Headteacher Message
Dear Families,
This week has absolutely flown by, and ended with a surprise visitor on the playground this morning! “Prickles” the hedgehog has been well-looked after and we’ll make sure they get what they need.
We must start with congratulating our Year 6s for the perseverance, effort and resilience they have demonstrated in their SATs this week. Love them or loathe them, everyone has to sit them and we are always more interested in the way they are approached by children rather than their end results. If they do their best, that is enough – and they have done their very best. They can be very proud of themselves, whatever the outcomes!
Thank you to everyone who made it to the Plant & Craft Fair last weekend: it was wonderful to see so many family-run stalls selling a whole range of different things. It was a true community event and it left me feeling very honoured to be part of it!
Next week is the final week of the half-term and then we’re into the final half-term of 2025-26! After half-term we will be able to share dates of transition activities and other plans for next year.
Thank you for all your support, and have a lovely weekend!
Tom Larkham
Headteacher
What’s on next week?
Mental Health Awareness Week Activities
Monday
Yr 4 Dolphins Swimming (afternoon)
Tuesday
Yr 3 Turtles Swimming (afternoon)
Wednesday
Yr 1 Ukulele Concert for Families @ 9.15am
Summer 2 Clubs Release at 6pm
Thursday
Yr 5 Viking Day
Yr 3 Trip to Liverpool World Museum
Friday
Yr 3 Egyptian Day
Yr 5 Leopards Swimming (afternoon)
Whole School Zumba session
Next week: Mental Health Awareness Week
Next week is National Mental Health Awareness Week and we’ll be talking about ways we can take action so we feel healthy, rested and happy.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Yoga Teacher Dionne will be with us for taster sessions and on Friday we’ll be finishing the half term with a whole school Zumba session led by Mrs Stewart.
Staff will also be taking time out to connect and relax at Miss Salter’s after school art workshop.
Clubs for Summer 2
Our Yoga and Cook Stars Clubs have been a brilliant addition! They’ll be back after half term. Yoga will be enjoyed in the outdoors embracing the lovely weather and bird song from our conservation area and Cook Stars will have delicious recipes for a new year group.
New Clubs for next half term will be released to all parents on WEDNESDAY 20th MAY @ 6pm
BVAF Competitions!
Poetry Writing Competition
Get ready to let your imagination run free in our poetry writing competition, inspired by our theme this year of “Fantasy”.
We’d love to hear all about the magic and mystery hiding in your imagination, from enchanted forests to curious creatures, secret spells or worlds that only you can dream up.
Write a short poem and share your most fantastical ideas with us.
And when you’re ready, simply email your poem to us.
Small prizes for the winning entries!
Deadline: 22 June 26
Category: All ages
Please note: We are unable to offer individual feedback and if you haven’t heard from us after the deadline, then assume that you have not been selected on this occasion.
Fantasy Drabble Contest 2026
Can YOU spin a fantastical tale, in EXACTLY 100 words?
No more, no less, Title Not Included: that’s a DRABBLE!
Whether it’s Epic, Urban, Cosy, or any other fantasy subgenre you love, whether it contains dragons or mermaids or devils getting stroppy with large rocks, your Drabble could win a prize and be read out as part of our poetry event – A Hive of Fantasy, on Friday 12 June.
There are 3 age categories:
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Up to 11
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12 – 16
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17 and over
To enter, simply email your drabble to us by 8 June, including your name and if you’re under 18, your age.
Good luck!
Ukraine Donations
We are collecting donations for children in Ukraine. Shropshire Supports Ukraine are arranging a transport and will be collecting from us. You can drop these in Reception.
- Children’s Clothes (must be clean and in excellent condition)
- Long lasting food items (rice, pasta, tea, coffee, biscuits etc)
- Toiletries and sanitary products
- Pain Relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
- Baby food & nappies
- Pet Food
- Toys
Coleham Actors at Theatre Severn
We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Timmy (year 6) and both Mr Williamses will be performing on stage in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Theatre Severn in May half term.
They’ve all been working hard in rehearsals and say that the show is going to be great!
Mr Williams Jr says he’s having a fantastic time dancing “Me Ol’ Bamboo”, while Mr Williams Snr is excited to work alongside the talented cast and discover all the clever tricks and features of the impressive Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car replica. Timmy says he’s delighted to be in the show and is really looking forward to seeing and hearing the Coleham School supporters in the audience.
There are six performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, both matinees and evening shows on from Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th of May. Book your tickets!
Check availability / Buy Tickets
Recruitment- Teaching Assistant
We are recruiting for an Early Years/KS1 Teaching Assistant.
More info can be found HERE
Please spread the word
The Belle Vue Arts Festival is coming!
The Belle Vue Arts Festival is coming in June and you can book their events HERE
Miss Othen and Miss Heap champion the festival in school each year co-ordinating art, competitions and events for the children.
Read the festival’s latest BLOG about how it all started with Coleham Teacher Judy Townsend and our involvement 20 years later!
Festival BLOG: Read it HERE
Plant & Craft Fair 2026
Plant & Craft Fair 2026… you were utterly wonderful.
This event is always the opener to the Belle Vue Arts Festival and its one of our favourites.
Our incredible children blew us away — from their @bellevueartsfestival competition entries to the brilliant little businesses they dreamed up and ran with such confidence. Your products, your presentation, your wonderful entrepreneurial ideas astounded us all.
To everyone who supported, joined in, donated, crafted, baked, planted, purchased, or simply wandered through with a smile — thank you. Happy faces everywhere, connecting in the sunshine. That’s our school at its heart: Caring, Community, Creativity.
Keeping things local. Keeping things authentic. Empowering our children every step of the way. Thank you for being part of this very special community. We couldn’t do it without you!
Coleham Makers Market!
Little People, Big Ideas!
Our incredible children ran their own brilliant little businesses they dreamed up and ran with such confidence. Their products, their presentation, their customer service and wonderful entrepreneurial ideas… every bit of it was a class act.
From plant labels to homemade lemonade to vending‑machine squishies to 3D‑printed creations, the imagination on display was extraordinary. We had more children than ever before running their own stalls, and the pride they took in their work was something truly special.
As Business Manager, Miss Othen nurtures entrepreneurship and Careers Education in our school and promotes employability skills so our children can carry these strengths forward on their journey after Coleham. She is so, so proud of all of them.
Our pupils showed our community just how incredible children can be — their talent, their creativity and their personality were on full display. Their craft market was better than those in many market towns or cities, and they ran it with professionalism, pride and joy.
They also raised a large sum of money for School Fundraising which we are so grateful for.
What an inspiring group of young entrepreneurs!
Take a look at their incredible stalls below:
Fantasy Creative Competitions
🎉 A HUGE shout‑out to all the brilliant children who entered the Plant & Craft Fair 2026 Competitions! You absolutely bewitched the Belle Vue Arts Festival judges this year — they were wowed by your incredible creations. ✨
🌈 This year’s theme was Fantasy, and wow… you didn’t just interpret it — you launched it into another universe. From strength potions to fantasy lands, your imagination ran wild and we loved every single entry. You are all Highly Commended!!🧚♂️🐉🌿
Celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday
Coleham School went full Attenborough today as pupils, staff and families celebrated Sir David’s 100th birthday. Think animals, explorers, eco‑heroes and even a few tiny Sir David’s wandering the corridors.
The day kicked off with a whole‑school assembly from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, reminding us why Sir David’s voice — and our own actions — matter for the planet.
Costumes were spectacular: tigers, sharks, rainforest creatures, adventurers and more.
Eco‑activities filled the day with Year 4 making a giant Whale Shark and Year 6 filming their own nature documentaries. Every child made a personal Green Pledge, promising one change they’ll make to help protect the planet. These will be combined into the official Coleham School Green Pledge for the Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Schools’ Green Promise competition.
Families joined in the afternoon for a performance of I Am The Earth before everyone belted out Happy Birthday to Sir David. The grand finale? A show‑stopping three‑tier cake — oceans, deserts and rainforests — baked with Love Spoon Bakery and decorated with edible animals designed by pupils. Slices were sold after school, raising donations for the Wildlife Trust.
Coleham went wild — and we think Sir David would approve.
Sir David’s Birthday Cake
Great work from After School Club children who drew beautiful animals that were printed onto icing sheets for Sir David Attenborough’s Birthday Cake. It was spectacular! Thank you to Annie and The Love spoon Bakery for creating this very special cake for us which tasted as good as it looked!
Our Chef hears your voice
Our Chef Manager, Miss Perry, loved chatting with parents and carers at the Plant and Craft Fair, sharing samples of the new reduced‑sugar desserts and hearing feedback on the Summer Menu 🌱 It was a great opportunity to talk through the nutritional thinking behind our school lunch menu and how small changes can make a big difference.
Prickles the Hedgehog
This morning brought a rather prickly surprise… 🦔
We had a very special little visitor wander onto the KS1 playground today – a hedgehog!
Not wanting to disturb our shy guest, Mr Larkham and a small group of helpful children from Hedgehogs class stepped in. With lots of care they safely escorted Prickles to a quiet, undisturbed spot in our conservation area and then to a warm, private box inside to stay warm with some food with Cuan Wildlife Rescue collecting him later 🦔
A reminder of the amazing nature we’re lucky to have right on our doorstep. Do you have a hedgehog friendly garden at home?
Year 4 survey the public for their Geography Fieldwork
This afternoon, we conducted some Geography fieldwork, surveying members of the public as to why they were in town to answer our enquiry question: is tourism the same in Shrewsbury as it is in the Lake District?
Year 4 showed confidence and courtesy and were excellent representatives of Coleham – well done, Year 4!
Whales visit Wildlife Photography Exhibition
🦊We visited the Wildlife Photography of the Year at SM&AG, a showcase from the Natural History Museum in London.
🐢We talked about our favourite photos, the photos we found most inspiring, most shocking and the photos we thought must have been the most difficult to take.
✨ Year 2 Visit from Guide Dogs UK ✨
Year 2 had a wonderful visit from Georgia, who works at Guide Dogs UK, along with her guide dog, Aaron. The children enjoyed learning all about how guide dogs are trained and the important role they play in helping people live more independently.
Georgia shared that she is currently training four guide dogs and told the children how she trains them to recognise words and get used to other pets.
The class impressed Georgia a stream of thoughtful questions—well done, Year 2! 🐾
In other news, due to the hard work of Year 2 in persuasive writing this term, we have been persuaded to sponsor a dog called Toblerone! We look forward to receiving any ‘pupdates’ that we might receive.
Nutritionist visits Year 2
Our Catering Team’s nutritionist, Hannah, visited Owls and Rabbits to explore healthy eating. She spoke to the children about the different food groups on their plate and shared ideas for nutritious, balanced snacks. It was an engaging session that helped everyone learn how to make healthier choices.
