Term 6 Newsletter – July 2025
What a brilliant finale to my first year at Wilmington Primary School!
As we come to the end of a busy and successful academic year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful achievements across our school community. We have had much to celebrate from our shared VE Day events, through to World Book Day and our amazing musicians, singers and performers have been shining at specialist events and in our wider local community. Our sports have continued to achieve by winning a variety of tournaments in football, including under the lights at Princes Park, and coming close in netball. We look forward to more success next year. A particular highlight has been our Year 6 pupils, who not only impressed us all with their incredible performance in this year’s school production, but who are also preparing to take their next big step into secondary school. We are so proud of the maturity, creativity and confidence they’ve shown, and we wish them every success as they begin this exciting new chapter.
Mrs Cooper, added “I’d like to thank each and every one of you for the wonderful memories we have made together. Watching you grow into the amazing and talented young people you are, has been such a pleasure”.
In this Newsletter, we are highlighting the invaluable contribution to our pupils’ education, personal development and wellbeing by our Teaching Assistants. Effective teaching is a collaborative process, TAs are not just assistants – they are educators, mentors, and role models. Their skills, empathy, and dedication form an essential part of our school’s fabric. As education becomes increasingly complex and inclusive, TAs provide invaluable additional resource to support our teachers to plan and deliver exceptional and tailored lessons.
Their presence allows classroom teachers to differentiate more effectively, providing a flexible approach to targeted learning that gives every pupil the chance to thrive. TA’s provide specific, targeted support and expertise where it’s needed most, working with SEN and teaching staff to ensure that every child is ‘seen’ and feels supported providing a personalised approach so every child can shine!
Introducing – Mrs Price, Mrs Langrish, Mrs Killick, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Nye, Mrs Birch, Mrs Kaur, Mrs Griffin & Miss Richardson.
Pictured below, our HLTAs in action!
Year 5 pupils performed a short concert for customers and staff at Elderberries Café at Wilmington Community Church. We had such overwhelmingly positive feed-back, not just on their beautiful singing but also how friendly and confident they were when chatting to the patrons – everyone thoroughly enjoyed the concert, and the company of our pupils. Well done everyone, particular thanks go to to Mrs Greenbank for taking the lead with organising and preparing the children.
Year 5 Geographers have been working with atlases to support their learning of the seven continents with Mrs Kaur. In the below lesson, pupils have been using their atlases to identify the different countries in South America and correctly labelling their own map – great work everyone!
Benenden Music Experience Day. Nineteen of our Key stage 2 musicians attended the Benenden Music Experience Day at the prestigious Benenden School in Cranbrook, Kent. They had a fun day rehearsing with children from other local schools as well as listening to the wind bands of the secondary children and enjoying a cool down in the wonderful swimming pool at Benenden.
The day culminated in a fantastic concert in the evening which parents, carers and friends attended in the amazing concert hall (air conditioning included!). Everyone was also treated to a performance from the flute section of the top Youth Wind Band in Kent as part of the Concert.
The children played beautifully, and we were all so proud of them.
Year 3 have been learning about electricity, and in this practical lesson pupils made loop circuits to allow the electricity to move from the power source (the battery) through to the bulb, which lit up, showing the pupils that the circuit was complete. In larger groups pupils made increasingly bigger circuits! We used this knowledge to support us in our learning about light up signs and how we could use the electrical circuit to illuminate a sign.
Years 1 and 2 had quite the adventure at Wingham Wildlife Park! Both classes have been learning about animals in our current science topics and this was the perfect opportunity to bring our classroom learning to life. Park keepers were on hand to tell us more about the animals, their favourite foods and natural habitats. We loved the giraffes and learned that they are the tallest mammals in the world! We also met red pandas and a wonderfully named, moon bear! The mob of meercats were very interested in us and watching the penguins have their lunch was very cool! Year 2 absolutely loved it when a cheetah jumped up to get a better a look at them!
Reception visited Eagle Heights animal sanctuary and got the chance to get (very!) close to their amazing birds of prey. We learned about each of the birds of prey and watched them in action on a flying display before getting the opportunity to have them perch on our arm while we were wearing a special glove. We met other animals the sancturary rescues and gives a ‘forever’ home to .. such as huskies, alpacas, meerkats and goats!
Year 4 pupils travelled to Historic Chatham Docks – a site rich in local history and ideal to support in-class science and technology learning too! Pupils visited the ropery to try their hand at using the machinery to make rope used on sailing ships before delving into the Royal Navy’s second world war Destroyer and HM submarine, Ocelot. We brought the rope we made back to school and will use it in class as a ‘washing line’ display in Year 5! The day really brought Kent’s industrial past to life, with so many stories and exciting ships to explore.
As part of our Endeavour MAT Transition Programme Year 6 pupils together with pupils from other neighbouring schools visited both of our Endeavour MAT Wilmington Grammar Schools for History, Geography, Mandarin and Science ‘taster lessons’ as well as supporting our DT curriculum. The programme’s aim is to provide opportunities for pupils to familiarise themselves with larger school settings and year groups whilst introducing them to specialised classrooms and new subjects. In doing so, the programme allays any trepidation of the ‘unknown’ and prepares pupils for the next stage of their education. Heads of department at both schools led special lessons to provide pupils with an insight into learning and structure of lesson as well as behaviour expectations. Lessons were warm and interactive with pupils keen to contribute! Pupils all left energised and excited to start their new schools.
Year 6 End of an era PGL Trip to Marchants Hill in Surrey. What an incredible time our Year 6 had at PGL! From the moment we arrived, Year 6 threw themselves into every challenge with enthusiasm, courage, and teamwork. Over the course of the trip, they took part in a wide range of exciting activities, from zip wiring through the trees and tackling high ropes, to raft building and problem-solving challenges. It was a joy to see them encouraging one another, stepping outside their comfort zones, and growing in confidence with each new experience.
Evenings were just as lively, with fun games, team competitions, and lots of laughter. The sense of camaraderie and friendship that developed over the week was truly heart-warming with lots of wonderful memories made. For many, it was their first time away from home for such a long period – and they handled it brilliantly.
Office staff request! Please, can we ask that you label all your children’s coats, uniform items, water bottles etc for next academic year to enable us to reunite your children with their misplaced clothes and possessions! Unnamed items risk being mistakenly claimed by others.
Wishing all our families a relaxing and fun break and we look forward to seeing you one the first day of term in our new academic year on Tuesday 2nd September.
Best wishes,
Jack Curry
Headteacher
