We were able to explore real artefacts, explore the history that Colchester has to offer and event go underneath the castle to sit in the foundations built by the Romans.

During one break time, we gathered pupil voice through a Graffiti Wall activity, asking everyone what clubs they would like to see in Autumn 2. These ideas were then shared with the Leadership Team (staff), who helped to narrow down the suggestions.

In Week 7, pupils took part in a final vote to decide which new clubs they’d most like to see introduced. I hope you have been happy with the selection available this half term.

One pupil said, “It was amazing to see where real decisions are made. It made me feel like our voices as young people really do matter!”

The children all showed great resilience and responsibility, making it a truly memorable day out.

As part of the friendly competition, the class that raised the most money gets to choose how their total is spent on an end-of-year treat. This year, the winning class was RF, who collected a fantastic £122.92!

As you can imagine, our youngest fundraisers had plenty of creative (and wild!) ideas. After much excitement and discussion, they decided on a superhero party, some new classroom resources, and—most touchingly—a donation to Great Ormond Street Hospital, made in the name of Class RF, Tilbury Pioneer Academy, in honour of one of their classmates who recently spent time there.

A huge well done to Class RF and thank you to everyone who contributed. What a wonderful example of fun, kindness, and community spirit!

They performed "In the Jungle" from The Lion King, showcasing not only their musical talent but also their teamwork and resilience. Each pupil made a real effort to try their best, and it was clear they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Well done, Year 4 – what a brilliant performance!

In the afternoon, we moved indoors and took part in a carousel of five exciting activities in our groups:

1. Using magnifying glasses to examine dead animals and insects found at Hyde Hall.
2. Using a variety of seeds to create colourful designs on bookmarks with crayons and paper.
3. Making helicopter seed spinners.
4. Creating plant pots out of soil.
5. Exploring the process of pollination using chalk and cotton wool to demonstrate ‘pollen transfer’ between flowers.

It was a truly fantastic day, and the children were an absolute delight throughout!

But that wasn’t all! As well as the fun on the water, we also got to take part in some thrilling land-based adventures. From the excitement of rock climbing to the fast-paced action of laser tag and the teamwork involved in the group challenges, there was never a dull moment. Each activity pushed us to try new things, support one another and most importantly — have loads of fun! The atmosphere was full of excitement and teamwork, and the beautiful weather made it all the more memorable.

The elegant instrument, which has been cherished by generations of Mrs. Nathan’s family, now sits proudly in the reception space, already captivating the attention of curious little minds. "Music has always been a central part of my family's life, and this piano holds many treasured memories," shared Mrs. Nathan. "I believe every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of making music, and I truly hope this piano will be the first step on a wonderful musical journey for many of them."

Her thoughtful donation provides an invaluable opportunity for our reception children to engage with a real instrument from an early age. It's a chance for them to explore sounds, develop an ear for melody, and perhaps even discover a hidden talent.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs. Nathan for her remarkable generosity and for bringing such a special piece of her family's history into our school. We'd also like to express our gratitude to Move U Removals for kindly transporting the piano to our 

school, ensuring it arrived safely and ready to inspire. This wonderful gift is sure to spark creativity and a passion for music in our children for years to come.

biofacts, they discovered how animals adapt to survive in their natural homes.

After the session, we enjoyed exploring the zoo itself—meeting elephants, giraffes, lions, and even cheeky meerkats! The children were fascinated by the wide variety of animals and showed fantastic curiosity and behaviour throughout the day.

Both classes thoroughly enjoyed themselves, some saying it has been their best trip at TPA so far (even though the weather wasn’t quite on our side!).

Each child began by selecting the type of chocolate they wanted to use—milk, dark, or white—and carefully observed the melting process, identifying it as a reversible change. Once melted, they poured the chocolate into moulds and personalised their creations with a selection of sweets, toppings, and other ingredients.

Parents worked alongside the children, making the experience even more enjoyable and collaborative. Once complete, the chocolate bars were placed in the fridge to set.

As a final touch, each student designed their own chocolate bar packaging using Canva, showcasing their creativity and digital design skills. The finished bars will be placed into these custom boxes, ready to be taken home and enjoyed.

It was a fun-filled afternoon that combined science, creativity, and a whole lot of chocolate!

Thank you to all parents that joined us.

On a chilly May day, the children got hands-on making their own bread using wheat grown right on the farm. They watched an impressive bird of prey in flight, enjoyed a bumpy tractor ride, and had the chance to touch and feed some friendly farm animals. 🐑🦅🚜

After an action-packed day, there were a few sleepy heads on the bus ride home. A lovely day full of learning, laughter, and a little rest! 

The day was filled with laughter, teamwork, and new challenges, as pupils developed their confidence on the water while enjoying the natural surroundings. Staff praised the children for their enthusiasm and positive attitude throughout the day.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that provided memorable moments and helped to build resilience, cooperation, and a love for outdoor learning.

Leading up to the event, 75 enthusiastic children had been diligently preparing by running their daily mile during break times. Their commitment and effort were truly inspiring!

Each participant also worked hard to raise sponsorship money from family and friends, with contributions paid in via PayPoint throughout the week. We were so proud of their fundraising efforts!

The event itself was a fantastic display of perseverance and school pride. Students showed great determination as they completed their mini-marathon, cheered on by staff and supporters. It was a wonderful achievement for everyone involved! 🎉

Over 40 parents joined in the fun, completing phonics games, making character puppets, taking part in a massive ‘Bear Hunt’, and reading with their children.  We outlined the upcoming phonics screening test and showed parents fun and engaging ways to help their children with their reading at home. 

All props provided are at the child’s level of development, likes and fascinations, which they all thoroughly enjoyed.

Afterwards, we walked along the Thames to the Tate Modern, where pupils had the opportunity to spot famous landmarks we had learnt about in Literacy.  Inside the Tate Modern, small groups explored different art exhibitions, which sparked plenty of thought-provoking conversations about modern art.

It was a fantastic day that combined culture, creativity and a little bit of culinary adventure!

The total amount raised was £375.06, with class 4C emerging as the winner by collecting £73.63. However, the class collectively decided to forego their prize in light of families in need, opting instead to donate to the Thurrock Foodbank in their honour. Friends of Pioneer shopped for food items just above the winning amount and on July 22nd, they made a donation of 53.2kg of food items to Thurrock Foodbank on behalf of class 4C. A commendable decision by class 4C.