Article 29
Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.
Attendance Winners
March winners were 56AR with 98.33%. They wore their own clothes to school today. Fantastic – well done!
World Book Day 2025
On Thursday 6th March we celebrated World Book Day here at Blanford Mere. It was lovely to see the children dressed as their favourite book characters or in their comfy pyjamas for reading. The day was filled with lots of book-based activities we had a Where’s Wally Hunt, Drop Everything and Read sessions and Read Your Own Way. We had a lovely day celebrating reading and it was greatly supported by parents coming into school to read with their children as well.
Year 1 Forest School
On Thursday 13th March, Year One visited the Forest School at St. Mary's School. The children all had lots of fun in the Forest School and engaged in a range of activities including: den building, fire-lighting, relaxing in the hammock, playing in the mud kitchen, using hand saws and palm drills to create a tree cookie necklace, and a highlight of the day was making smores over the open fire!
Condover Hall
Yr 6 children went on their Residential to Condover Hall in Shrewsbury (19th – 21st March) with Miss Stanton, Mr Raybould, Mr Baker, and Mrs Barlow. The children had a wonderful time filled with fun and challenge. They enjoyed a range of activities which included, Aerial Trek, Abseiling, Trapeze, Sensory trail, Camp fire, Conquest, Archery and League Toppers and other fun filled opportunities. The children benefitted from the experience of being more independent and taking responsibility for themselves. I would like to thank the children and particularly the staff, who gave up their own family time to make this experience possible for the children. The teachers held a fun Parent Celebration Assembly on Friday 4th April.
World Down Syndrome Day – Year 1
The children have enjoyed celebrating World Down Syndrome Day in Year 1. They all wore something blue and yellow and had lots of fun completing a range of activities.
World Down Syndrome Day is observed annually to raise awareness and advocate for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down Syndrome.
Red Nose Day
You raised £302 this year – this is a fabulous amount. Thank you.
Blanford Mere vs Belle Vue Year 3/4 Football Friendly
Blanford Mere Primary School’s Year 3/4 football team delivered a stunning performance, securing a dominant 13-2 victory in their latest match. The team showcased exceptional skill, teamwork, and determination, overwhelming their opponents with relentless attacking play. From the first whistle, Blanford Mere controlled the game, scoring goal after goal while maintaining a solid defence. Their hard work and dedication paid off, earning them a well-deserved and emphatic win. Well Done!
Year 5 Cross Country Championships
Blanford Mere Primary School recently took part in an exciting cross-country running event, competing against 37 schools. The boys' team put in a fantastic performance, securing 1st place, while the girls gave it their all and finished in 33rd position. With strong efforts from all participants, the school achieved an overall ranking of 18th. It was a great experience for the team, showcasing determination, teamwork, and school spirit.
Year 5/6 girls vs Belle Vue - Football
The Year 5/6 girls from Blanford Mere Primary School put in a valiant effort but were defeated 6-2 by a strong Belle Vue Primary School team. Despite the challenging result, the Blanford Mere girls showed great determination and teamwork throughout the match. Their two goals were well-earned and demonstrated their potential on the field. The team left with their heads held high, ready to learn from the experience and come back stronger in their next game.
Year 5/6 Boys vs Crestwood Park - Football
The Year 5/6 boys' football team from Blanford Mere Primary School celebrated a fantastic 2-0 victory against Crestwood Park Primary School. The team showed great teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the match. Their solid defence and quick passing created chances, and two well-taken goals sealed the win. It was a proud moment for the players, coaches, and supporters alike – well done, Blanford Mere!
Art Competition
Our recent Spring Art competition proved to be very popular and therefore incredibly difficult for our Art Ambassadors to judge. After much deliberation they cast their secret votes.
The winners in each category have received a prize and certificate. All of the art competition entries will be on display in the hall from next.
The winners are:
Leah P - EYFS
Hayden V - Y1 & 2
Logan P - Y 3 & 4
Deedee H - Y5 & 6
Thank you to everyone who entered and shared their enjoyment of Art and delight at each other's work.
Well done!
Mrs Cope (Art Lead)
Shakespeare Week
Shakespeare Week 2025 took place from March 24th to 30th, 2025. It is organised by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as a celebration for primary school children to experience Shakespeare's works. Across school, children took part in English lessons based on some of his most well-known works.
In Year 1, the children loved exploring The Tempest! As a class, they read The Tempest together, and then focused on the character, Caliban. The children each painted their own interpretation of what Caliban would look like, and then they wrote a character description. The children also role-played the part where Caliban is discovered by Trinculo and Stephano.
1MC - Louis-James: "Caliban is half-monster and has green scales."
1DJ - Miah: "I enjoyed learning about The Tempest and painting my own Caliban."
Year 2 focused on ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The children did research into Shakespeare as not many children knew who he was. They read the story, and the children designed their own magical creature using noun phrases to describe them in detail, adding characteristics and creating special powers that they had. The children then wrote a setting description based upon the story and included their character in their setting.
2BH - Zailey: "I really enjoyed linking what I knew about the story to the video"
2TD - Archie: "I have enjoyed learning about Shakespeare as I didn’t know who he was and learning more about the play."
Year 3/4 focused on 'Julius Caesar'. They began by looking at leadership qualities. They then compared the characters of Brutus and Mark Antony. Ending the week by planning, writing and delivering an impassioned speech to the rest of the class on a topic of their choosing.
34JC - Ella-Rose: “Shakespeare week was really fun and I loved learning about him. The best bit was when we wrote quiz questions about his life for our friends to answer.”
34JC - Lottie: “I really enjoyed learning about Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. He got stabbed 23 times!”
34CW - Abel: "We read Julius Caesar and heard Brutus and Mark Anthony's speeches. I liked giving my speech on why we need less time at school. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello."
Year 5/6 were immersed in the macabre world of 'Macbeth'. They reenacted various scenes, beginning to understand the social and moral conflicts within the story, as well as the influence of the 'weird sisters'. By the end of the week, the children had worked together to create a playscript for the scene where Macbeth and Macduff do battle with only one surviving. They thoroughly enjoyed learning about Shakespeare and Macbeth - hopefully this will stand Year 6 in good stead as they move into KS3.
56AR - Ellie J: "I really enjoyed learning about Macbeth, and I thought writing a playscript and performing it was fun."
56HO - Charlie DW: "I think Shakespeare week was fun because we got to study a play from the past - Macbeth. I really liked the play because it had gruesome stuff in it. I liked making a poem about the witches chants because I got to be creative."
Matilda
On Tuesday 8th April 2025, Year 5 were invited to the matinee performance of 'Matilda' at Kingswinford Academy. Wow - what a performance! The whole cast were fantastic - it was inspiring to see so many previous pupils of Blanford Mere in the cast and crew. Year 5 were a credit to our school and were a fantastic audience.
Autumn: "I liked it because it was enjoyable. The performers were loud and clear. The costumes were great as were the songs. It was lovely to see people who used to go to Blanford Mere."
Titanic Workshop
Year 2 have well and truly "thrown themselves into" their learning about the Titanic over the past 7 weeks. Their knowledge and understanding of this horrific disaster have really blown the staff away. To round the topic off, we have enjoyed a dramatised workshop to combine all our learning. We have hope you have enjoyed hearing the children's enthusiasm just as much as we have enjoyed instilling the children with everything, they know so far.
Thank you for your support with the children.
Miss Hughes, Miss Davies and the Y2 Team
Nursery, Reception and KS1 - Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’
Nursery, Reception and KS1 had a wonderful day of Easter activities. The children looked fantastic in their Easter bonnets – thank you for supporting this memorable occasion. The Easter Bunny ( Miss Edmonds) was able to visit every class to make a special ‘egg’ delivery to every child in school and nursery provided by school.
Dates for the diary
Monday 28th April – Children return to school at the usual time. They can wear summer uniform.
Summer Uniform
Blanford Mere red polo shirt or suitable red alternative
Grey shorts or trousers
Sensible shoes – black
Grey or white socks
Blanford Mere red polo shirt or suitable red alternative
Red and white checked/ striped dress
Sensible shoes black
Grey or white socks
Monday 5th May – Bank Holiday
Friday 9th May - Year 4 Sparks visit West Mids Fire Service
Monday 12th – Thursday 15th May – Year 6 SATs week
Thursday 15th May ‘Wear it Green Day’, for Mental Health Awareness Week.
On Thursday 15 May schools across the country will be getting dressed up in green and celebrating our theme for Mental Health Awareness Week: Community.
Whether you choose to fully embrace green attire or simply wear a green ribbon, socks, t-shirt to show solidarity with those facing mental health challenges, your participation will help raise awareness and promote good mental health for all. Children can wear their own clothes on this day and anything green.
Friday 16th May – Year 5/6 South Staffs workshop
W/C 19th May – Year 2 Optional SATs tests week.
Monday 19th May – Year 5 My Mate Fancies You workshop – Loudmouth Theatre
Tuesday 20th May – Year 5 Egyptian Workshop – Kingswinford Library
Friday 23rd May – Year 6 Helping Hands workshop – Loudmouth theatre group
Friday 23rd May – VIP Day
Friday 23rd May – School breaks up at the usual time.
Monday 2nd June - Back to school – usual time
Thursday 5th June – Reception to Year 6 Sports Day
The KS2 Event 9.15am – 11am
The Reception/KS1 Event 1.30pm – 3.15pm
W/C Monday 9th June – Year 1 Phonics check and Year re-check.
Tuesday 10th June – Year 3/4 Maths Championship final AM. Year 5/6 PM – Woodside Primary
Wednesday 11th June - we will be celebrating our Nursery Sports Day (weather permitting).
9.15 a.m. prompt start and we aim to finish by 10.45am.
Wednesday 17th June – Year 6 Road Safety
Thursday 3rd July – Reports out to Parents
Monday 7th July – Transition Day in new classes
Wednesday 9th July – Parents evening, if you wish, to discuss report.
Thursday 10th July – Year 6 Leavers Assembly 9.15am
Friday 18th July – School closes for the summer break at 3.15pm
Monday 1st September – INSET day – school closed to children.
Tuesday 2nd September – School begins at the usual time.
Have a super Easter Break. Let’s hope the sun continues to shine.
Mrs Crook and Miss Stanton
Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher
