In Year 6, we no longer offer whole-cohort swimming lessons. Instead, we provide top-up swimming lessons for children who require additional support to meet the national expectations for primary school swimming.

These expectations are that pupils can:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively (e.g., front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke)
• Demonstrate an understanding of safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

To help us identify which children would benefit from these top-up lessons, we kindly ask that you complete a short Microsoft Forms questionnaire. Please answer the questions as honestly and accurately as possible, as this information will support us in understanding your child’s current swimming ability. We will use your responses alongside school records from previous swimming assessments in Years 3, 4 and 5.

Please complete the form here:

Year 6 Swimming Questionnaire 2026-27 – Fill in form

Thank you for your support in ensuring we provide the right opportunities for our pupils.

As part of this term’s curriculum work on World War II, we have arranged for Year 6 to visit the Western Approaches HQ’s secret war tunnels in Liverpool on Monday 30^th November.   These secret tunnels were only re-discovered in recent years having been abandoned at the end of the war – a true time capsule for that significant time in our country’s history.  Following our visit to the tunnels we will walk to over to the Docklands area to explore some of the areas targeted during The Blitz. The coach will collect us from the Docklands area before returning to school.

In order for us to arrive at the tunnels on time, we will be setting off from school earlier than usual. The coach will leave school at 8:15am prompt, so children need to arrive at school by 8.00am. We will leave Liverpool at 3:00pm, and expect to arrive back at school around 5.00pm. If we encounter any significant delay on our return journey, we will do our best to keep you informed.

Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for this trip.  Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be given a packed lunch by our school meals provider before departure. This will include a sandwich, a packet of crisps, desert and piece of fruit.  Children should wear school uniform and have a lightweight coat with them. There will be no time to visit the museum souvenir shop so no spending money is required.

The cost of the trip is £25.50, which includes transport and workshops.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip we ask that you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

As part of our topic on the Ancient Romans, each Year 4 class will be having an exciting Roman Day.

The day will be packed with fun activities linked to our Roman topic, giving the children the chance to experience what life was like during Roman times.

Please bring:

🔹An empty cereal box – ideally one where the front is larger than A4. If you have more than one, even better! We will be using these for some Roman-themed crafting activities during the day.

🔹A coat – we will be spending some time outdoors, so please make sure your child is prepared for the weather.

🔹Outdoor shoes – these will be needed for our outdoor activities.

Come dressed as a Roman

If possible, we would love the children to come to school dressed as a Roman. They could come as:

⚔️ A centurion

👑 An emperor

🏛️ A citizen of Rome

🧺 A slave

🌟 A Roman god or goddess

Please don’t feel that you need to buy anything specially for the day! There are lots of simple ways to create a Roman costume using things you may already have at home.

For example:

🔹A flat bed sheet can easily be turned into a toga.

🔹A large piece of scrap fabric, plain clothes and a scarf could make a simple slave tunic.

🔹A cardboard box and some tin foil could be transformed into a centurion’s breastplate or shield.

We’ve included some inspiration below to help you get creative!

We are really looking forward to stepping back in time and being Romans for the day! 🏛️⚔️

Miss Lewis and Mrs Young

Year 4 Class Teachers

As part of this term’s history curriculum work on The Stone Age, we have arranged for Year 3 to take part in a workshop at Shrewsbury Museum on Monday 5^th October, to learn more about life in the Stone Age period.

Turtles will leave school shortly after morning registration and return in time for normal lunch break;

Starfish will leave school following an early lunch and return around 3pm, for normal home time collection.

Pupils should wear school uniform and bring with them a lightweight coat/sunhat (depending on the weather forecast for that day). As they will be doing a fair amount of walking, they will also need to wear comfortable shoes or trainers. Spending money is not required for this trip.

The cost of the trip is £4.15 per pupil.  Payment should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip where possible.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip please can you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The SATs are now over and we just wanted to let you know how incredibly hard the children have worked last week! We are very proud of the resilience and effort shown by everyone and they should also feel incredibly proud of themselves.

As you know, the first week back after half term, we head to Pioneer for our two-night residential; everybody is excited and it feels perfectly timed after SATs.

Here is some final information so that you and your child can feel prepared on the morning of Monday 1st June:

Packing

Please use the KIT LIST to help with packing and do aim to let your child be as involved as possible in this process; it is important for your child to know what is in their bag as this will allow them to be independent during their stay.

Children will need to bring a packed lunch to school on Monday 1^st June and they will eat it at Pioneer on the first day.

Don’t forget to pack a water bottle and reading book – these may be useful to have in a smaller bag which can be kept with your child on the bus, along with their packed lunch.

Remember not to pack mobile phones, electronic devices and extra snacks or sweets.

Medication

It is vital that we have the correct information about any medication that your child will require while we are away. With this in mind, we would like any medication to be given to an adult (Mrs Morgan, Miss Featherston or Mrs Jeff) on Monday morning. Please put any medication in a container with your child’s name written clearly on the front along with clear instructions and dosage.

If your child has any specific allergies, please make sure we know about them.

If your child requires travel sickness tablets, please give them their tablet at home or send it into school for us to give before we head off. Remember to also include another tablet for the return journey.

Other bits to remember

Don’t forget a packed lunch on Monday 1st as our evening meal will be the first meal provided by Pioneer.

Please encourage your child to practise putting on a duvet cover and pillow case as that will be the first challenge set when we arrive.

The coach will leave school at approximately 10:15 on Monday morning. We will return at approximately 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon.

As ever, thank-you for your ongoing support in preparing your child for the trip.

Best wishes,

Mrs Morgan, Miss Featherston and the Year 6 team 😊

Get Ready to Ride: Bikeability Level 1/2 is Coming!

We are thrilled to announce that our school will be hosting Bikeability training for our Year 6 pupils from Monday 8^th to Thursday 11^th June. You might remember “cycling proficiency” from your own school days. Bikeability is the refreshed, 21st-century version, designed to give children the practical skills and confidence they need to enjoy cycling for life.

How the Level 1/2 Course Works

In Shropshire, we have successfully run a combined Level 1 and 2 course for many years. This model works exceptionally well because it allows children to master their equipment before putting those skills to the test in the real world. The training happens in two clear stages:

• Stage 1: The Essentials (Level 1) Riders start in a traffic-free environment, such as the school playground. Here, they learn to master bike control, balance, and signaling. It’s all about making sure they are steady and confident on two wheels.
• Stage 2: The Real World (Level 2) Once the basics are second nature, the training moves out onto local streets. This gives trainees a real-world cycling experience where they learn to make independent decisions, handle simple junctions, and understand road positioning.

No Bike? No Problem!

We believe that every child should have the chance to learn these life-saving skills, regardless of whether they own a bicycle.

If your child does not have access to a bike or a helmet, please do not worry. We can arrange for loaner bikes and helmets to be provided for the duration of the course at no extra cost. Just let the school office know, and we’ll make sure they’re ready to roll!

Why Take Part?

Cycling isn’t just great exercise; it’s a boost for a child’s independence and mental well-being. By completing the Level 1/2 course, pupils gain:

• Better spatial awareness and hazard perception.
• The ability to navigate their neighbourhood safely.
• A foundation for healthy, sustainable travel habits.

Equipment Check: If your child is bringing their own bike, please ensure it is roadworthy (working brakes and inflated tires) and that their helmet fits snugly.

How To Take Part?

To book your child on to the Bikeability training course please click on the link below and complete the online consent form:

https://consent.bikeability.org.uk/film-milk-lad

We can’t wait to see our pupils out on their bikes, building their confidence and having fun!

As part of this term’s Science, English and Geography curriculum work our Year 2 pupils will be visiting Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Monday 8^th June. We will be leaving school at 9.00 am sharp, so ask that children come in for 8.40am, a little earlier than normal. We will return to school around 3.40pm, traffic permitting.

Children should wear their school uniform for this trip and bring along a waterproof coat for possible cold/inclement weather.  No spending money is required.

As Year 2 pupils are provided with free school meals as part of the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme, a packed lunch will be provided for all pupils. Please click on the link below to select from the various menu options available. All packed lunches come with a piece of fruit and a bottle of water. If we haven’t received a completed packed lunch order form for your child by 3pm on Monday 1^st June, we will assume they will be bringing one from home.

Year 2 Botanical Gardens: 8th June – Fill in form

The full cost for this trip is £19.90, which includes transport costs and entrance/guided tour charges. Please make payment prior to the date of the trip.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip we ask that you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

The children in Year 6 have been fortunate to be accepted for Crucial Crew which takes place at the Flaxmill Maltings, Shrewsbury on Friday 5^th June.  This is a very popular event which all schools in Shropshire would like to take part in but for which places are very limited.

Crucial Crew is run by the West Midlands Police Force and the aim of it is to give older children an insight in how to deal with safety hazards, such as fires and accidents, and also to make them aware of the dangers of drug/alcohol abuse.

The children will be transported by coach, leaving school at 9.00am sharp, so please ensure they arrive a little earlier that morning so that registration can be taken at 8.50am. They will return to school at approximately 3.00 p.m.

Please ensure that your child wears their school uniform – especially their sweatshirts/cardigans – as this will enable them to be identified more easily whilst there. As many of the activities take place outside, they will also need a waterproof, lightweight coat in case of inclement weather.

Children will need to bring a packed lunch. Those entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch by our caterers but you may want to supplement this with additional refreshments.

Crucial Crew request that parents ensure that their children have had something to eat before they embark on the day’s activities, especially if hot weather is forecast: children will not have a mid-morning break at this event so the earliest they will get to eat will be approx. 12.15pm. Over the years, a number of children have had to attend the first aid centre because of feeling faint, which has usually been because of lack of food or dehydration. They are allowed to carry a bottle of water around with them during the day, which they will be able to top up during their lunch break.

The cost of the trip is £5.25 per child including transport, insurance and activities.  Payment should be made via your child’s Arbor account, in the usual way prior to the date of the trip please.

We hope that all our Year 6 pupils will attend this trip. However, if you do not want your child to attend, please notify your child’s class teacher as soon as possible so that they can make alternative arrangements for your child for that day.

As part of this term’s History curriculum work on the Ancient Egyptians, we have arranged for Year 3 to visit Liverpool’s World Museum on Thursday 21^st May. Whilst there, each class will participate in an Ancient Egyptian workshop, learning all about the mummification process.   Whilst in Liverpool they will also call in at The Walker Art Gallery to view some of the Gallery’s amazing artwork.

We will be leaving school at 8.15am in order to get there at a reasonable time so ask that children arrive at 8.00am that morning. We will return to school at approximately 5:45pm. If we encounter any significant delay on our return journey, we will do our best to keep you informed.

Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for this trip – no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please. Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be given a packed lunch by our school meals provider before departure. Please also ensure that they wear school uniform and have a lightweight coat with them. We will not be visiting the souvenir shop so no additional spending money is required.

The cost of the trip is £15.50, which includes workshops and transport.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip please can you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

As part of the National Curriculum, your child will be attending swimming lessons at The Quarry Swimming Baths. These sessions will take place on Friday afternoons for five weeks, beginning on 24^th April and continuing through to Friday 22^nd May (inclusive). Lions’ class will be swimming next half term and further details will be sent sent out nearer the time.

Mrs Stennett and the support staff will walk pupils to and from The Quarry Swimming Baths. This not only offers a pleasant stroll through our beautiful local park, but also means that no transport costs need to be covered by parents.

Please ensure your child brings their swimming costume (no bikinis, please), goggles, and a towel on each swimming day. Without the appropriate kit, children may have to stay behind or sit out of the lesson, which can be very disappointing for them.

We kindly request that children do not wear earrings to school on swimming days. If your child has long hair, please ensure it is tied up before they come to school.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

As part of the National Curriculum, your child will be attending swimming lessons at The Quarry Swimming Baths. These sessions will take place on Monday afternoons for five weeks, beginning on 13^th April (the first day back after the Easter break) and continuing through to Monday 18^th May (inclusive), with no lesson on 4^th May (due to it being a Bank Holiday). Whales’ class will be swimming next half term and a letter with further details will be sent nearer the time.

Miss Lewis and the support staff will walk pupils to and from The Quarry Swimming Baths. This not only offers a pleasant stroll through our beautiful local park, but also means that no transport costs need to be covered by parents.

Please ensure your child brings their swimming costume (no bikinis, please), goggles, and a towel on each swimming day. Without the appropriate kit, children may have to stay behind or sit out of the lesson, which can be very disappointing for them.

We kindly request that children do not wear earrings to school on swimming days. If your child has long hair, please ensure it is tied up before they come to school.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

As part of the National Curriculum, your child will be attending swimming lessons at the Quarry Swimming Baths. These sessions will take place on Tuesday afternoons for five weeks, starting 21^st April and finishing on Tuesday 19^th May (inclusive). Starfish’s lessons will take place the following half term and a letter with further details will be sent out nearer the time.

Whilst the hire of the pool is included within the school budget, the cost of transport is not. We are therefore asking for a voluntary contribution of £21.00 per pupil to help cover the cost of coach hire. Please make payment via your child’s Arbor account by Monday 20^th April. Thank you for your support.

Please ensure your child brings their swimming costume (no bikinis, please), goggles, and a towel on each swimming day. Without the appropriate kit, children may have to stay behind or sit out of the lesson, which can be very disappointing for them.

We kindly request that children do not wear earrings to school on swimming days. If your child has long hair, please ensure it is tied up before they come to school.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

We are excited to share with you that on Tuesday 14^th April, we will be welcoming Widget Workshops in to share a ‘Maya’ workshop day with Year 6.  Using the latest technology, the children will explore the world of The Maya. Working in pairs, they will visit important Maya sites such as Tikal, Palenque, Uxmal and Chichen Itza, as well as swimming in a cenote. They will also explore the Maya number system and calendar and also have a go at weaving and creating their own worry doll.

As we have no other way of funding the workshop we would be grateful if parents can contribute £6.70 per child towards the cost. Payment is to be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the workshop please. Many thanks.

In preparation for the impending trip to PGL Boreatton Park, we will be spending some time over the next few weeks or so going through PGL arrangements with the children.  We thought that you also would appreciate a bit of additional information and clarification to help you prepare your child.

Packing & Preparation

• CLEARLY NAME ALL CLOTHING AND PROPERTY!
• Please allow your children to be as involved in the packing of their bag as possible. This will help them to be more aware of what they have and where it is – it will also help them when packing for the return home.
• Ensure your child has plenty of layers as it gets cold on site.

Please click the following link to see the required kit list: Coleham PGL Kit List 2026

Medication

We will not be taking medications from school, so please send in any meds your child needs, including inhalers, in a container with their name written clearly on the front along with clear instructions and dosage. Please let us know some time prior to our visit if your child will be bringing medication so that we can ensure we have all the necessary information on the day of departure.

Thursday morning departure arrangements

The coach will be leaving school at 8:00am prompt to ensure we arrive at the venue on time. Children will therefore need to be at school for 7:30am please.

Friday afternoon return arrangements

• We will be leaving PGL Boreatton Park at 4.00pm and expect to arrive back at school around 5:00pm, depending on the Friday afternoon traffic.
• We will endeavour to update you about our return time and pick-up instructions.
• Please make sure you have ALL of your child’s belongings before you leave school.

Finally, a reminder that any outstanding payments for this trip should be settled by Friday 10^th April (unless you have already contacted the school to arrange an extension to the payment schedule).

Hopefully, this information prepares you for the upcoming trip. Your cooperation in these matters will be greatly appreciated and will contribute to the smooth running of the trip.

The KS2 SATs will take place during the week commencing 11^th May 2026. Below are the SATs dates for each test throughout the week.

Timetable for SATs week

All things SATS after school drop-in session

 We are inviting parents to attend an informal drop-in session where we will be looking at a variety of SAT materials. The drop-in session will be on Thursday 26^th February and we will be available from 3:20 pm until 5:00 pm to answer any questions you may have regarding the SATs. We are doing this prior to parents evening so that your appointment will be about your child’s learning rather than SATs information.

Year 6 SATs revision books

 In response to the large number of requests from parents for SATs revision materials, the school has purchased a math, reading and GPS revision book for each child. Your child will be given these after half term and will have a schedule to complete the questions.  The schedule will be published on Dojo for reference each week and will run Friday to Friday. We would like you to support your child with the completion of this each week, along with daily reading and times table practise.

Useful revision resources

In the run up to the SATs, we will be using a range of resources, which you can also access at home:

https://mathsbot.com/

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/#

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z4mktcw

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z4296rd

As ever, thank you for your ongoing support.

On Monday 18th November, children in Years 1, 3 and 5 will be taking part in a Diwali-themed Indian dance workshop. This RE workshop is closely linked to the Hindu festival of Diwali, celebrated each year as the Festival of Lights.

During the session, pupils will have the opportunity to learn traditional dances associated with Diwali and explore the ancient story of Rama and Sita. The workshop promises to be a wonderful celebration of Hindu religion, tradition, and the rich cultural heritage of India.

To cover the cost of the workshop we are asking for a donation of £3.00 per child, to be paid via your child’s Arbor account. Many thanks.

In Year 6, we no longer offer whole-cohort swimming lessons. Instead, we provide top-up swimming lessons for children who require additional support to meet the national expectations for primary school swimming.

These expectations are that pupils can:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively (e.g., front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke)
• Demonstrate an understanding of safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

To help us identify which children would benefit from these top-up lessons, we kindly ask that you complete a short Microsoft Forms questionnaire. Please answer the questions as honestly and accurately as possible, as this information will support us in understanding your child’s current swimming ability. We will use your responses alongside school records from previous swimming assessments in Years 3, 4 and 5.

Please complete the form here:

Year 6 Swimming Questionnaire – Fill in form

Thank you for your support in ensuring we provide the right opportunities for our pupils.

Miss Lewis

PE Lead

At Coleham School, we are committed to enhancing our pupils’ education by providing a broad range of enriching and engaging experiences. For several years, we have organised a residential trip for Year 4 pupils, which has consistently been met with great success.

Residential visits have a profoundly positive impact on children. They foster increased confidence and independence, promote stronger and more cooperative relationships among peers, and encourage pupils to develop organisational skills away from home. Furthermore, such experiences significantly enrich the school curriculum.

This year, we are pleased to inform you that the Year 4 residential trip will take place at PGL Boreatton Park. The children will depart from school at 8:00 am on Thursday, 16th April; therefore, they should arrive promptly at 7:30 am. We expect to return at approximately 5:00 pm on Friday, 17th April. During their stay, the pupils will engage in a range of stimulating, age-appropriate team-building and problem-solving activities.

The total cost of the trip is £210 per child, which includes transportation, accommodation, meals, supervised activities, equipment, and insurance. Recognising that this represents a significant expense, we have arranged for the payment to be made in four instalments of £52.50 each. The first instalment should be paid by 30th November, with the remaining balance due by Friday, 10th April 2026. Payments can be made at your convenience via Arbor from today.

Should you have any concerns regarding payment, please do not hesitate to contact us directly via the school office. We would be happy to discuss alternative payment arrangements to support your family.

If your child has any apprehensions about the trip, please be assured that class teachers will provide ample preparation and support. However, please speak to your child’s class teacher directly if you have any specific concerns. We will presume all children will be attending the trip unless their class teacher is informed otherwise.

Further details will be provided nearer the date of the trip, and we will be available to address any outstanding queries you or your child may have.

This trip represents a valuable educational opportunity, and we sincerely hope that all Year 4 pupils will participate.

We are excited to announce that we have organised a residential trip for our Year 6 pupils in June 2026 at The Pioneer Centre, Cleobury Mortimer. The children will depart from school on the morning of Monday, 1^st  June (the first day following the May half-term break) and will return in time for the usual end-of-day collection on Wednesday, 3^rd  June.

We strongly advocate the numerous benefits that residential trips provide for participating pupils, including:

• Developing team-building skills, cooperation, and mutual respect through a series of safe yet challenging activities;
• Fostering greater independence;
• Acquiring new skills and engaging in enriching, novel experiences;
• Gaining self-awareness and motivation by discovering their capabilities; and
• Above all, enjoying themselves and having fun!

The Pioneer Centre is a purpose-built activity venue with excellent modern facilities designed to meet the diverse needs of both staff and pupils. We have visited this centre on several occasions, and each visit has been highly successful. Consequently, we are pleased to be returning with our Year 6 pupils during the Summer term.

The centre offers a welcoming “home from home” atmosphere and provides a wide range of exciting activities, all supervised by experienced and qualified staff. For more information about the centre’s facilities and a site plan, please visit their website at:
https://activity-centres.naycacuk.co.uk/pioneer-centre/

The cost of the trip is £256.00 per child, which includes transport, meals, accommodation, supervised activities, and equipment. We understand this is a considerable expense, so we have arranged for payment to be made in four instalments of £64.00. The first instalment should be paid by 30th November,  if possible please, with the remaining balance due by Friday, 8th May 2026. Early payment of the full amount would, of course, be appreciated.

If you have any concerns about meeting the payment deadlines, please do not hesitate to contact us directly via the school office. We would be happy to discuss alternative payment arrangements to support your family.

If your child has any apprehensions about the trip, please be assured that class teachers will provide ample preparation and support. However, please speak to your child’s class teacher directly if you have any specific concerns. We will presume all children will be attending the trip unless their class teacher is informed otherwise.

This trip promises to be an extraordinary and memorable experience for our pupils, and we sincerely hope that all Year 6 children will participate.