Manor Park Primary Academy

As another busy term comes to an end, we reflect on the many achievements and highlights of the past few months. It has been wonderful to witness the children's enthusiasm for learning, from Year 3's festive Christmas workshop and KS2's impressive drumming performances, to EYFS's 'Express and Share' assemblies and Year 5's captivating Shang Dynasty workshop. We are grateful for your support in enabling these enriching activities. Year 2 particularly impressed us with their outstanding performance of 'Christmas and the Aliens', a delightful blend of music, drama, and festive cheer that truly captured the spirit of the season.

A special thanks to our amazing PTA (FOMP) for their tireless efforts in organising a range of successful events, including the ever-popular panto, the magical Santa Paws visit, and our brand new Winter Festival. Your generosity in funding gifts for all the children during the Santa Paws visit and your ongoing support in providing opportunities for all is greatly appreciated. The festive Christmas lunch, complete with crackers and music, created a lovely atmosphere throughout the school.

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Williamson, our Principal, will be returning to school from the week beginning 20th January 2025. We are all very much looking forward to welcoming her back. As Ms. Williamson will initially be returning for 4 days, I will continue in the role of Co-Principal for one day a week until the end of the academic year, while resuming my vice principal responsibilities. This arrangement will ensure a smooth transition and allow Ms. Williamson to seamlessly reintegrate into school life. 

We wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Monday 6th January 2025.

Reading Champions Autumn 2024

This term, we are thrilled to announce the winners of our "Reading Champions" award. These exceptional pupils from Year 1 to Year 6 have not only excelled in their reading abilities but have also demonstrated a true passion for the written word. 

Reading is a fundamental skill that opens doors to endless possibilities, developing imagination, expanding knowledge, and nurturing a lifelong love of learning. Our Reading Champions have consistently gone above and beyond, immersing themselves in captivating stories, engaging with diverse texts, and inspiring their peers to do the same. Their dedication and enthusiasm for reading have earned them well-deserved recognition, including a certificate and a special prize. Congratulations to our outstanding readers!

Check out the 'Reading Champions Autumn 2024' video here: Click Here

What an exceptional term it has been for our Nursery pupils! The children have been busy building positive relationships with their peers and teachers, and we have been so impressed with their behaviour. They have diligently followed our Golden Rules, demonstrating kindness and sharing throughout the term.

This term, the children explored the themes of 'Once Upon a Time' and 'Sparkle and Shine' through the Cornerstones curriculum. Classic fairy tales like 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' sparked their imaginations, as did modern stories like 'Zog' and 'The Stickman.' Inspired by these tales, the children enjoyed role-playing and bringing the characters to life through drawing and other creative activities. These wonderful texts inspired the children to create bridges in the garden and retell the story and create drawings of the Princess from ‘Zog.’ 

During our 'Sparkle and Shine' unit, the children not only explored a variety of materials and used torches to identify shiny objects, but also had a fantastic time learning about important celebrations from around the world. They brought in photos and pictures from their own family celebrations and shared their experiences, learning about the diverse ways people celebrate special occasions. This activity provided a fantastic opportunity for them to practice their observational and communication skills as they described their experiences with each other. 

In Maths, the children sang along to 'Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed' to reinforce their understanding of numbers up to 5. They also explored exciting concepts like patterns, measuring, and weight through hands-on activities. The children had a wonderful time weighing and comparing Christmas presents and carefully counting out the correct number of bananas to feed our toy monkey!

This half term, Reception children have enjoyed a variety of exciting activities. They have attended their first school workshop, watched a brilliant puppet show, and even had a special visit from Santa Paws! Parents were also invited to see their children's amazing work during a Winter Express and Share.

During the topic - 'Marvellous Machines' and 'Pop up Puppets' - children made some amazing 3D junk modelling robots, sewed their own puppets, had fun dancing like robots, and created great art work in the style of Jackson Pollock. They have also read lots of exciting stories such as; 'Room on the Broom' story, and 'No-Bot, the Robot with No Bottom!' to support and enhance their learning. 

During Phonics, children have been continuing learning phase 2 & some phase 3 sounds. They have been working hard on using 'robot arms' to say the sound, blend the sounds together and squash and say the word. They have learnt lots of harder to read and spell words and are using these to enjoy independent reading and writing. 

In Maths, children have been telling first, then, and now stories when finding one more or one less. They have learnt ways of making 5 and they can even name some number bonds to 5. Children have been able to name the properties of 2D and 3D shapes and have had fun finding out which shapes could roll or slide, and which could stack.  They loved playing the 'Where is Teddy?' game using positional language to describe where the teddy was. 

Finally, in P.E the children have been learning to balance, zigzag, hop, and jump with both feet together and complete different bean bag throwing challenges!

Year 1 have settled into formal learning brilliantly this half term! They had a fantastic time exploring and learning about toys from different eras in their 'Toys of the Past' workshop, where they compared how toys have changed over time. 

In Maths, Year 1 have been working hard to improve their counting skills, and they can now confidently count to 20! They have also become experts at using a tens frame to help them solve addition problems, and really focused on practising writing their numbers the right way around. 

In English, the children have explored a range of texts from 'Supertato' and 'JoJo and Gran Gran' to 'Clean up!' and 'The Jolly Christmas Postman'. They have learnt all about nouns and adjectives and have been using these to write incredible sentences and character descriptions. They even brought 'Supertato' to life, dressing up as Supertato and Evil Pea to explore character development through voice acting and movement. Year 1 have also considered the importance of sustainability, making their own posters to persuade others to save the environment!

The children have become budding scientists, exploring many everyday materials including wood, plastic, and metal. They have learnt about their properties and how they can be used for lots of different purposes. In DT, they've put their knowledge to the test by building their own pet shelters from recycled materials. Our pupils have also become creative engineers, turning junk into purposeful structures!

In Geography this half term Year 1 have been learning about our wonderful world. They have learnt about the seven continents and five oceans, discovering hot and cold places. They have also looked at the four countries of the United Kingdom, and explored different types of settlements, from bustling cities to quiet villages. They put their learning to the test by venturing outside for fieldwork, identifying human and physical features around the school grounds. 

Year 2 have had an excellent half term, packed full of learning and exciting experiences! In English, the children's imaginations soared as they crafted their own captivating stories inspired by Oliver Jeffers' 'The Way Back Home.' They also demonstrated impressive non-fiction writing skills by creating informative texts about the artist Kandinsky and the incredible activist Malala Yousafzai. 

In Maths, Year 2 has been busy strengthening their addition and subtraction skills, mastering the technique of bridging through ten. They have also delved into the world of shapes, exploring both 2D and 3D forms, learning their names, identifying their properties, and comparing their characteristics. 

The children's scientific curiosity has flourished this term with their exploration of habitats. They have learned to differentiate between living and non-living things and discovered the interconnections of life through food chains. A particularly engaging activity involved creating their own camouflaged moths and hiding them in the school grounds, bringing to life the concept of adaptation for survival.

Year 2 embraced the spirit of Christmas with their RE lessons, learning the story of Jesus's birth and crafting their own Christingles. Understanding the symbolism behind each element of the Christingle added a deeper meaning to this festive tradition. Furthermore, their geographical explorations have taken them around the globe, identifying the seven continents, learning about the equator and contrasting climates, and focusing on the unique characteristics of the United Kingdom. It's wonderful to hear how they've also embraced outdoor learning through their weekly Forest School sessions!

Finally, a huge well done to all the children for their outstanding performance in the Christmas play, 'Christmas with the Aliens!' Their hard work and dedication shone through, and the teachers (and likely the audience!) will be humming those catchy tunes for weeks to come. What a fantastic way to end a truly outstanding term!

Year 3 have had a jam-packed term full of exciting learning and impressive achievements! From culinary creations to historical investigations, our young learners have embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and creativity.

Our budding chefs explored the importance of a healthy balanced diet, learning about different food groups and how they contribute to our wellbeing and overall health. Putting their knowledge to the test, they donned their aprons and whipped up delicious savory snacks. The mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked courgette, cheese and chive muffins filled the classroom, followed by the vibrant colours of their very own rainbow pizzas. 

In Art, our pupils travelled back in time to the Bronze Age to investigate the fascinating world of Bell Beaker pottery, where they mastered clay techniques like rolling coils, creating slip, and joining clay pieces. Inspired by authentic Bell Beaker designs, children used tools to score intricate patterns into their own clay creations, showcasing their artistic talents and historical understanding.

Year 3 delved into the human body in Science, exploring the wonders of joints, muscles, and skeletons. They discovered how muscle pairs work together to create movement and investigated the advantages and disadvantages of different skeletal structures (endoskeletons, exoskeletons, and no skeleton at all!).

History lessons transported us to the Iron Age, where Year 3 encountered fierce Celtic warriors. After researching these ancient fighters, they penned vivid descriptions, bringing them to life through words. Taking their learning a step further, they used Canva AI to generate images based on their writing, combining historical understanding with cutting-edge technology. 

Year 4 travelled back in time this half term to explore the fascinating period of Anglo-Saxon rule in Britain! The children delved into the lives of the Anglo-Saxons, discovering how they lived and how their society was organised. The arrival of the Vikings marked a turning point in British history, and Year 4 investigated the conflicts and power struggles that erupted during this turbulent era. Finally, the children examined the Norman Conquest, learning about William the Conqueror and the lasting impact the Normans had on Britain. To demonstrate their newfound expertise, Year 4 created an impressive information website comparing and contrasting Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain.

Year 4 embarked on a thrilling journey through Norse mythology in English lessons this half term. The children discovered the captivating stories and legends surrounding the Viking gods and goddesses, including Odin, the king of the gods, Thor, the god of thunder, and Loki, the trickster god. They explored the myths and legends associated with these powerful figures, learning about their roles in the Viking world. To further develop their writing skills, Year 4 were challenged to write their own exciting endings to the legendary battle between Thor and the monstrous sea serpent Jormungandr.

Year 4 pupils became intrepid explorers in their Geography lessons this half term! Their journey began with an exploration of the vast continents of North and South America. The children investigated the diverse climates and landscapes of these continents, from the icy Arctic regions of Canada to the tropical rainforests of the Amazon. They also learned about the rich and varied cultures of the people who live in North and South America. Next, Year 4 turned their attention to the UK, comparing and contrasting its geography and culture with the Americas. Finally, the children examined transport networks across the UK, with a particular focus on the transport links found closer to home in Sutton.

Year 5, have rocketed to success this term! Your exploration of space has been out of this world, from investigating the fiery power of the sun to unravelling the mysteries of gravity. They've launched themselves into imaginative writing, crafting stellar adverts for a space hotel using the most dazzling figurative language. They also enjoyed exploring with Olex AI, using the 'imaginator' to really making their fantastic setting descriptions come to life. Seeing their wonderful images that were created were both inspiring and impressive. 

During Maths, they have worked hard on understanding fractions, looking at common denominators and applying all of their times table knowledge and facts to understand common factors and multiples. They also explored squared and cubed numbers, expanding their maths understanding even further. 

Over the last few weeks, year 5 have worked very hard on learning various songs for the carol concert and this was showcased a few weeks ago with a fabulous outdoor concert for the parents and staff at Manor Park. The year 5 team were very proud of their performance.  To top off the Autumn term, they had one final performance, a drumming performance where they could showcase all the fantastic learning they have been practising during their music session. Very well done Year 5, exceptional drumming. 

Finally, our Year 5 pupils were lucky enough to receive a visit from Crystal Palace workshop, where they were looking at diversity within the club and how this is expanding in the future.

This half term, Year 6 have continued their topic 'Maafa' in which they have learnt about life after the abolition of slavery and more recently Black people in Britain in the 20th Century, including learning about the Windrush. The children then began to think about influential and significant Black people in the 21st Century. They continued their learning about the heart and the circulatory system and used this to write their own biography about Dr William Harvey.

In Art, the children have learnt how art can be used as a way to express important social, cultural and environmental issues. They begun by studying trailblazers and barrier breakers in Art in which they learnt about significant black artists and their work, and were provided with  opportunities to analyse and create artwork inspired by them. They then used this learning to form their own piece of inspired art work which portrayed an issue they resonated with. The children combined sketching skills, along with their prior learning of tints, tones and shades, to produce their final piece. Some opted to complete their artwork using digital technologies. 

As part of their Geography learning, Year 6 have been studying settlement patterns. Once they had learnt about different settlement patterns across the UK, they then brought their learning closer to home and conducted a local settlement pattern enquiry. The children were able to identify settlement patterns in the local area and then moved slightly further afield to study settlement patterns in Surrey. They used Google Earth to identify the different settlements, take screen shots and then present their answers and findings to the enquiry question to the rest of the class. The children were able to find settlements such as compact, circular, linear and Y-shaped in the local area. 

In History, the children learnt about the impact of both slavery and colonialism on the African diaspora. They discussed the role of European powers in this chapter of history, and the long-lasting consequences of slavery and colonialism. Through research, discussions, and creative projects like storyboards and newspaper articles, the children gained a deeper understanding of this important historical period and its relevance to today.

To finish the term, Year 6 showcased their Music learning to their parents and carers. They learnt about cuckoo African drumming and were able to perform a few pieces and also take part in an improvisation! 

This half term has been a busy and successful one for sports at Manor Park! Our girls' football team have shown great teamwork and determination in both league games and tournaments, scoring some amazing goals along the way. The boys' football team also demonstrated excellent teamwork in the Fulham FC Foundation tournament. 

We are very proud of our Year 6 pupils who represented the school at the Panathlon event, and our Year 5 & 6 pupils who developed their skills at the 'Sutton Sports Partnership' Sutton Squash Workshop. Finally, well done to our Year 3 children who had a fantastic time at the Sutton Sports Partnership Sutton Tag Rugby festival. It is wonderful to see so many children participating in and enjoying a wide variety of sports.

LEO Explorers are: Forward-Thinking

We are explorers that are always on a journey to learn and discover. We are not afraid to take risks to learn and grow. We look ahead and plan ways to make our ideas become a reality.

The class with the highest attendance in Reception and Key Stage 1  for the week ending 13th December 2024 was  Coral Classes with 99%, closely followed by  Diamond Class with 98%.

The class with the highest attendance in Key Stage 2 for week ending 13th December 2024 was  Sapphire Class with 99.06% followed by Turquoise Class with 98.13%.

Well done, everyone.

Weekly Achievement Certificate Winners

Click here to see this week's certificate winners. 

Well done to you all!