Latest Learning 2026-2027

 

11.09.26 - Welcome Back to School!

A warm welcome to all the children and we are so happy to see every pupil looking smart in full uniform, coming in respectfully and showing fantastic learning behaviours as we start their final preparations for secondary school. As we embark on this final year of primary school, we have ensured that we are preparing each child to do their very best and that they leave Bankside having made excellent progress from their own personal starting points. 

The classrooms have been prepared and organised to create a calm working environment. A clear system for allergies is already in place, and safeguarding of the pupils in our care is our utmost priority. Creating predictable routines and establishing a feeling of security during these early weeks will ensure we put strong roots down for success this year.

We have begun the year delving into the history of WW2, imagining what it feels like to be a child caught in an air raid! Our writing intention is a dramatic creative piece describing a busy high street during and after a Luftwaffe invasion, illuminated by a scene from “Letters from the Lighthouse.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latest Learning 2025-2026

03.07.26 - The Golden Age of Islam!

This week we have begun our final topic of the year: The Golden Age of Islam! This is a fascinating look at an ancient culture that has a rich history and an incredible story to tell about Islamic civilisation from the 7th to the 10th century.

To being, each child was given a metre stick and we lay them across the playground  - the circular city of Baghdad had a wall around it 30 metres high to act as a defense system - with gates to the north, south, east and west.

We imagined standing at the bottom of the wall! Our first lesson has been to compare what was happening in Britain between the 7th and 10th centuries with what was happening during this Golden Age of Islam in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Spain and Uzbekistan. Understanding where in world history the Golden Age was,  is an important piece of information as so many inventions and discoveries were made during this time whilst Britain was still being invaded by Vikings and living under a feudal system and most people were illiterate. However, over the next 6 lessons, the children will discover:

• The House of Wisdom and learning for all

• The Prophet Muhammed’s teachings around the importance of education

• Advances in medical care and education

• Reasons why the Golden Age came to an end

This will support their thinking and understanding of history and encourage them to ask questions such as: Why was it the Golden Age during this time? Why was this NOT the Golden Age in Britain? What conditions do we need to live in peace and prosperity?

 

 

26.06.26 - Enterprise Week!

This week in Year 6, the innovation and entrepreneurship preparation has culminated in a successful Enterprise week. In the afternoons, we have created stalls to sell our products in order to make profit to subsidise the end of Year 6 prom. The children have created posters for their advertising as well as been given an amount of money to invest with the aim of turning a profit. They have also adapted their products to suit their audience as we catered for Years 1 and 2 first then moved up the school. We hope that we are creating lasting memorable learning experiences for all the children so they can learn, bond with each other and be inspired to be innovative!

19.06.26 - Doctor Bike!

Will the fun ever stop for Year 6? 

It appears not! This week and last, Dr Bike have been into school teaching children how to fix and maintain their own bike. This week taking groups of children with our very own Ms. Holmes overseeing, around the local area to improve proficiency and road safety awareness. They have had a fantastic time doing it. We really recommend cycling as a way of staying fit and healthy and a good way to travel to and from school.

 

12.06.26 - Nell Bank!

This week our Year 6 pupils went on a residential to Nell Bank in Ilkley. Unfortunately, the weather was extremely wet, however, we did not let that ruin our fun! We had numerous adventures, including a hike and team building activities. The children developed their independence, resilience and collaboration learning cogs throughout the experience! A huge thank you to the staff that supported this experience for our pupils.

22.05.26 - Writing!

As we are writing a narrative setting in English this week, we have immersed ourselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the Arabian Bazaar. We have enjoyed role-play, being both customers and traders, imagining how we would sell our products. We have used figurative language to describe every aspect of a day in the market place - watch this space for some good examples!

 

15.05.26 -Chess Club!

Year 5 and 6 have been invited to learn chess during their lunch hour. As a busy, inner-city school we have a lot of children on the playground and we wanted to cater for everyone's tastes. They can go out and exercise and then come back to join us for some quiet, focused fun with a friend or find new friends to play with. 

It has been a growing success, beginning with 1 or 2 children and now about 15 children are enjoying learning strategy, turn-taking, dealing with winning and losing in a safe, supportive environment. The goal is to teach explicitly the social skills needed to become confident, co-operative and social young people.

Chess has been proven to:

• Improves Memory and Cognition: Regular play enhances visual memory and overall cognitive abilities.

• Boosts Strategic Planning: It trains the brain in decision-making, requiring players to anticipate consequences and plan moves ahead.

• Increases Focus and Concentration: Chess demands deep concentration, helping players manage distractions and develop patience.