Summer 2025

a term of farewells and the promise of exciting new beginnings

From headteacher, Lisa Rutter-Brown

This term we have been thinking about 'Caring for Our Environment' and each week we have shared a different focus through our five routines. Caring for the environment involves making conscious efforts to protect and preserve the natural world through everyday actions and decisions. The children have been engaged in considering their impact on the world and have continually impressed us with their knowledge about environmental issues. Ultimately, understanding our impact on the environment empowers us to make informed decisions that support a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Can I also take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our parents and carers for their continued support throughout the year. Your partnership has been invaluable in helping us provide the best possible support for your children, both academically and emotionally. Together, we’ve embraced our school ethos of being useful and kind, creating a nurturing and positive environment where every child can thrive. As we prepare to say goodbye to our wonderful Year 6 children, we wish them the very best of luck on their next adventure. They leave us with pride, and we are confident they will continue to grow, shine, and carry our values with them wherever they go.

Curriculum @ Kingsmead

Early Years Foundation Stage

by Phase Leader Mrs Karen Cotton

The children have had a very busy summer term and have really enjoyed spending lots of time learning outside in the sunshine.

Mini Police

The children had an exciting afternoon being mini police officers, learning with our community PCSO Lee Robertson

Badger Hill

There have been many fabulous outdoor learning afternoons out on Badger Hill.

We’ve had fun with food in our classroom, making our own bread and butter and also healthy wraps.

Imagine That

A fabulous day out was had by us all on our second school trip of the year, to Imagine That in Liverpool.

We have had so many highlights alongside our learning in the classroom this term, including performing our Musicians of Bremen show to our parents and carers, sharing a Teddy Bear’s Picnic with our Year 6 friends, the Jim Jam Jog and a balance bike festival. What an amazing start to school life we’ve had in our first year at Kingsmead!

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As we reach the end of Ladybirds, we couldn’t be more proud of the independent, curious, and creative learners they’ve become. It has truly been a joy to get to know each of them and be part of their very first year at school—discovering their unique personalities, learning about their families, and helping them take their first exciting steps on this school journey. A huge thank you to all the families who have supported us along the way, whether by reading at home, practicing phonics, participating in our open events, or of course, to the mystery readers hidden in the cupboard! Wishing you all a wonderful summer break.

With warm regards,
Karen Cotton and the Ladybirds Team

KS1

by Phase Leader Emma Miller

As we come to the end of a fantastic summer term in KS1, we’re proud to reflect on all the wonderful experiences our children have enjoyed as part of our “Wonderful Life” theme. From learning about amazing animals and their habitats to creating our own thoughtful moon bear models to raise awareness of endangered species, the children have shown curiosity, creativity, and compassion throughout.

Chance to Shine Cricket

The children in Year 1 and 2 had 5 sessions with Andy from Chance to Shine Cricket in the first half of the summer term. The children in Year 2 had lessons with Andy the previous year and so were able to build on their skills. This year, Andy focussed on developing the children’s catching, over arm throwing and batting skills. As always, Andy’s sessions were lots of fun.

The children in Butterflies, Bees and Dragonflies visited Chester Zoo at the beginning of May. Prior to their visit they had learnt about George Mottershead, the founder of Chester Zoo. From a young age George had had a dream to create ‘A zoo without bars’. The children were so excited to finally see ‘Oakfield House’ in real life and experience George’s ‘zoo without bars’. We were really fortunate and saw so many animals at the zoo, including some very friendly ducklings. The children represented their school really well, showing a super interest in the information and behaving beautifully.

Design Technology

The children in Year 1 and 2 have been finding out about animals in their science lessons. In particular, we have learned about moon bears through reading the book ‘Jasper saving moon bears.’ This is written by Jill Robinson who set up the Animals Asia charity. She rescues moon bears and looks after them in specially created sanctuaries. In DT, we studied the structures in the moon bear sanctuaries and made swings, slides, ladders and climbing frames for moon bears. We learnt about how materials could be joined together to create supportive structures.

Community Art Morning

On Wednesday 9th July, the families of the Year 1 and 2 children were invited to join us to create some community art work. This term in our Art lessons, we have been studying the contemporary artist Antony Gormley. He’s a sculptor famous for some public artwork such as ‘The Angel of The North’ and ‘Another Place’ (the figures on Crosby beach). Antony Gormley’s work often studies the human body. We have studied one particular piece of Antony Gormley’s work called ‘Field for The British Isles’. This work was created by a community of people who were not artists. He brought them together to create 40,000 small, individual terracotta figures. On Wednesday we created our own ‘Field for Kingsmead Primary School’ with our children and adults from the community making over 150 moon bear figures. Once they’re dried, they’ll be exhibited in our entrance hall.

What a fabulous two days the Year 2 had at Petty Pool in June! Petty Pool is an Outdoor Education Centre set in beautiful woodland in Sandiway. Over the two days the Year 2 children had the opportunity to have a go at the climbing wall, the crate stack challenge, the stream walk and archery! However, the Petty Pool experience is about more than just the activities, it’s about pushing your comfort zone and challenging yourself just enough so that your comfort zone grows larger. There were many ‘firsts’ during the two days: first night away from home, first time making a bed, getting covered in mud like never before, having a go at an activity for the first time. Children were heard shouting as they walked down the stream ‘This is the best day of my life!’

The children were brilliant and represented their families and school beautifully, with lovely manners and a can do attitude!

LKS2

by Phase Leader Paula Hammond

We've had a busy and exciting term, packed with enriching experiences such as Health and Wellbeing Week, National Sports Week, Sports Day, and a range of other memorable events—some of which are highlighted below. The children have shown tremendous enthusiasm and resilience, working incredibly hard and producing some truly impressive work across the curriculum.

Our topic this term has been Summits, which has led to a rich and varied learning journey. In Geography, the children explored and compared the landscapes of Scotland and Italy, examining key differences in climate, mountain ranges, and other geographical features. This comparative study helped them to develop their map skills and deepen their understanding of physical geography.

In History, our focus remained on Scotland. The children created chronological timelines, studied influential historical figures, and learned about significant Scottish inventions that have shaped the modern world. Their curiosity and engagement has been lovely to see.

In Science, we turned our attention to the human body. The children investigated the skeletal and digestive systems, learning how our bodies function and how to keep them healthy. Through hands-on activities, diagrams, and experiments, they gained a strong foundation in human biology.

In English, the children have been engaging with the texts Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Jungle Explorer during the first summer term. These rich and imaginative stories have sparked thoughtful discussion and inspired a variety of creative responses. The children have produced some wonderful work, including descriptive writing, imaginative storytelling, and informative pieces that reflect their growing confidence in reading and writing. Their enthusiasm for the themes of exploration and nature has been evident throughout the term.

Design Technology

LKS2 had a great time making bread in DT this term. First, we learnt about bread production and how flour is made. Then, we tasted different breads and considered what flavours we might like to add to our loaves. But the best part by far, was making our own bread. We used a ‘Bread in a Bag’ recipe and then added flavours like garlic, cheese, cinnamon or raisins.

In Art, we have been exploring the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, with a particular emphasis on architectural drawing. Inspired by his distinctive style, the children studied buildings in our local environment, focusing on form, detail, and structure. They experimented with a range of media—including pencil, charcoal, and fine liners—to produce intricate and expressive line drawings of notable buildings around Northwich. This project not only developed their observational and drawing skills but also encouraged a deeper appreciation of the architecture that surrounds them every day.

Swimming - Year 3

Year 3 have thoroughly enjoyed their swimming lessons this term, with a highlight being a visit from the Fire Brigade for a special Water Safety session. The firefighters demonstrated various pieces of equipment used in water rescues and explained how they help save lives. The children were highly engaged and enthusiastic, especially when taking part in the interactive activities. It was a memorable and valuable learning experience for all.

Forest School

The children have been very fortunate to take part in Forest School sessions this year. They had the opportunity to explore the pond area during a fun ‘treasure hunt’ searching for ‘eggs’ and bird pictures. They worked together to build bird nests using natural materials found in the environment. The session was a great way to encourage teamwork and cooperation, and the children created some fantastic nests as a result!

Dance Workshop

During Health and Wellbeing Week, the children took part in an exciting Dance Workshop led by Chloe from House of Dance. Impressively, they managed to learn an entire routine in just 45 minutes! It was wonderful to see all the children—boys and girls alike—fully engaged and thoroughly enjoying the experience of creating a fantastic dance performance together.

Recorder Concert

The Year 3 children have done a terrific job learning the recorder this year, thanks to the expert guidance of Mrs Harper. The Recorder Concert was a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase all they’ve achieved, and it was a joy to see them performing together. Considering it was their first time playing as a group, it was especially impressive to see every child participating so confidently and harmoniously.

UKS2

by Phase Leader Debbie McHugh

Wow what a busy Summer term it has been in UKS2!

Our theme for the term has been ‘Discovery’. The children have loved learning about Charles Darwin and the amazing discoveries that he made on his adventures to the Galapagos Islands.

In English, our first unit of the term saw us focus on a book called, The Island. The children discovered more about Charles Darwin and went on to produce some wonderful journalistic reports to tell the reader all about who he was and what his legacy has been. In the second half term, we have focussed on a book called Radiant Child. The children have learnt about the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. They have found out what it was like for him to be a struggling artist but how he overcame setbacks in order to become a huge success in the 1980’s. The children have worked in small groups to make their own information texts on him, presenting them beautifully! This was something the children really enjoyed, Lottie shared - “I enjoyed creating our poster about the artist Jean Michel Basquiat in our English lessons. It was really nice to be able to work with partners and share our learning about his interesting life.”

In art, the children focussed on Songbirds. They spent time making observational drawings of songbirds, then looked at some different artists work of them. The children then used a range of different media to experiment with texture. The children finished by drawing their own songbird in detail and use a range of media to colour it. We are sure you will agree that the finished pieces are amazing!Ivy shared, “I enjoyed our Songbirds topic in Art - I liked designing my final piece on the Javan Green Magpie which I created in paint.”

This term, our Year 6 children took their SATs exams. This is something that they had worked really hard towards and we were so proud of how well they did. On the Friday of that week, they enjoyed a fun morning of games in the hall. They had to complete challenges such as could they get the biscuit from on their forehead to their mouth, how many cotton wool balls could they get in the bowl using vaseline on their nose, could they cover their leavers number with post it notes and could they blow a piece of scrunched up paper into a cup. As you can see from the pictures they had a fabulous time!

They also received their Leavers Hoodies to mark the end of their SATs and to celebrate their last half term in school. This was a lovely occasion, they were so excited to receive these and they have certainly become a second skin this last half term!

This term has been extra busy for our UKS2 children with lots of additional events taking place.

Our Year 5 went along to Brio for the afternoon and evening as part of the Northwich Sings collaboration with other schools. In the lead up to this, Year 5 had been working extremely hard in school to rehearse the songs for the performance of Aladdin.

They spent the afternoon working alongside children from a range of other schools to be ‘performance ready’ for their parents in the evening. What a show they put on! We were so proud of the children; they performed with enthusiasm and the vocals sounded amazing on the night. We even had some children performing duets and a poem! Ava shared, “I loved attending Northwich Sings - we sang Aladdin songs and we got to meet lots of children from other schools.”

Year 6 head off in style

Our Year 6 leavers’ party at Marbury Park outdoor swimming pool was a truly unforgettable celebration! The children behaved brilliantly throughout the evening and made the most of every moment. They enjoyed a delicious BBQ, played games on the grass, and had endless fun with water guns—splashing each other (and the grown-ups!) with laughter and energy. The diving board was a big hit, with plenty of impressive bombs and big splashes. Even when they were shivering from the cool water, their smiles never faded. It was a joyful, fun-filled way to mark the end of their primary school journey and a day they’ll remember for years to come.

Eliza shared, “I really enjoyed going to Marbury with the rest of Year 6. We started off with a BBQ and then we went to the pool - it was so cold!”

Will shared, “My highlight was spraying Mr Pritchard in the pool!”

Izzy said, “I liked going to Marbury, we got to play games and had a water fight in the pool.”

Aladdin

A huge thank you and well done to our Year 6 children, accompanied by our Year 5 choir, for their amazing performance of Aladdin! You took a chance this year by embracing a different kind of end-of-year production, and it absolutely paid off. Your performance was fantastic from start to finish, with brilliant acting, confident singing, and engaging stage presence. It was clear how much effort you put in—you knew all your lines and stage directions perfectly, and brought the story to life with energy and enthusiasm. We are so proud of you all! It was so lovely to have all the children involved and to see some children in a different light, really letting themselves go and shining as budding actors and actresses. We are sure this will be a memory that will stay with them for many years to come.

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Year 6 enjoyed a wonderful Leavers lunch this week. They chose pizza and wedges for this, followed by sponge cake with icing and lots of sweet treats- it really was delicious. They had a lovely lunch together and were treated like royalty being waited on by the staff!

Bikeability

Many of our Year 6 children took part in a Bikeability course.Throughout the morning, they completed Level 1 on the school playground. This includes completing some simple bike checks, making sure they can control their bike safely and are able to stop. During the afternoon, they ventured out onto the roads around school. They learnt how to be confident with passing stationary vehicles, understanding road signals and markings, how to negotiate junctions and crossroads and how to share the road with other vehicles. They all did brilliantly and the instructors commented on their skill level and wonderful conduct and behaviour throughout.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for their support this term and throughout the academic year and wish everyone a lovely, restful Summer.

Communication, Language and Literacy

by CLL Curriculum Lead - Sophie Green

This term has been an exciting one for our book lovers amongst our school community as we take part in the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration shadowing. Bookworms meet every week to read, discuss and do a variety of activities around the books in the shortlist. We’ve had some gorgeous books this year using all sorts of innovative and beautiful illustration styles. We chose our top 4 and created videos to share with the school as our Friday Fable. Then came the big vote to find which book was the winner of our very own Kingsmead Medal for Illustration, and did it match the real medal winner chosen by authors and publishers across the industry? Children and staff gathered over one lunchtime to cast our votes in the ballot boxes.

Our winner was…. Wolf & Bear by Kate Rolfe by a considerable margin! The children were so excited to have this announced in assembly showing what a fabulous community of readers we are! Check out the shortlist online (and the real winner) for yourself to find some inspiration for new and exciting children’s books.

Summer Reading Challenge

We’re also excited about the Summer Reading Challenge, run by local libraries. It is so important to a child’s enjoyment and continued progress in reading to keep it up over the long 6 weeks holiday - what better way than at a library, collecting stickers, certificates and medals?! The Summer Reading Challenge can be joined online (summerreadingchallenge.org.uk) or at your local library for free. Visit the library (currently located at Weaver Hall Museum) for your rewards or to book in for free special events such as animal handling, circus skills and exciting hands-on science. If you complete the challenge, we will be celebrating all participants in a special assembly in the Autumn term so keep the medals safe!

sporting news

The Summer term is always a busy one for sport and this year has been no different, in fact it has been busier than ever!

Netball

The term started with our Year 3/4 children taking part in a Netball festival. Mrs Ramsden & Mrs Hammond took two Yr 3/4 teams along. The two teams performed superbly with one winning 5 of their 7 matches and one winning all 7. Mrs Ramsden and Mrs Hammond both commented on how amazing the children were and how high their standard of netball was. Special thanks to Mrs Ramsden who runs our netball clubs and trains them each week to reach this high standard.

Orienteering

14 of our children attended an orienteering event at Hartford High School.They had a fab time using the map to find the controls around the school grounds. We really do have some expert map readers too as our team of Ethan, Jack and Magnus won the whole event out of 52 teams! Great work boys.

Tag Rugby

Two teams attended a Tag Rugby festival, one from Yr 3/4 and one from Yr 5/6. The children played a variety of games against other schools and represented us wonderfully. They really showed off true sporting values. Well done to all those children who took part.

Dodgeball

Two groups of children took part in a Dodgeball Festival that was held at Hartford High School. A group of Year 3/4 children took part and a group of Year 5/6 children. They did a brilliant job at representing us, showing wonderful sporting values and most of all having a lot of fun!

Cricket

There were several cricket events that we attended this term. A group of Year 3/4 children represented us at a Diamond Cricket event. For many of these children it was the first time playing the sport and even representing the school. They had a brilliant time. They tried hard to learn the rules of the game and had a lot of fun! On the same day, a group of Yr 5/6 children went along to a Dynamo Cricket event. This event was aimed at children who may have a little more experience of cricket. The children played brilliantly and showed amazing sporting values throughout. Finally, our Year 5/6 girls competed in a tournament. They did absolutely brilliantly, some of these girls had never played cricket before but absolutely loved it and some have now even gone on to join cricket clubs. Esme loved the event, she reported “I really enjoyed the Y5/6 cricket competition I took part in, it was great to compete against other schools.”

As well as competitions, some of our children have received some lessons from Cheshire Cricket. Our KS1 classes enjoyed learning from their expertise. They thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and it has given them a great foundation to build on next year.

Smile for a Mile Event

In May, we took over 70 children along to a mass participation running event at Leftwich High School. This event is a cross country event where the children run a section of a course around the high school. The distance varies depending on the year group. We, once again, took along the greatest number of children from the local area and were so proud of them all. They all performed superbly and with huge smiles on their faces! Well done to all who took part.

Smile for a Mile Month

In June, we took part in the Vale Royal School Sport Partnerships Smile for a Mile Month. Our sports leaders tracked the number of lap and backs that the children completed during that month. As a school, we finished with a huge total of 5, 801, 625 miles and our winning class was Hedgehogs!

Town Sports

We took 41 children along to a Town Sports athletics event. This consisted of children completing a range of activities from shot put to hurdles and relay races. Well done to all those children who took part. A special mention to Jaxon D who won the shot put, Oliver T who won the hurdles race, Eva P who came 2nd in the long jump and Kaitlin S who came 2nd in the shot put.

Fundraising

In June, the children all took part in the KFA’s sponsored event- a Jim Jam Jog! The children were invited to come into school in their pyjamas and they had a set time to complete as many laps as they could. The children all had an amazing time and this event managed to raise a huge £1945.

Football- Northwich Mini League

Throughout the term, we have been part of the Northwich Mini League. We played home and away matches against Hartford Primary School and Winnington Park Primary School. The improvement that the children showed throughout the matches was fantastic and both our boys and girls teams did brilliantly. The team work and sporting values both teams showed throughout the league fixtures was amazing. Well done to all those children who have played in these football matches.

Georgia, who was one of our footballers who really got stuck in said, “There have been lots of football events this term. I have really enjoyed challenging myself and working in a team.”

Outside Speakers

We have been lucky enough to welcome two outside speakers into school this term. Both offered wonderful, inspirational guidance to the children around how they achieved their dreams. Our Year 3/4 classes were lucky enough to have a visit from GBR Tumbling Gymnast Alisha Evanson. The children loved hearing about her journey to becoming a top gymnast and the resilience she has needed to show to get there. Many of our children recognised her from taking part in gymnastics classes at Cheshire Gymnastics!

We also welcomed Emily Ford into school. Emily is a Bronze Medal winning rower from the Paris Olympic Games. Emily was part of the Women’s 8 team. She shared her story with the children of how she came to be a medal winner. This was a story of resilience and perseverance and stepping out of her comfort zone an awful lot, particularly as a child.

These are stories that are really important for our children to hear. Often they see people in the media achieving great things and think that it has come easily to them, and as we know as adults, this is often not the case. The children were so engaged in hearing about both their journeys and loved asking their own questions afterwards. What an absolute privilege it was to welcome both into school. Thank you to the Vale Royal School Sports Partnership for organising this for us.

Sports Day

This term always sees us holding our annual sports day, a highlight of the year for many of our children. We were extremely lucky with the weather and the sun shone, even if it was a little warm at times. The children completed a carousel of 9 activities ranging from long jump to target throwing to track races. As the children completed the activities, they collected a range of points that were added throughout the day in order to give each team a total. The points this year were closer than they have ever been. In 3rd place on 890 points was Portugal, in 2nd place on 891 points was England and our winners on 903 points were Sweden. Well done to all our children for showing such wonderful sporting values and a special well done to those children that won the sporting values certificates in their teams. Thank you also to our spectators for coming along and cheering the children on and to our wonderful Sports Leaders from Leftwich, all of whom were ex pupils.

Our children reported:

Eyad - “I enjoyed Sports Day. It was really fun having competitions with our friends. The bean bag throw was the best!”

Health & Wellbeing Week

In conjunction with National School Sport’s Week, we held our own Health & Wellbeing week. The children learnt about different ways that they can be healthy both in the mind and body. As part of this, there were some extra outdoor learning sessions with some children visiting Badger Hill. We also welcomed Chloe into school from House of Dance to run some dance workshops. Wow! These were amazing. Every class attended a workshop, as you can imagine some children heard the word ‘dance’ and weren’t necessarily very keen. However this soon disappeared once they got started. All the children were engaged, motivated and had such a wonderful time. What they accomplished in such a short space of time was nothing short of phenomenal with every class producing a dance by the end of it! We definitely have some budding superstars in the making. A huge thanks to Chloe, for taking time out of her week to come in and run these sessions for us, we are extremely grateful. Chloe was also extremely complimentary about the behaviour and enthusiasm from our children, this is something that we see everyday but it is always lovely to hear it from someone outside of school.

There are always lots of extra events held during National School Sports Week in order to introduce children to new sports and to develop skills they may already have.

A group of Year 3/4 children attended Hartford Tennis club, some took part in a festival of activities to develop new skills and others took part in the competition.

A group of Reception children attended a Balance Bike festival at Hartford High School. Here they developed their balance and coordination skills.

A group of Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 attended a Dodgeball Festival, where they played a range of exciting, high scoring matches against other schools.

We are delighted to announce that we have achieved the School Games Platinum Mark Award for the 2024/25 academic year. The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success. We are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible.

In order to be eligible for Platinum, you have to have received the Gold award five times. This has taken many years of hard work and has been a huge team effort between children, staff and parents.

It really has been amazing the number of children who have represented our school this term and we are so proud of the sporting values they have shown throughout. Well done to everyone who has taken part in something and particularly those who have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone this term. We would like to also thank our families for all their support this term with helping to ensure our children can get to and from these events. We are looking forward to the Autumn term and the fun events that lie ahead!

A huge thank you to Mrs McHugh for all of the hard work she puts into organising all of these events for our children. Her dedication, energy, and passion for sport have made such a positive impact on our school community. From organising countless sporting events to inspiring so many students to get involved, your hard work truly doesn't go unnoticed.

Music

by Music Lead - Mrs Harper

Here we are at the end of another wonderfully musical year. We’re so proud of all the music making that our pupils take part in. There really is so much to get involved with and so many of our pupils really make the most of the wonderful opportunities offered to them.

Key stage 1 have enjoyed their weekly music lessons and learnt a great deal that will set them up for their musical journey throughout school. Their learning has been varied….from body percussion to using percussion instruments, developing their singing and rhythmic skills and listening to and learning about music from all over the world. Highlights include music from Brazil, creating their own piece of “train inspired music” based on The Little Train of the Caipira by Brazillian composer Villa-Lobos and learning all about French composer Camille Saent-Saens’s “Carnival of the Animals”. They’ve even worked in groups to create their own music based on an animal of their choice!

Key stage 2 have had a jam-packed year of music making- from the many performances (far too many to list!) to developing their singing skills in Big Sing, to composing, listening and performing as part of their music schemes of work linked to their wider learning.

Year 3 have excelled in learning to play the recorder- their attitude towards learning has been highly commendable, which was evident in the wonderful performance they gave at our end of year recorder concert. They were supported by the Year 4-6 Recorder ensemble, who also played brilliantly.

Speaking of ensembles, we are incredibly lucky to have three extra curricular music ensembles which are free for children to join. Playing as part of an ensemble is a fantastic way to further develop musical skills and get even more enjoyment out of playing your instrument. It would be really fantastic to see as many people as possible joining our ensembles next year. These include….

Recorder Ensemble- a chance to progress with recorder playing after year 3. Children have the opportunity to try different types of recorder (did you know there are different sizes that make different sounds?) and perform regularly throughout the year. They rehearse from 8.30-9 on Monday mornings- we really need to increase our numbers to make this group as successful as possible, so please come along!

String Ensemble- this is run by our cello teacher, Mrs Catherine Singleton and is a great opportunity for our violin and cello players to develop their skills. They are always on the lookout for new members, so please contact the office if you wish to join!

Wind Band- this is for our brass and woodwind players. Historically, Kingsmead Primary School’s wind band has been of a fantastic standard and this has certainly been the case this year. We play at prestigious gigs, such as the Kingsmead Christmas lights switch-on and the Cheshire Show. Rehearsals take place on Tuesdays after school 3.20-4pm. As long as you can play a few notes on your instrument you are very welcome to join- we always welcome new members.

The Cheshire Show

The Kingsmead School Band attended the Cheshire Show in June, opening the day in the music bowl. We were all blown away with their performance. They played a great repertoire of songs and got the audience moving along and joining in. We would like to thank Mrs Harper for her hard work with the band this year and the children too, who have obviously been completing their practise at home and putting in the effort to pull off such a polished performance.

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Big Band Bounce

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William Tell

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Recorder Concert

A huge thank you to the Year 3 Recorder Group and the Recorder Ensemble for a truly brilliant concert! The Year 3s played with such confidence and enthusiasm—it’s hard to believe they’ve only been learning for a year. Your progress is remarkable, and your performance was a joy to watch. A special well done also to the Recorder Ensemble, who impressed us all with their more complex pieces and excellent coordination across different parts. Your hard work and musical talent really shone through. Well done to everyone involved!

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Showcase Concert

We ended the year on a high note with a fantastic musical showcase, celebrating the incredible talents of our young musicians. The concert featured a wonderful variety of performances, including a string ensemble, trios, duets, and a number of impressive soloists. Each piece reflected the dedication, practice, and passion that the children—and their peripatetic music teachers—have put in throughout the year. It was a joy to see their hard work come to life on stage, and the audience was rightly amazed by the standard of performance. A huge well done to all involved—you made us very proud!

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Finally, we want to congratulate some of our pupils for their outstanding musical achievements. Taking a music exam requires a lot of practise and dedication, so a huge well done to the following pupils…

Brandon Evans- grade 3 trumpet with distinction.
Ashton Shore- grade 3 trombone with distinction.
Ethan Haskew- grade 2 trombone with a merit.
Alistair Ip- grade 2 cello with a merit.
Bethany Ip- grade 2 cello.
Meera Gonte- grade 1 cello with distinction and grade 5 keyboard with distinction
Sophie Swift- grade 1 violin.
Isla Sun- grade 3 violin.
Evelyn Buckley- grade 1 violin.

Please do let us know of any other musical achievements so we can include you in future newsletters!

And congratulations must also go to Mrs Harper who has been recognised for her commitment to music at Kingsmead by being awarded a Lead School for Music Award.

Beautiful Work

This term, we’ve been incredibly proud of the children who have received a Beautiful Work certificate in recognition of their effort, care, and commitment to producing work of the highest standard. Their determination to do their best and take pride in what they create truly shines through. It has been a joy to welcome family and friends into school for our open afternoons and special celebration assemblies, where the children have had the opportunity to share their achievements. Well done to all our award recipients—you are a true inspiration to us all!

Useful and Kind Awards

As we come to the end of term, it’s been wonderful to recognise our latest group of children who consistently demonstrate what it means to be useful, kind, and ready to learn without limits. In a special celebration assembly, these pupils were presented with the Bronze Useful and Kind award in recognition of their outstanding efforts. They truly embody our school ethos in their daily actions—helping others, showing kindness in every interaction, and approaching learning with enthusiasm and determination. We are so proud of them and look forward to seeing even more children strive for this meaningful achievement next term.

We also awarded two Useful and Kind Gold Awards this term, to recognise the contribution Mrs Hammond and Mrs Gajjar have made to Kingsmead, continually being Useful and Kind, day in day out.

Red Admiral Awards

This year, we are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding children who have been awarded our prestigious Red Admiral Award. This special recognition is given to one boy and one girl from each year group who have truly shone—whether through remarkable academic progress, exceptional social contributions, or simply by being all-around amazing individuals. Some have made incredible strides in their learning, others have blossomed in confidence, and many have shown kindness, resilience, and a positive attitude that has inspired those around them. Each of these children has stood out in their own unique way, and we are thrilled to honour their achievements and growth with this well-deserved award. We also award the Hummingbird Hawk Moth to one Year 6 student who has migrated to the school, making a positive contribution during their time here.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth Winner

Red Admiral Winners

Community @ Kingsmead

Our membership of NEP gives opportunities for school leaders, teachers and children to work and learn together.

Thank you to the partnership for putting on a number of events for children and staff this year.

Northwich Sings

We are so proud of our Year 5 children for their fantastic performance at the NEP Music Festival, where they joined schools from across the town to sing songs from Aladdin. After weeks of dedicated rehearsals in school, the children spent the afternoon of the event collaborating with pupils from other schools, building a real sense of community and shared excitement. The evening performance, attended by a large and supportive audience of families, was a true celebration of their hard work and enthusiasm. It was a joy to see them singing their hearts out, beaming with pride and confidence on stage—an unforgettable experience for all involved!

Northwich Pupil Parliament

Becky and Edward have represented our school brilliantly throughout the year, leading on this years theme of 'Pride in ourselves, our community and our world'. This term they have attended a meeting with Pupil Parliament Representatives from across a range of local schools to feedback on the event they organised in the Autumn Term, arranging cupcakes to be made for all of the residents at Anderton Place. They also came back inspired by what the other schools had done and have given lots of ideas for future events, ready for the next representatives to take over.

Summer Art Show

Children in Year 2 and 4 contributed to the 'Pride' exhibition in Baron's Quay. The children in Year 2, linked their artwork to our learning on Zones of Regulation, recognising their feelings and what their bodies look like when experiencing these different feelings. They also thought about what makes them proud and how their bodies look. They then took inspiration from the artwork of Keith Haring, which is well known for its bold, bright colours and thick outlines.

Year 4 took their inspiration from Grayson Perry's art to create their piece. They thought about what they were proud of at school and in their learning. They then used marker pens, watercolours and acrylic paints to create their canvas.

Railway 200 Project

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. A British innovation that’s continued its journey across the globe. Through a year-long series of activities and events, Railway 200 will explore how rail shaped Britain and the world. And, as today’s railway modernises and gears up for growth, Railway 200 will also look to the future, encouraging more people to take the train and inviting the next generation of pioneering talent to join the railway and become the history-makers of tomorrow.

School that are part of the NEP have been invited to create some artwork to celebrate this anniversary. Work will then be photographed and hopefully display at Northwich station or in other perplex shelters in the Northwich area.

Mrs Roberts ran an art club to create our work. Our piece celebrates some of the milestones and significant events of the past 200 years in British Railway. Each panel depicts a different era, beginning in the 1800s, travelling through WW11, the swinging 60s and ending up at the modern railway. The children were inspired by David Hockney's Yorkshire landscapes which they have incorporated in their background using vibrant acrylic paint to contrast the monochrome ink train.

VE Day Celebrations

This term, we proudly commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a wonderful day of activities across the school. The children looked fantastic dressed in red, white and blue, helping to create a vibrant and patriotic atmosphere. We began the day with a special whole school assembly led by our History Co-ordinator, Mrs Miller, where the children learned about the significance of VE Day and key facts about World War II. Our Year 6 pupils impressed everyone by sharing some of their own knowledge from their recent History lessons. At lunchtime, we enjoyed a street party-style meal, complete with themed tablecloths, wartime music, and a delicious spread of sandwiches, cheese rolls, pizza, vegetable sticks and biscuits. In the afternoon, children worked in their mixed-age community assembly groups to explore VE Day in more depth and created some fantastic collaborative artwork, which is on display in the school hall. We rounded off the day with a fun dance session, where everyone learned the steps to Chattanooga Choo Choo. A huge thank you to Mrs Miller for organising such a memorable and enriching day for our school community!

Mini Police Officers

A huge thank you to our fantastic Mini Police Officers for their continued dedication and hard work in supporting safety in our local community. Working alongside our local PCSO Lee, they have been busy monitoring parking, checking speeding, litter picking, and even training our younger children to walk safely. Their commitment and enthusiasm have made a real difference, and we are incredibly proud of the responsible and caring role they have taken on. Well done, Mini Police—you’ve set a brilliant example for us all!

Armed Forces Flag Raising Ceremony

Armed Forces Day, held annually on the last Saturday of June, was marked this year with a special Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday 24th June at Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters in Winsford. This significant event brought together members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, serving and ex-reservists, cadet instructors, spouses, and other representatives from across the region. We were incredibly proud that our Kingsmead Mini Police were invited to attend this prestigious ceremony, which has become one of the region's key commemorative events. Representing the Mini Police programme, Northwich Police, Kingsmead Primary School, Kingsmead Parish Council, and their families, our pupils spoke with several VIPs, including Chief Constable Mark Roberts, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire Susan Sellars, and Police Crime Commissioner Dan Price. They shared the purpose and impact of the Mini Police initiative with confidence and enthusiasm. Their maturity, pride, and respect made a lasting impression on all who attended—they truly did us proud.

Parish Council

Our Mini Police Officers confidently delivered the PCSO’s report at a Parish Council Meeting this term. They shared important updates on anti-social behaviour and community concerns reported to 101 with professionalism and maturity. Their presentation was clear, informative, and very well received. In recognition of the outstanding contribution, our current and past Mini Police have given to the community, the Parish Council presented the Mini Police and PCSO Lee with a beautiful police light and commemorative plaque. They were also congratulated on winning the prestigious National Crimebeat Richard Walduck Award 2025—an incredible achievement that reflects their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to making a positive difference. Please pop in and see the Mini Police Yearbook on display in our entrance hall, celebrating the many achievement and experiences our Mini Police have had.

Let's Walk

This term, our Mini Police took on the role of mentors as they delivered Let’s Walk road safety training to our Year 4 children. They did a fantastic job, confidently sharing their knowledge and helping the younger pupils learn this essential life skill. Through their guidance, the Year 4 children now have a much better understanding of how to stay safe when crossing roads. It was wonderful to see the Mini Police take on this responsibility with such enthusiasm and maturity—they truly led by example and made a real impact.

Party

The Mini Police wrapped up the year in style with a fantastic end-of-term party, generously organised by PCSO Lee. As part of their well-deserved National Crimebeat Award, they received £500, which helped make the celebration extra special. The event was packed with fun, featuring a lively disco, Xbox gaming, a wide variety of games, and, of course, a mountain of pizza! It was a brilliant way to celebrate all their hard work, and the children had an unforgettable time.

Mini Police Litter Pick – Making a Difference in the Community

One of the most frequently requested activities by our Mini Police during their interviews is to take part in litter picking around the local community—and this term, they had the opportunity to do just that. In previous years, litter picks were limited to one specific area, but this time, our Mini Police extended their efforts across Kingsmead. Working in small groups alongside PCSOs and PCs, they visited several key locations, including the two play areas on Dukes Way, the Duck Pond, Regency Way Play Area, Moor Park Way Field, and Daffodil Hill. As they worked, the Mini Police demonstrated great care and concern for their environment, making thoughtful comments such as, “I don’t understand why people litter—can they not just use a bin or place it in their pocket until later?” and “This is not healthy for our planet.” The PCSOs praised the children for their positive attitudes and the pride they took in protecting their community. It was a fantastic experience that highlighted their commitment to making a real difference.

KFA @ Kingsmead

by Lauren - Chair of KFA

This academic year the Kingsmead Friends Association have raised over £8,000. All monies we raise throughout our events are used to enhance the children’s experience during their time at Kingsmead Primary.

We held 3 discos throughout the year, including our first ever Silent Disco. The discos alone raised over £3,000.

February saw us host our first ever family Race Night which was a fun night all the family could get involved with!

June’s sponsored Jim Jam Jog saw the children completing laps of the school field in their pyjamas raised over £2,000. It also came with a sweet treat at the end for them all to enjoy.

We have also run Frozen Fridays, facilitated the creation and selling of personalised tea towels and Christmas Artwork, held non-uniform days and movie nights, all of which have helped us reach our total.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to the pupils for their enthusiasm in taking part in our events, parents for their continued support both through volunteering and sponsorship, the staff for their support and help in co-ordinating the events and my fellow KFA members for giving up their time to make it all possible.

The monies raised this year helped fund the Christmas Pantomime, outdoor learning lessons for all year groups, a gift for our year 6 leavers, library resources and First Aid training for years 5 & 6 amongst other things.

We are already working on our events for next year which we hope will help us continue to raise much needed funds to enrich the children’s time at school. Friday 21st November will see us host a laser show which will be our biggest event today. Ticket details will be released shortly and the event is open to everyone within the school and the wider community.

This academic year also saw some changes to our set up. Tracey Blake took over as Secretary at the start of the year, and mid-year Laura Brown stepped down as Chair and I replaced her in the role. Steph Rigby then stepped into my shoes as Treasurer. A huge thank you to Laura for her incredible contribution as Chair over the last few years.

Our AGM (date TBC) will take place in the winter term. Here AGM we will go through our financials and what we have spent the money we raised on, along with reviewing all our upcoming events. We would love to see you there, but in the meantime if you wish to chat about anything KFA related, please send us a message via Facebook, email on kfa@kingsmead.cheshire.sch.uk.

We hope you all have a lovely Summer break! Lauren Fullwood – Chair of the KFA

Forest Schools

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Kingsmead Families Association (KFA) for generously funding Forest School sessions for all our classes this year. These sessions have been a real highlight for the children, offering them valuable opportunities to connect with nature, explore the outdoor environment, and develop key skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and cooperation. The joy and enthusiasm the children have shown during these sessions has been wonderful to see, and the positive impact on their wellbeing and confidence has been clear. We are so grateful for the KFA’s continued support in making these enriching experiences possible.

Thank you to the KFA for their incredible dedication, time, and effort in organising such wonderful events throughout the year. Your hard work not only brings our school community together but also plays a vital role in raising valuable funds that directly benefit our children, teachers, and school. From planning and setup to volunteering and fundraising, your support makes a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for everything you do to enrich the school experience for everyone. Thank you for your continued commitment and generosity!

Eco Council

ECO AWARDS

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of Mrs Gajar and our dedicated Eco Councillors, who have worked tirelessly this year to maintain and enhance our school’s eco credentials. Their commitment has earned us our 10th Green Flag Award since the school opened—this time with distinction, a remarkable accomplishment that reflects their ongoing passion and effort. In addition, we are proud to have received the Almighty Oak CWT Wild Schools Award, with judges praising the way Kingsmead has embraced nature through a wide range of enrichment activities and projects. Highlights included the children’s creation of a dead hedge and bare earth mounds to support local mining bees. The Green Flag assessors were also particularly impressed by our partnership with the local college’s eco group, where older students have acted as inspiring role models for our younger children. A huge well done to everyone involved—you continue to lead the way in environmental education and action!

and other special events

Out of school

Our children don't even stop once their school day is finished. Many of our children have other hobbies and talents that they participate in and it's great to share a snap shot of what they have been up to.

This term we have been super impressed with the fundraising efforts of some of our children. Olivia Stuffins, Sisi Jonas, Tali Jonas and Finlay Baker, all took part in the Cheshire Kids Duathlon this term, with Olivia raising an amazing £535 that she has donated to Tiny Steps, a local Northwich charity. Sisis and Tali donated the money they raised to Newlife and Finlay also raising a brilliant £585 that he has donated to the KFA to purchase new play equipment for the children to use at playtimes.

Our Only World

On Mondays we share music with the children linked to our weekly assembly theme. This term all of our music has been linked to caring for the environment. Maya in Year 2 loved this song about protecting the environment so much that she wanted to perform it at her Dad's work event in London. She did an amazing job and we are so proud of her.

PXL_20250702_181000926.mp4

APEX Cheer

Report by Harper

On the 14th June 2025 I went to a cheer competition at Manchester UKCA to do Tiaras, which is my teenies team. I woke up at 6 a.m. and had some breakfast, put on my uniform and did my make-up. We arrived at 9 a.m. and I met up with my friends, took some pictures and went in. We all warmed up then performed. Me and the coach headed back to cheer because I had to do the Juniors team too. We got 8th because we got a 50 point deduction for an illegal skill that wasn't in our level but apart from that we did really good. All of our stunts got up and no stunts were dropped.

The week after UKCA I had another competition at Sheffield Revolution. I woke up at 3 a.m. and got into some joggers and a t-shirt, did my make-up then got picked up around 6 a.m. we arrived around 8 a.m. and headed in and watched some of the other APex teams. I got my outfit on to do warm up with my stunt team Hurricane, and then we performed. Then I had to change into my other uniform for the Junior for Crowns team and we warmed up then performed. I got a 1st with my Hurricane stunt team and a 4th with the Crown team.

Well done Harper, your dedication to your sport is brilliant.

Staffing News

As the school year comes to a close, we bid a fond farewell and say a heartfelt thank you to two much-loved members of our teaching team who are retiring this summer.

Mrs Hammond, who has been with Kingsmead since 2005, began her teaching journey here and has been a true asset to the school ever since. Her leadership in developing our PSHE curriculum and her unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of both children and staff have left a lasting legacy.

Mrs Gajjar, who joined us in 2011, has supported children across the school in a variety of roles, most recently as a specialist dyslexia teacher. She has also been a driving force behind our Eco Schools work, and her time at Kingsmead concludes with the exceptional achievement of our 10th Green Flag, awarded with distinction.

Both Mrs Hammond and Mrs Gajjar have made a lasting impact on our school community and will be greatly missed. We wish them all the very best in their well-deserved retirement.

Home and School in partnership

Thank you to the overwhelming majority of families—children, parents, and extended relatives—who continue to be such valued partners in each child’s education. Your support, encouragement, and active involvement make a real difference, and we know that we simply couldn’t provide the education we aspire to without this vital home-school partnership. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work, and working together is far more powerful than working in isolation or at odds. Ultimately, we all want the same outcome: for your children to thrive, flourish, and achieve their very best. As we look ahead to the next academic year, please take a moment to read and discuss our home-school agreement with your child—it’s an important foundation for the strong partnership we’re so proud to share and helps to set clear expectations and strengthen our shared commitment to their success.