We are delighted to let you know that we have launched a new website for Belswains this week. The domain name stays the same www.belswains.herts.sch.uk but the look is new. We have designed the home page to feature quick links for things we think parents need easy access to. This includes the newsletters, lunch menu, class pages and Arbor. We hope you like the new look. We are still in the process of updating some areas of it; let us know if you have feedback on further additions.
This week in EYFS, we have been learning about the celebration of Ramadan and Eid. The children have enjoyed sharing their own experiences and knowledge. We explored a range of resources, including photographs, fiction stories, and non-fiction books about Eid, helping to deepen our understanding of these special celebrations.
This week in the provision, the children had lots of fun singing many of the nursery rhymes they know and exploring different instruments to create both loud and quiet music. Mark-making opportunities were available throughout all areas of the provision, allowing the children to practice writing independently and at their own pace. We have finished this week with a fantastic Science work shop!
This week, the children delighted their families and friends with a swashbuckling performance of Pirates Versus Mermaids. Their singing was wonderful, their acting outstanding, and they all looked fantastic in their costumes. We are confident the audiences were thoroughly entertained.
Well done to all KS1 pupils!
Year 4 Owls Explore the Canal!
On Thursday 19th March 2026, Year 4 Owls enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust at Batchworth Lock Canal Centre. The children took part in three exciting activities, rotating in groups throughout the day.
They had a wonderful time learning how to operate a canal lock, discovering the history of canal life and even stepping back in time to experience Victorian washing all whilst dressed as Victorian children! A highlight of the day was a relaxing boat ride along the canal, where they spotted local wildlife and watched the lock in action from a boater’s perspective.
The children were absolutely brilliant and represented Belswains superbly and the sunshine made the day even more special!
We’re now looking forward to Nightingales’ turn on Thursday 26th March, as they prepare to take their own journey back in time.
Learning to wash our clothes just as the Victorians would have.
Use those muscles Year 4!
Enjoying the sunshine from our boat ride.
Did you know our Year 4's used to be part of the Navvies? Well yesterday, they were!
Practical Learning Across the Curriculum
With SATs fast approaching, we’ve been reminding the children that while working hard is important, learning can still be enjoyable, creative and full of variety. One of our key goals this term has been to show that preparing for tests doesn’t have to mean sitting still with a pencil; practical, hands‑on activities can be just as powerful for building skills and confidence.
Over the past two weeks, the children have taken part in a range of engaging tasks across the curriculum. In Science, they designed and created their own shadow puppets, using them to explore how light behaves and how shadows form. They also investigated the transparency of different coloured paper and card, comparing how much light each material allowed through and discussing the science behind their findings.
In Maths, we’ve been developing our understanding of statistics, working with pie charts and gathering our own data to interpret. A highlight of the week was heading outdoors to the MUGA in the sunshine, where we used PE equipment to help calculate the Mean in a fun, active way. These practical activities have helped the children see learning from a new perspective; one where curiosity, movement and enjoyment play just as important a role as knowledge.
This week the whole school took part in Science Workshops. On Thursday, Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 took part in a Dinosaur and Fossil Dig. The children were palaeontologists, locating and identifying fossils from some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the past - T-Rex, Stegosaurus and Triceratops. The children learnt about where each dinosaur lived, where they came from and what they ate. The children also had the opportunity to meet baby dinosaurs!
On Friday, Key Stage 2 took part in an amazing "Science Faction" workshop. We discussed how scientists work and carry out investigations. The workshop was full of amazing experiments and lots of WOW moments! The experiments covered a full range of science topics, including forces, chemistry, materials and much more. The children were engaged in the all the fantasic activities and there were lots of surprised faces and "WOWs". The children asked and answered lots of scientific questions and demonstrated a range of scientific knowledge. Reece, our visitor, was very knowledgeable and made science fun and exciting to all of our learners. The experiments all used home equipment and ingredients (so be prepared for some budding scientists at home!)
A great couple of days, learning all about the amazing world of Science.
Nursery
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
The School Council were very excited to present to the governors on Wednesday evening. They showed great bravery as they delivered a PowerPoint about their involvement in the school, confidently answered questions from the governing body, and shared their views and vision for future ideas for Belswains.
Our School Council would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in our Bad Hair Day for Comic Relief. The creativity on display, from wild colours to gravity‑defying styles, brought so much fun to the school, all while supporting an important cause. Thanks to your enthusiasm and generosity, we’ve raised valuable funds to help make a difference for people in need. What a brilliant community effort!
Congratulations to all the pupils who received a certificate in assembly, staff have noticed you doing something above and beyond!
Reception Robins Hannah for working hard to write a sentence using her sounds and Fred fingers.
Reception Robins Keumala for a fantastic piece of writing in literacy.
Reception Sparrows Etinosa for perfecting his Maths skills by matching numerals with the correct amount.
Reception Sparrows Darian for working hard in Phonics.
Year 1 Goldcrests Noah for working so hard on his handwriting.
Year 1 Goldcrests Whole Class for a brilliant performance of Pirates versus Mermaids.
Year 1 Firecrests Grayson for explaining his answers on the carpet in Maths.
Year 1 Firecrests Whole Class for a brilliant performance of Pirates versus Mermaids.
Year 2 Starlings Haleemah for working independently.
Year 2 Starlings Whole Class for a brilliant performance of Pirates versus Mermaids.
Year 2 Swifts Ellis for great participation in class discussions.
Year 2 Swifts Whole Class for a brilliant performance of Pirates versus Mermaids.
Year 3 Jays Rosemary for her hard work in Maths and her excellent score in her Maths test.
Year 3 Jays Abdul for his wonderful retelling of the Gruffalo.
Year 3 Redwings Sofia for her amazing story about Pip and Egg! It was a pleasure to read.
Year 3 Redwings Finn O for a fantastic improvement in his handwriting this week!
Year 4 Owls Albert for having the confidence to ask for help when he needs it.
Year 4 Owls Matilda for her excellent poem called Tuesday.
Year 4 Nightingales Serenity for excellent Maths when adding and subtracting fractions.
Year 4 Nightingales Oliver for making amazing progress in his MTC score and getting 25/25!
Year 5 Eagles Zak for his amazing sentences about a desolate city.
Year 5 Eagles Amelia C for making an excellent start to life at Belswains.
Year 5 Hawks Zunairah for always being polite and well mannered.
Year 5 Hawks Remi for always working hard and being a great role model to others.
Year 6 Red Kites Isobel for her excellent narrative about Ernest Shackleton.
Year 6 Red Kites Elizabeth for being a perfect role model.
Year 6 Falcons Henry for showing amazing helpfulness and support during the week.
Year 6 Falcons Jack for making tremendous progress in his reading comprehension.
Thursday 26th March 2026
Year 4 Nightingales Rivers trip
Friday 27th March 2026
Spring term ends (school finishes 1.30pm)
Monday 13th April 2026
INSET day
Tuesday 14th April 2026
Children return to school for Summer term
Friday 17th April 2026
SEND Coffee afternoon 2.30pm
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Class photo day
Friday 24th April 2026
Robins Class Assembly
Friday 1st May 2026
Sparrows Class Assembly
Break the rules day
Monday 4th May 2026
Bank Holiday (school closed)
Tuesday 5th May 2026
Reception Bekonscot trip
Friday 8th May 2026
Year 1 Goldcrests Class Assembly
11th - 14th May 2026
Year 6 SATs week
Friday 15th May 2026
PTA silent disco
Friday 22nd May 2026
Year 3 Jays Class Assembly
25th - 29th May 2026
Half term
Monday 1st June 2026
Children return to school
Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Year 6 Top-up swimming starts
Wednesday 3rd June 2026
Year 3 St Albans Cathedral trip
Friday 5th June 2026
Year 5 Greek workshop
Wednesday 10th June 2026
KS1 and KS2 Sports Day
Friday 12th June 2026
Year 2 Swifts Class Assembly
15th - 19th June 2026
Year 5 Bikeability
Thursday 25th June 2026
Year 1 British Schools Museum trip
29th June - 3rd July 2026
Year 6 Residential
Tuesday 30th June 2026
Year 2 Knebworth House trip
Friday 3rd July 2026
Year 4 Owls Class Assembly
Thursday 9th July 2026
Whole school 'move up' morning
Tuesday 21st July 2026
Last day of Summer term (school closes at 1.30pm)
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
INSET DAY
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Occasional Day