Our Aspirational Curriculum

Magnificent Music

Birch and Sycamore have been in last minute rehearsals for the Winchester Chamber Music Festival. They performed to the rest of the school, who were very privileged to hear amazing professional musicians who will be performing in the Winchester Chamber Music Festival over the bank holiday weekend at venues around Winchester. 

Maple

To support their learning in PSHE, children in Maple Class welcomed a visit from PCSO Rob this week. He came in to talk to the children about how we can help each other to get along by thinking of others in school and at home.  We discussed the important of 'special clothes', the uniform the PCSOs wear and the reasons why they wear their uniforms. PCSO Rob showed us the different parts of his uniform and what they are used for - some lucky children dressed up at the end of the session!

Children in Maple Class had a wonderful day out at Finkley Down farm on Tuesday to support our current science topic, 'Animal Parts'. We explored the farm in the beautiful sunshine and petted the rabbits, groomed a pony called 'Freckles' and fed some baby goats. There was so much to see and do - we definitely recommend it for a fun day out !

Rowan

Rowan class have been enjoying their forest school sessions this term. They had the opportunity to try out some of the lovely new equipment that is now there. They spent some time building dens and making some creations out of clay and natural materials. The good weather has made it even more enjoyable. 

Sycamore

Sycamore have been finishing an art project called ‘Animal’ where they started by sketching animals such as dogs, horses and birds. They then looked at range of animal prints and created stamps to print repeating patterns. For the final part of the project, they have made Bankura horses out of clay. These are the highly decorated horses that look like a caricature. 

Aspen

This week Aspen were AMAZING on their bikes, they practiced their glides, breaking, pedalling and stability. They then had the chance to build on their confidence by exploring the roads where they got to practice their road awareness and signalling. All of the class should be VERY proud of themselves!

Welcome back to our Summer Term

R2L

Although this week has been shorter than usual, this has not stopped the children in R2L embracing all of the amazing enrichment opportunities that Stanmore Primary School offers. On Wednesday, the children enjoyed a Forest School session where they became nature detectives and discovered some of the many changes that an emerging warm season can bring. Bluebells, juicy green leaves and minibeasts were discovered alongside taking turns to swing in the hammock. All of the children have also enjoyed participating in whole class events whether it was the fantastic chamber music festival, maths, English, science or PE.

We are also learning about the power of words and how we can use our words when we are feeling upset.  This has been learnt through fun games and activities such as word games and team games.

Maple

Children in Maple Class have come back with a spring in their step and embracing their learning with enthusiasm! Year R children have been exploring numbers beyond 10 (11, 12 and 13), using a variety of different resources to represent these numbers. Year 1 children have continued with their learning in the multiplication and division unit by exploring groups and arrays. 

On the last day of the Spring term, Maple Class enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt and picnic on the field, making their own made jam sandwiches and rice crispy cakes. Delicious!

Rowan

Rowan class have had a great first week back. Just before the Easter break, they completed their DT unit 'Beach Huts', which had them designing and making model versions of beach huts in small groups. They did an amazing job and were safe while using the tools. Finally, they decorated them to a high standard and took real care and attention with their designs.

Birch and Sycamore

Birch and Sycamore Classes plus selected year 5 and 6 children, have been invited to take part in the Winchester Chamber Music Festival 2025. Kate and Neil, cello and violin players, performed some pieces of music which then inspired us to create our own songs! We will be performing these songs as part of the first performance of the Winchester Chamber Music Festival 2025. 

Elm

This week class have been introduced to their new topic 'Britain at War' and new book 'Letters from the Lighthouse.' The children explored different war memorabilia including ration books, propaganda posters and identification documents and then recorded their feelings and thoughts through art. They also looked at the situation in the World at the beginning of the first World War and though about what they may have done if they had been in charge.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter

Beyond The Beat

This week our 'Beyond the Beat' musicians performed in their Spring Concert. They are sounding good with some promising players of the future. We were delighted to welcome three musicians from Kings, including a former Stanmore House Captain, to provide some accomplished accompaniment. Thank you and congratulations to all involved. 

Maple

This week in Maple Class, Year 1 children have made their moving vehicles in DT, including using hacksaws to cut the wood for the axles. All of their vehicles roll effectively and are sturdy enough to be played with - what a great job!

In Year R, children have enjoyed making playdoh and using their communication and language skills when playing outside in the glorious spring sunshine.  

Both Year R and Year 1 children have loved making their Easter cards and cress Egg Heads and are looking forward to taking them home later in the week. 

Rowan

This week Year 2 had a wonderful sunny day at Lepe beach. They enjoyed a seashore safari and minibeast hunt. They found an abundance of shells, shrimp, crabs and even a ragworm on the beach! Their curiosity was wonderful to see and they worked brilliantly as a team to find as many things as they could. The Lepe beach rangers commended their behaviour and scientific nature. 

Birch

Birch have worked incredibly hard this week to make cam toys. The children were resilient when things didn't go as planned as were able to solve problems and work together to find solutions to challenges. They then enjoyed designing and decorating their toys. Well done Birch for your hard work!

Sycamore

Sycamore Class have been preparing for their spring performance and finally the day has arrived! “Mystery at Magpie Manor” was a hit because the children had learnt their lines and were well prepared. They looked fabulous, sang loudly and did a wonderful job! 

Aspen

Aspen class have been working hard on their DT project, making soup. They have made two different types of soup - a green and red vegetable soup. They expired the nutritional value of their chosen vegetables, prepared, blended and tasted their soup!

Elm

Year 6 have been working hard this week on designing and making their own computer game. They are using all the skills they have learnt over this term, including how to code variables, how to use different sprites and how to design their own backgrounds.

Our Fantastic Children

Another amazing performance

Our fantastic choir took part in a very special performance this week at the Anvil in Basingstoke. This choir spectacular included 6 schools from around Hampshire and we were the only school chosen from Winchester! There were 452 children singing at the event and our 19 brave children looked and sounded amazing! 

Maple

Children in Year 1 have been concluding their science topic of Seasonal Changes. This week, they learned about the importance of weather forecasting. They gathered information from a weather forecast and then wrote and presented their own. 

Their science investigation this week was prompted by a question 'Can you get burnt from the sun if it is cloudy?'. The children used UV beads to see if they changed in the cloudy conditions and discussed their findings, suggesting further questions about sun safety to explore. 

In Year R, children have loved our book this week, 'The Disgusting Sandwich'. They enjoyed making jam sandwiches, learning how to be safe when handling food and equipment. They also wrote instructions for others about how to make a delicious sandwich.

Rowan

This week Rowan class have begun to build beach huts as part of their design and technology unit this term. They have been measuring, sawing and glueing to make a box frame. They have been safe and sensible and have really enjoyed the process. 

They also took part in their termly Listen 2 Me concert where they performed the recorder to a packed hall. Thank you all for coming. 

Well done Rowan! 

Birch

In forest school, Birch have been determined to make a hammock that lifts off the ground. The children worked incredibly hard to solve various challenges along the way (like creating steps so they could reach the hammock), but felt really proud of their end result!

In class this week, Birch learnt about tsunamis. The children saw how the sudden movement of tectonic plates caused the ocean water to be displaced and destroy buildings close to the sea. The children then used their knowledge of volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis to become scientists, geologists and volcanologists to investigate the dangers of tectonic activity in Quito (the capital of Ecuador).

Sycamore

Sycamore class have been learning about how to construct high quality paragraphs. They have been ordering them and ensuring that any points build on the information given, rather than repeat the information. 

Elm

This week the children in Elm have been working hard on their practise SATS and have shown excellent resilience. They have also finished their environmental art project and are looking forward to showcasing their work to the year 5's this afternoon. Each of their piece is made from recycled products and the children have though carefully about the message they want to send through their work.

40 years of comic relief

Thank you to everyone who came in their colourful 80’s clothes and accessories this week and joined in with our 80’s theme danceathon. Everyone looked amazing and it was great to see so many family member joining in or cheering the children on. Thank you also to Mandy for our delicious breakfast cake and for Mr Foard for taking on the role of resident DJ.

On the day we managed to raise over £80 which will go to Comic Relief and will make a real difference to people’s lives here in the UK and world wide.

Enjoying time outdoors.

Stanmore Football Team

This week was the turn of the girl’s football team to take part in a tournament at Nightingale Primary School. This was the first time the team and played together and as well as scoring two goals, they showed excellent sportmanship and some fantastic football skills. Well done everyone.

Maple

In Maple Class this week, Year R children have continued their work on 'Journeys' as part of their 'Big Wide World' learning. Children have been looking at the world map and exploring different locations. They chose which location they would like to visit and wrote a postcard to a friend or relative to tell them about it.  In Year 1, children have continued their work on measure in maths, focusing on capacity and volume. They loved using the sand to show their understanding of volume.

Rowan

Pondering Plants

This week Rowan class have started their new science unit 'Plant Survival'. They have been looking at seasonal change in plants and went on an exploration of our school grounds to look for plants that were starting to grow. They worked together and used their spotting sheets to see what they could find. 

Birch

In science, Birch conducted an experiment to find out which magnet was the strongest. The children had to make predictions about how many paperclips each magnet would pick up before conducting the experiment. They then worked hard to put their results into a bar graph. Birch also had lots of fun in Forest School taking part in a den building competition. The teams had to work together to build a den that would fit all of them inside - one den even had a working hammock!

Sycamore

Sycamore class have been working with the Wessex River Trust to learn all about our local river, the River Itchen. They learnt about the vocabulary and what happened in each section of the river and then they went on a local visit to carry out some geographical research. Luckily, they found out that the River Itchen is a healthy river! 

Elm

Elm class have been studying digital wellbeing in PHSE. They designed  and created  posters to explain to others in school what digital wellbeing is and how they can stay healthy when spending time online and using other digital technology.

Their top tips included: treating others with kindness and respect when using digital technology; telling a trusted adult when something frightens or worries us and make sure we watch or play games which are age appropriate.

Year 6 have also been looking at environmental artists and how they use recycled products to send a message about the importance of looking after the environment. The children then designed their own art pieces and began to build them. We can’t wait to see how they look when finished.

Creativity shown throughout the curriculum

Maple

We have had another very busy week in Maple Class. Children in Year 1 have been learning to measure the weather, including the outside temperature, rainfall and windspeed. We have made a windsock and rain gauge and are checking them daily. We will be presenting the data gathered in a simple chart. Unusually, there has been no rain so far!

Children in Year R have been learning about length and height. They have loved reading about Superworm and found lots of string worms in the outside provision areas. 

We all loved World Book Day - what a fantastic class of explorers we have! The children enjoyed reading abut 'Maya's Walk', and learnt about the different senses that she used as she explored her local area. The children created their own maps of the school grounds, observed the signs of spring using telescopes that they had made and created nature bracelets to develop their sense of touch

Birch

This week, Birch have started a new unit in maths. The children have been looking at unit and non-unit fractions and how to identify which fraction is larger. Birch then had to think about whether they would like 1⁄8 or 1⁄3 of a cake.

Birch have also really enjoyed starting Forest School this term. The children have worked as a team to build dens and solve problems like untying knots and moving large branches. On Friday, the class worked together to make a volcano and then watch it explode. They were able to apply what they had learnt in geography to notice that the eruption was effusive, not explosive.

Sycamore

Sycamore class have been getting creative this week, composing narrative poems to tell the story of the water cycle. We have also been focusing on using legible, joined up handwriting. 

Aspen

Aspen class brought their art installations to life using lollipop sticks, sticks, straws, rocks and clay to produce an art piece with a message behind it. They varied from wooden photo frames to ‘always live in the moment’’ to clay steps to ‘remember to try your best’!

ELM

Amazing 1st person narrative written by Elm class, retelling the narrative of Jack Driscoll challenging  King Kong when he escaped with the heroine, Ann, on Skull Island. The children have also been investigating environmental art and thinking about how they can use recycled products to create art with a message.

A Big Thank You

Today we say a huge thank you and goodbye to lovely Jackie, our crossing guard. She has helped thousands of children cross the road safely and we wish her all the best for the future. You will be missed.

Chicks, Computers and Football

Maple

Maple Class have loved having the chicks to look at and hold this week. As you can see, they have really grown and are very busy cheeping and eating all day long! We have been using the Living Eggs to remind us that Christians believe that eggs are a sign of new life, and how that relates to the Easter story. This week, children made Easter cards using eggs to symbolise the new life. 

Rowan

Remarkable Roses

This week Rowan class have been creating some beautiful paper plate roses in their Flower Head art unit. They created patterns on the plates and then carefully cut and rolled their plated into a rose design. Well done Rowan class. 

Sycamore

This week Sycamore Class have been enjoying programming in Computing. We used ‘Turtle Academy’ to write instructions to create a shape. Once we mastered this, we started to make more challenging instructions to make more complex shapes or designs. 

Aspen

The children thoroughly enjoyed World Book Day, Aspen class were ready to explore the day and took part in the Footy and Booky Wooky Quiz, BBC live lesson and designed brochures for a holiday to the Arctic! We even had Paddington Bear join us for the day!

Football Team update

This week 8 boys in Elm class took part in a tournament at Nightingale School. The team played fantastically throughout the group stage and made it to the final through penalties. Unfortunately we were just pipped at the post in the final through penalties again! As always the children showed brilliant sportmanship and team work. Thank you to the parents who were able to help with transportation and cheering us on. Lets hope the girl’s continue our good form in a few weeks time.

Spring has Sprung

Maple

This week, Maple Class has welcomed the arrival of 10 eggs that we will be hatching out. The children did not notice much of a change to the eggs on days 1 and 2, but when they arrived on day 3 (Wednesday), they were greeted with the arrival of a new chick! We are looking forward to more of the eggs hatching this week. We are so eggcited to see how the chicks grow and develop over the next two weeks. 

Inspired by the chicks hatching in Maple Class, the children used a range of junk modelling resources to create homes for the chicks. Some even included Netflix and a sand pit!

Children used a variety of resources to join materials, including different tapes and glues. What a cracking job they did!

Rowan

Marvellous measuring!

This week Rowan class have started their new math unit, length and height. They have been measuring in centimeters and meters. They measured lots of different things in the classroom to the nearest meter. They then went outside and measured lots of things in the playground. They worked together to find out the length of the entire playground, discovering that it was 13m wide and 68m long. Great curiosity and teamwork which are real character strengths of all the class. 

Birch

In maths, Birch have been working really hard to add and subtract lengths. The children have had to think carefully about how to convert each length so they are the same unit of measurement before they start adding and subtracting. The children have also been enjoying the chess and Spanish clubs run by Winchester College every Wednesday.

Sycamore

This week, Sycamore Class have been learning about the water cycle. To help to bring it to life, we made a water cycle in a bag. This meant that we could understand each part of the water cycle and how the water changes state. We had to relate this to our scientific knowledge that we developed last term in our ‘States of Matter’ science unit where we learnt about how water can change from a liquid to a gas (evaporation) and a gas to a liquid (condensation). 

Aspen

This week in Year 5 we have been thinking about how we can use our actions to portray our emotions. Aspen class are part of a 'Move Well' project which offers then a weekly journalling session, reflecting and target setting. This week we were focussing on a physical move that shows 'joy' the children had to showcase their move, and the rest of the class copied. By the end of the session, everyone was smiling!

Elm

Elm class have been busy producing some wonderful information texts on the Inuit, explaining all about the indigenous people that live in the arctic.

They also painted some lovely watercolours in art and in computing the children used their knowledge of circuits and programming to create light sensors using micro bits

Forest School

This week at forest school R2L used the palm drills to make medallions and used the new digging tools to make a stream and a pool.