A term of adventures, on page, on pitch, in the classroom and outdoors

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Well, it certainly seems like it as we approach Christmas. There is frost on the ground and our preparations for the festive season are in full swing during the last few days of the autumn term.

Maybe we should take a moment and reflect on an amazing term, full of learning, opportunities and new memories that have been forged.

This autumn term has seen our true Copthill ‘team player’ spirit emerge with all the staff and children showing excellent resilience on the hockey pitch and the rugby field. Our Copthill learners have continued to throw themselves into all kinds of exciting experiences too! Climbing has become part of the curriculum in the Upper School, offering great challenge and culminating in a hard-fought house competition.

In their Forest School sessions, all of the Upper School students have enjoyed developing their outdoor skills, learning how to use their experiences and expand their important bushcraft survival techniques as well as learning how to climb cargo nets and cross rope bridges. Year 5 also went on their amazing bushcraft residential where the children made shelters, crafted traps, played night games and some even tried eating fish eyeballs!

In their science work, Year 5 have been investigating plants and reproduction in animals and plants. Year 6 have been investigating the water cycle, making their own mini water cycle bags; and light, looking at how it travels and how we see things.

In English, Year 6 have created adventure stories, looked at The War of the Worlds and science fiction settings as well as writing their own biography about Winston Churchill. Year 5 have written instructions, studied the magic of Harry Potter and created some amazing descriptive writing while studying Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.

It has been a busy term for our oldest pupils, with some having already sat their entrance examinations and preparations for those taking place next term well and truly underway.

In French, Year 5 have learnt numbers, the names of buildings, different types of transport and the names of instruments. Year 6 have learnt the names of body parts, family members through looking at family trees and words and phrases used in conversation to describe people.

Art saw Year 5 children creating some truly amazing wire figures while Year 6 made the most wonderful poppies out of wire and clay as part of our World War One topic. These formed part of a very moving and thought provoking display in the Reception area during November.

Year 6 delivered a truly moving Remembrance Service to remember all those who have fought for us and sacrificed so much over the years. They also researched the involvement of their own generations of families.

Later in the term, we were proud to see the incredible amount of money raised following our Children in Need Day, which Year 5 organised, and enjoyed a non-uniform day, lots of amazing stalls set up one break-time and a super ‘Countryfile’ ramble accompanying a younger year group.

In the words of Charles Dickens from A Christmas Carol: “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour.”

This term has given us so many moments of joy to celebrate. We wish you all a truly wonderful Christmas and look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year.

Mr Willson

Upper School Leader