Ready to Ride!

4th July 2025S Graham

We’re Ready to Ride! ✨

This week Oaks, year 6, took part in the Bus Induction Project—part of the fantastic Schools Go Smarter programme—and what a brilliant experience it was! With the help of a Nexus Youth Liaison Officer we learned everything we need to know about travelling safely and confidently: how to use our Under-16 Pop Cards, read timetables and navigate public transport like pros.

The best part? We got to hop on a free demonstration bus journey to a local secondary School! It gave us a real taste of what September could be like and now we feel so much more prepared (and excited!) for the big move.

We had such a fun day—full of learning, laughs and loads of confidence-building. Bring on secondary school!

#Year6OnTheMove #SchoolsGoSmarter #SecondarySchoolBound #ReadyForTheNextStep #BusSmart

Trip Advisor Reviews and Formal Responses

28th March 2025S Graham

In Oaks this week we began by writing negative reviews of either a restaurant, theme park or activity centre. We wrote these in the style of reviews on websites such as Trip Advisor and thoroughly enjoyed bringing out our dark side!

We then changed roles in our following piece and wrote a formal response to our complaint in the role of the manager of the restaurant, theme park or activity centre. We really enjoyed exploring and using formal language. Some of the children used some truly outstanding word choices and we completely convincing in their roles.

Mr Graham

Oaks and Birches visit to the OpenZone

2nd February 2024S Graham

Oaks and Birches visited the OpenZone at the Word this week to take part in a Lego coding activity.

We needed to build a range of different things before adding code to make them move or dance (see our video linked below). The children enjoyed experimenting with coding and adding more complex instructions, evaluating what went right…or wrong and made improvements.

Afterwards we visited the library and enjoyed the Lego exhibit currently on show.

Simonside Climbing Wall

17th November 2023Mrs Storey

In October, Year 4, 5 and Year 6 who were not attending the Kingswood residential had the opportunity to visit Simonside Climbing Wall as part of our PE curriculum. The children participated in two activities; archery and rock climbing. Their behaviour was impeccable and it was amazing to watch their confidence grow as they overcame fears and climbed the wall. The children also thoroughly enjoyed the archery and it was lovely to see fantastic teamwork and sportsmanship. Great work everyone!

The Highwayman in Oaks

1st November 2023S Graham

This week in Oaks we have been exploring a well-known narrative poem: The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, which was written in 1906 but is based a lot earlier.

We looked at the story within the poem, compared parts, summarised events and even gave our opinions and thoughts at different moments.

We had a great time learning the poem and performing parts of it in small groups. We thought about our volume, tone and pace to make it more interesting. We even recording our performances which can be listened to below using our QR codes.

We were extremely proud of all hard work and really enjoyed learning and performing it.

Mr Graham

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

La Machine à laver: French this Week in Oaks.

16th October 2023S Graham

In French this week, as part of our work on Les vêtements, we listened to a song involving different types of clothes and colours and then translated the song from French to English.

Well, we couldn’t get the song out of our heads so here it is for you all. Enjoy!

La Machine à laver

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un pull bleu et vert,

un pull bleu et vert.

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un pull bleu et vert de ma mère !

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un short noir et blanc, un short noir et blanc.

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un short noir et blanc

Et un pull bleu et vert de ma mère !

Il y a dans la machine à laver … des gants violets, des gants violets.

Il y a dans la machine à laver … des gants violets, un short noir et blanc

Et un pull bleu et vert de ma mère !

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un pantalon gris, un pantalon gris.

Il y a dans la machine à laver … un pantalon gris, des gants violets, un short noir et blanc

Et un pull bleu et vert de ma mère !

Il y a dans la machine à laver … des chaussettes qui puent, des chaussettes qui puent.

Il y a dans la machine à laver des chaussettes qui puent, un pantalon gris, des gants violets, un short noir et blanc

Et un pull bleu et vert de

Heart Rate Investigation in Science

16th October 2023S Graham

Last week we planned and carried out an investigation into heart rate.

We explored what heart rate is and how it can can be measured. We found different ways of finding our pulse and calculating our Beats Per Minute (BPM)

We looked at some ways heart rate increased, how to stay fit and healthy as well as made some predictions about what would raise our heart rate the most.

We then planned an investigation to answer a question we created and chose 4 different exercises to carry out (walking, running, hopping and even burpees). We created our method, made predictions enjoyed our exercise, each time measuring our increased heart rate.

Afterwards we discussed our findings and compared the results to our predictions and concluded what this told us.

Blood Flow Investigation in Science

27th September 2023S Graham

In Science this week, Oaks planned and carried out an investigation to measure how restricted or blocked arteries affected blood flow.

We used 4 cups, each with a different sized hole to represent the size of a blood vessel. We measured how long it would take 100ml of liquid to empty in each cup. We recorded out work in small groups and did it 3 times with each cup so we could work out the average.

At the end of the session, we compared our results with our predictions and discussed what this showed us and proved.

The children had a great time working in small groups and work tremendously hard to involve everyone at each stage of the experiment.

Great North Run- Mini Fun Run

8th September 2023S Graham

Some children from Oaks, Sycamores and Birches were extremely excited to take part in the first Mini Fun Run! We enjoyed the atmosphere at the starting line and began by warming up our bodies for the run ahead.

We got to meet running legend Sir Mo Farah before the race and he gave us some expert advice about the run ahead: Enjoy the moment.

The children were terrific and ran the entire 1.44km from the starting line, down towards the seafront, along the coast and finally back up to Gypsie’s Green.

We collected out medals, posed for photos with Sir Mo and Taylor even got to ask him a question.

We cooled down by taking part in a dance-a-thon with all of the other schools before heading back.

It was a great experience and something we all will not forget!