascinating collection of historical artefacts. They also enjoyed investigating a mystery object, with many imaginative guesses, before discovering it was an ear-scoop used by the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings!
This week, Year 5 headed outdoors for an exciting Geography field trip with the River Ribble Trust. Using kick-sampling techniques, the children collected invertebrates from the riverbed before identifying them with microscopes and scientific keys. They were delighted to catch several small fish, learning how to handle them safely before returning them to their natural habitat.
The day also included measuring the river’s velocity, depth and width, visiting the trout tank, and learning why regular river surveys are so important for protecting local ecosystems. A real highlight was witnessing mayflies emerging from the river after spending two years underwater, providing a memorable glimpse into the natural world. The children also reinforced the water safety knowledge they have developed during their swimming lessons.
Both visits provided invaluable opportunities for Year 5 to deepen their understanding beyond the classroom, developing their curiosity, scientific enquiry and historical knowledge through memorable real-world experiences.
Year 4 Explore Branching Databases
Year 4 put their computing skills to the test during a recent IT lesson as they explored the world of branching databases.
They selected their own topics, including animals, and created a series of carefully planned yes/no questions to identify different items. Once their databases were complete, they swapped with their classmates to see if they could successfully work their way through each other’s creations.
The lesson provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop their logical thinking, problem-solving and creativity, while gaining a deeper understanding of how branching databases are used to organise and identify information. Well done, Year 4, on your excellent work!
NSPCC Visit Helps Pupils Learn to Speak Out and Stay Safe
This term, we were delighted to welcome the NSPCC Schools Service into school, where they delivered their ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe.’ programme. This programme is designed to help primary-aged children understand how to recognise unsafe situations, know that they have the right to feel safe, and feel confident to speak to a trusted adult if they are worried or need help.
Through engaging, age-appropriate activities and discussions, pupils learned important messages about personal safety, recognising trusted adults and the importance of speaking out if something doesn’t feel right. The sessions encouraged thoughtful discussion while reinforcing that every child deserves to feel safe and supported.
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at Highfield, and we are grateful to the NSPCC for delivering such valuable workshops. The children participated brilliantly, asking sensible questions and demonstrating maturity throughout the sessions.
We hope the programme has given our pupils greater confidence to know when and where they can turn for help, and remind them that they are never alone if they are worried about anything.
Cole's Wainwright Adventure
A huge well done to Cole who completed an incredible challenge over the half-term break by climbing four Wainwrights in a single day!
Covering approximately 9 miles with some very steep climbs along the way, Cole showed remarkable determination and resilience. When asked why he chose to climb four Wainwrights, his answer was wonderfully simple: “Four, because I’m four years old!”
This is a fantastic achievement for someone so young, and we are incredibly proud of Cole’s adventurous spirit, perseverance and enthusiasm. Congratulations, Cole – what an amazing accomplishment!
Highfield Priory Pupils Shine at Preston Schools Athletics Competition
Congratulations to the 14 Highfield Priory pupils who proudly represented the school at the Preston Schools Athletics Competition held at UCLan.
Our athletes competed with great determination, enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the day, producing some excellent individual and team performances. A special well done goes to Amelie, Isabella, Megumi and Abu Bakr, who scored valuable points for Highfield Priory across their events.
The girls’ relay team delivered an outstanding performance to qualify for the final – a fantastic achievement against strong competition.
There were also some impressive individual results, with Liyanna finishing 5th overall in the 800m despite competing against a field made up predominantly of Year 6 pupils; while Megumi secured an excellent 4th place overall in the 400m.
We are incredibly proud of every pupil who took part. They represented Highfield Priory with determination, resilience and team spirit, and they should all be very proud of their achievements. Well done to everyone involved!
Success at the Lancashire Chess Championships
We are incredibly proud of our pupils who represented Highfield Priory at the Lancashire Chess Championships at the start of June. Competing against some of the strongest young players in the county, they demonstrated their knowledge, skill and determination throughout the competition.
A special congratulations also goes to Highfield Priory’s alumnus, Nathan Taylor, who delivered an outstanding performance to be crowned the Overall Under 12 Lancashire Champion. This is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful inspiration for our current chess players.
Well done to all our competitors for representing Highfield Priory with such pride and enthusiasm.
Message from Mr Duke
Keep Us Informed
To ensure we can provide the very best support for every child, we kindly ask parents to keep the school informed of any changes at home that may affect their child.
This may include changes to home circumstances, addresses, telephone numbers, medical information or any other information that should be updated in our records.
Having accurate and up-to-date information helps us to communicate effectively with families, understand a pupil’s individual needs and ensure that the wellbeing of every child remains at the heart of everything we do.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Sun Cream Reminder
With the warmer weather upon us, please remember to apply sun cream to your child before they come to school on sunny days.
School staff will support children in topping up their sun cream later in the day where required. To help with this, please ensure your child brings a clearly named bottle of sun cream to school if they have not done so already.
Thank you for helping us to keep our pupils safe and comfortable while they enjoy outdoor activities during the summer months.
Highfield Priory Alumna Crowned National Football Champion
We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Highfield Priory alumna, Lyla, who has helped AFC Fylde U15 Girls become ACES National Champions.
Competing against the best regional champions from across the country at the national finals in Nottingham, AFC Fylde produced a series of impressive performances to reach the final. After a closely contested match against Luton Town, the team held their nerve to secure the national title in a dramatic penalty shootout.
We are especially proud to see Lyla continuing to excel in her footballing journey. Her hard work, dedication and passion for the sport have led to this fantastic success, and she remains a wonderful role model for our current pupils.
Congratulations to Lyla and the entire AFC Fylde U15 Girls squad on becoming National Champions – a truly exceptional achievement!
MERITS
Week Ending 26th June
RB – Shivansh
1WE – Giuliana
2R – Musa
3M – Larissa
4JD – Olivia
5W – Emily
6P – Ali
Week Ending 3rd July
RB – Ava
1WE – Reese
2R – Sulaiman
3M – Danny
4JD – Niralya
5W – Riaan
6P – The Whole Class
EVENTS NEXT WEEK
Reception Curriculum Evening – Tues 7th July
Year 6 Production – Wed 8th and Thurs 9th July
Reception Class Assembly – Friday 10th July
Prize Giving – Wed 15th July 2pm
Other Key Dates
The Autumn Term Calendar will be added to our online calendar before the last day of term.
Online Calendar: https://highfieldpriory.co.uk/calendar/
