William Barcroft Junior School
'Success and happiness for all'
'Pupils are very happy to attend this nurturing and inclusive school'
'The school has high ambition for pupils' achievement'
'Pupils know they have a strong voice'
'The school's pastoral care is exemplary'
Ofsted report - June 2025
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/143884
Message from the Principal:
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our first newsletter of 2026. We’ve had a fantastic start to the new term. As always we have been busy and have lots to share with you. You will see on our pictures below that our very own ‘mini police’ have been empowered and sent out in the community to make our roads around school safer by catching anyone speeding! We also had lots of fun when we met one of the police sniffer dogs in assembly who was very lively and happy to show off his skills!
In the classrooms we have had lots of delight and joy, with year 6 enjoying some amazing science in their labrascals workshops and lots of fun in the many new clubs which started this week.
We had a really tricky half term in autumn two in terms of attendance as there were some particularly nasty sick bugs going around. We are trying really hard now to catch up and ensure that no more learning is missed. We will do everything in our power to support with children attending every day so please get in touch if you feel you need our help.
Next week is a busy week too. Just a reminder if your child is on the SEND register, we have their parents’ evening on Wednesday to review their targets and support. Year 5 will be on their trip to Magna on Thursday, with the children expected back at approximately 4pm. This same day year 3 will be on their trip to Old Clee Church - please ensure they are well wrapped up for this.
Thanks everyone, please enjoy reading the newsletter and have a lovely weekend.
S Sargent
Principal
If your child is absent, please contact the school office via telephone rather than the enquires email so that we can log your child's absence before the registers close.
We are excited to announce a new incentive to celebrate our students' commitment to learning this term. Every child who achieves 98% attendance or higher during the Spring term will be automatically entered into a special prize draw!
The lucky winner will walk away with a special prize just for them, and they’ll also be taking home a £25 Asda voucher for their parents to enjoy. Consistent attendance is key to your child’s progress and confidence, and we can’t wait to reward our high achievers. Good luck to everyone—let’s make every day count!
Spring 1
Children return on Monday 5th January 2026
Wednesday 21st January - SEND parents' evening
Thursday 22nd January - Year 5 Magna trip
Thursday 22nd January - Year 3 Old Clee Church
Tuesday 10th February - Internet Safety Day
Friday 13th February - Last day of term
Spring 2
Monday 23rd February - Return to school for Spring term 2
Thursday 5th March - World Book Day
WB 9th March - Science Week
Wednesday 11th March - Parents' Evening
Tuesday 17th March - Year 3 Lincoln Zoo
Wednesday 18th March - Year 3/4 Football Tournament
WB 23rd March - Year 5 Into University workshops
Tuesday 24th March - Cross Country
Tuesday 24th March - Compass Go parent workshop
Thursday 26th March - Year 6 Learning showcase
Friday 27th March - Year 5 Learning showcase
Tuesday 31st March - Year 3 Learning showcase
Wednesday 1st April - Year 4 Learning showcase
Thursday 2nd April - Spring talent show
Year 5/6 Mixed Gender Cup Match with Thrunscoe Primary TBC
Thursday 2nd April - Last day of term
Monday 20th April - Return to school
Term dates
Please check the website for 2025 - 2026 term dates.
General Information
Please do not ride bikes and scooters on the school grounds, this is for children and adults. This is for the safety of our children, thank you.
Please note, electric scooters are not allowed on the school site due to health and safety regulations and not having the facilities to store them in school.
Please do not bring pets onto the school site due to health and safety regulations. This includes picking up from after school clubs.
PE Kits
PE kit MUST be brought to school on your child's PE days,
Year 5 and Year 6 - Monday and Wednesday
Year 3 and Year 4 - Tuesday and Thursday
PE kit should be worn for every PE lesson to ensure children are successful and safe during their session. Please ensure your child is wearing the school PE top with the WBJS logo, black or blue joggers/shorts and comfortable trainers.
WBJS Newsround
In English, we went on a magical journey reading Ocean Meets Sky, and now we have just started reading The Butterfly Lion, which I am really enjoying so far. My favorite part of the last two weeks was Art. We practiced continuous line drawing, where you have to draw an entire picture without ever lifting your pencil off the paper! It was a bit tricky not to stop, but it made my drawings look really unique and flowing.
Sophia - Buttercups
In English, we have been diving into some great stories; I really enjoyed The Song of a Dolphin Boy and looking through all the secrets in the Inside the Villains book. My favorite part so far has been Art, where we have been studying the artist Emma Burleigh. We got to experiment with different watercolour techniques, like "wet on wet" and "salt resist," to see how the paint moves on the paper. In PE, we’ve started badminton, and I’m learning how to hold the racket properly and follow the rules of the game.
Millie - Roses
In maths, we have been tackling large numbers and learning how to use the bus stop method for division. During our literacy time, we started reading a new book called The Escape Room, and it is so mysterious that I can’t wait to find out what happens next. We’ve also been getting active in PE, where we are learning the basic skills of tennis, like how to hold the racket and keep our eye on the ball.
Kennedy - Snowdrops
In maths, we have been learning all about decimals and how to use them with tenths and hundredths. It was a bit tricky at first, but I am getting the hang of it! For English, we have been looking at two really interesting books called The Viewer and Rose Blanche. They both have amazing pictures that tell a story. We have also started our new history topic about World War 1. I have enjoyed learning about what life was like back then.
Emliy - Magnolias
Last week, year 6 enjoyed a fabulous workshop provided by Labrascals and RWE. Each class learnt about Climate Change, renewable energy and gases that harm our planet. We built wind turbines out of Lego, which we then used to power a car which we also built. We experienced climbing to the top of an actual wind turbine through virtual reality goggles.
We explored green house gases; we used dry ice and a balloon to create carbon dioxide- this inflated the balloon when we shook it. We loved watching a demonstration where a volcano was created from soap and hot water.
We were immersed in a planetarium, where we watched a virtual reality video on what could happen to our planet if humans do nothing to reduce climate change.
Before Christmas, we held a Battle of the Bands competition on Times Tables Rock Stars. Competition was fierce; however, the runaway winners were Magnolias, with an incredible average of 2,547 correct answers!
2026 will be the year of Rock Stars competitions, so keep your eyes peeled for more exciting challenges to come.
Remember, just as we ask for three reads per week, it would be fantastic if children could also complete three Rock Stars sessions each week to help sharpen their times tables skills.
Reading with your child for just ten minutes a day can make a world of difference to their success in school and beyond. While we focus heavily on literacy in the classroom, the quiet time spent sharing a book at home is where a true love for stories is born. Reading at home doesn't just improve vocabulary and comprehension; it sparks imagination, builds empathy, and provides a wonderful opportunity for you to bond. Whether it’s a bedtime story, a comic, or an information book, every page turned helps build the confidence and curiosity your child needs to thrive. We ask our pupils to please read at home 3 times per week and to bring their bookbag, reading record and reading book into school everyday.
Our Tuesday afternoon assembly took an exciting turn this week when we welcomed the local police team and a very special four-legged officer! The children were captivated as they watched a live demonstration of police search procedures, seeing firsthand how these incredible dogs use their keen senses to assist the force. It was a fantastic opportunity for the pupils to learn about the different roles within the police service and the vital work they do to keep us safe. The star of the show certainly left a lasting impression—and perhaps even inspired a few future dog handlers!
Follow this link to visit the safeguarding section of our website, and for a copy of our Safeguarding and Child Protection policy. https://wba.harbourlearningtrust.com/our-academy/safeguarding/
Keep an eye out for some small but mighty recruits on the roads this week! Our Mini Police officers have been working closely with the local Road Traffic Team to help keep our community safe. Armed with speed detection equipment, the team spent time on Queen Mary Avenue monitoring traffic and identifying speeding vehicles. This hands-on experience gave our pupils a unique insight into road safety and the importance of following speed limits to protect everyone in our neighborhood. We are incredibly proud of their dedication to making our local streets a safer place for all.
Change the life of a local child, be a foster carer. Enquire today Fostering in North East Lincolnshire | NELC
As a foster friendly school, we want to raise awareness of the need for local foster carers to come forward in the area. If you think you can make a positive difference to a child’s life, enquire today. Fostering in North East Lincolnshire | NELC https://youtu.be/sNXx6dycp3Y
For all SEND enquiries please contact Mrs Asher our school SENDCO.
Dear Parents/Carers,
Next week we will be holding our Parents’ Evening for parents of pupils with SEND to review your child’s Individual graduated approach plan (IGAP).
These will be on Wednesday 21st January 2026. We will update you on your child’s progress, share their attainment data and discuss how we can work together to support the next steps in their learning. This will be an opportunity for you to have a conversation with your child's teacher to discuss your child's Spring Term personal SEND targets. We will be holding these meetings face to face in the school hall.
Please book your preferred time slot on Arbor. This shows up under ‘Guardian Consultations’. If you struggle with this please contact the office. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you cannot attend on this day please let us know a convenient time for the class teacher to call you.
Many thanks for your support,
Rachel Asher
SENDCo
Workshops for Parent Carers
Understanding Neurodivergent Children and the Impact of Parenting a Neurodivergent Child
Tuesday 20th January 2026
9.15am – 11.30am
Venue: Grimsby Town Hall
Managing Mental Health Difficulties in Neurodivergent Children
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
9.15am – 11.30am
Venue: Grimsby Town Hall
Toy scalping & online fakes aren’t just frustrating—they can harm children financially & emotionally. This #WakeUpWednesday guide explains how bots & scams work, and how parents can help young people stay safe.
Download your FREE copy here >> vist.ly/4hxpk
Please check out the following links to our X (Twitter) accounts and see what each class have been up to this week in real-time!
