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George Spicer Newsletter - 6th March 2026
What a brilliant couple of weeks we've had at George Spicer! Our World Book Day celebrations were absolutely wonderful – the creativity and enthusiasm from both pupils and staff in their costumes was truly inspiring. Seeing our corridors filled with beloved characters reminded us why we're so passionate about fostering a genuine love of books and reading.
The statistics around reading are genuinely compelling. Just 30 minutes with a good book can lower heart rate and reduce stress in ways similar to yoga. For our young readers, nearly 60% report that reading helps them relax, and 46% feel happier because of it. Perhaps most strikingly, children from homes with many books are likely to achieve roughly three more years of schooling than their peers. Reading isn't simply enjoyable – it's transformative.
We've also been reflecting on International Women's Day and the theme of "Give to Gain." Our assemblies explored what true equality looks like. The reality is sobering: in 18 countries, women still need permission from their husbands to work, 34 million girls cannot access primary education, and at the current rate, equality won't be achieved for another 135 years. Yet this isn't about despair – it's about action. Giving support means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, and celebrating women's success. When women thrive, we all rise.
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Important Dates for Diary
George Spicer Sings - Year 1:
Monday 16th March - Elm
Tuesday 17th March - Ash
Wednesday 18th March - Willow
Friday 20th March - Oak
Year 4 Strings Concert – Monday 16th March:
Rhine will perform in the upstairs hall at 10:00 am.
Thames will perform in the upstairs hall at 11:15 am.
Nile will perform in the upstairs hall at 1:15 pm.
Amazon will be performing in the upstairs hall at 2:15 pm.
Year 6 - SAT's
Weds 18th March - Year 6 SATs Information Meeting 6-6.30pm Sketty Road site.
Monday 11th - Thursday 14th May – Year 6 SATs Week
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This week saw the launch of Letterbox Club across the school. Families were invited to attend and find out more about reading for pleasure at home with their children. Each family received a parcel; this is the first of three workshops which will take place across this academic year. Each parcel was packed full of wonderful items; all age appropriate and chosen to support your child with their learning at home. There were between 1–3 books from a range of genres in each year group pack, coupled with a maths game, complete with resources, plus other quality items for your child's enjoyment.
Thank you to those parents/carers who attended the launch workshops this week. It was lovely to see so many of you and we look forward to seeing you at the next session. If you were invited and were unable to make it, please make a note of the following dates so that you can come along, with your child, to collect your next parcel of goodies!
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Parents/carers & their invited child
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Reception, Year 1 & Year 2
Kimberley Gardens Hall 9:15am-9:45am
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Year 3 & Year 4
Sketty Road
9:15am-9:45am
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Year 5
Sketty Road
9:15am-9:45am
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Workshop 2
Summer 1
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Monday 20th April 2026
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Thursday 23rd April 2026
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Friday 24th April 2026
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Workshop
Summer 2
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Wednesday 3rd June 2026
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Tuesday 2nd June 2026
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Thursday 4th June 2026
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Quote of the week
"For me, success is really defined internally by you going after a goal and what steps you took to accomplish it; Dreams are free, but the price of living them is paid in the dark; Confidence isn't a feeling; it's a practice that's built"
Elena Meyers Taylor
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Attendance week ending 6/03/2026
Overall school = 96.74% Lates = 77
Best attendance: 1st Oak/Atlantic 100% 2nd Mediterranean 99.06% 3rd Artic 98.75%
Punctuality: Well done to Daffodil/Everest with 100% for punctuality.
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Reception
In Reception this week, the children have been reading 'Super Milly and the super school day'. They thought about what superpower they would have if they were a superhero. In class, we had an emergency and the children thought about how they could help using their superpowers.
'I can help to pick up the toys because I am super helpful' P- Poppy class.
'I can help my friend because I am super kind' R- Poppy class
'I can help my friend if they are sick because I am kind' K- Poppy class.
The children have also been so excited to celebrate World Book Day together by dressing up as some of their favourite book characters. We had a parade to show our different costumes and talked about who we were and which story we are from. 
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Year 1
Last week, Year 1 had a truly magical experience when they were visited by the Time Travelling Guardians of the Curiosity Chest – a mysterious portal to imagination!
The children were immediately captivated as the Guardians revealed a collection of fascinating artefacts hidden inside the chest. Each item sparked excitement and curiosity, inspiring the children to look closely, ask thoughtful questions and let their imaginations run wild.
The children eagerly described what they noticed, what they wondered about and the incredible stories they imagined. G said, “ I wonder if they are magical dolls!”, and A commented, “I wonder if the shells are keys?”
It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to develop their speaking and listening skills while embracing the joy of storytelling and exploration.
 
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Year 2
Year 2 have had another fun-packed week. In Writing we started our new book, Tadpole’s Promise. It tells the story of a tadpole and a caterpillar who meet at the edge of a pond and fall in love, but will their love endure? The tadpole and the caterpillar promise each other that they will never change, but the tadpole struggles to keep his promise. Inspired by the story, the children made their own promises and wrote them on lily pads, which are now displayed on our class working wall.
The main event of the week was World Book Day. The children were so excited to dress up as their favourite characters from the books and stories they love. We had a really fun day reading books, sharing books, listening to stories, designing our own books and performing stories together.
 
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Year 3
The Year 3 students had an engaging visit to the Science Museum, where they applied their knowledge of forces in the interactive Wonderlab. The children enthusiastically investigated various scientific principles through hands-on experiments, including exploring friction on a slide, examining air resistance using paper, and understanding weight with pulleys. This immersive experience not only reinforced their classroom learning but also sparked their curiosity about the world of science. Overall, the trip was a resounding success, providing students with memorable insights and a deeper appreciation for scientific enquiry.
 
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Year 4
Year 4 have had a wonderfully busy week filled with hands‑on science and creative literacy activities. As part of our science work on protecting the environment, the children carried out an exciting experiment to explore the impact of oil spillages. Using feathers to represent the delicate wings and bodies of birds affected by real oil spills, the class investigated what happens when oil coats them. The children were shocked to see how quickly the feathers clumped together and how difficult it was to remove the oil once it had soaked in.
The pupils then tested different cleaning techniques to find out which would be most effective at helping wildlife in a real‑life spill. They tried blotting, scraping, using water only, and washing with water mixed with detergent. Through careful observation and comparison, the children discovered that the combination of water and detergent was by far the most successful method, mirroring the approach used by wildlife rescue teams around the world. The activity really helped them understand the challenges faced by animals and conservationists—and sparked some thoughtful discussions about how we can better care for our planet.
To celebrate World Book Day, Year 4 also took part in a lively and competitive Footy and Booky quiz, which tested both their football knowledge and their love of reading. This was followed by a very special online workshop with acclaimed author and illustrator Cressida Cowell. The children were thrilled to be taught step‑by‑step how to draw Hiccup Horrendous Haddock, the beloved Viking hero from her How to Train Your Dragon series. Cressida encouraged the children to use their imagination, keep practising their creative skills, and believe in the power of storytelling—leaving the Year group inspired and eager to read, draw, and create even more.
It has been a truly inspiring week of scientific discovery and literary excitement for Year 4!
 
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Year 5
This week in Year 5, we combined handwriting practice with creativity to create a fantastic “graffiti writing” display. The children focused on careful letter formation before using their skills to design bold and colourful lettering. This activity links to UNCRC Article 31, which highlights every child’s right to take part in the arts, and Article 7, which recognises every child’s right to a name and nationality, as the children proudly included their names in their work.
In History, we have been learning about Hadrian’s Wall and life on the Roman frontier. The children learned that when the Roman Empire was at its height, Emperor Hadrian ordered a frontier wall to be built in AD 122. The children then drew and labelled their own versions of Hadrian’s Wall, including where forts might have been located. To bring the learning to life, the class even worked together to “build” their own Hadrian’s Wall using themselves!
As part of World Book Day, we enjoyed dressing up as our favourite book characters, took part in two interesting online workshops, and worked together to use our summarising and sequencing skills to then create versions of Willow pattern plates.
 
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Year 6
Over the past fortnight, Year 6 have been busy with lots of exciting activities! We celebrated World Book Day in our classes, enjoying fun book‑themed activities with our teachers.
As part of the celebrations, students joined author‑illustrator Cressida Cowell in a live Read and Draw‑along on Zoom. The children loved her tutorial on how to draw her characters, and Cressida shared some encouraging words and answered questions from the students. They also had the chance to hear about what it’s like to write children’s books and learn about her fantastic stories and characters, following along with reading or drawing using their favourite materials.
We have also started a new writing unit inspired by the Guardian’s 3 Little Pigs film. The children have been practising writing in the roles of a journalist and a barrister, having fun experimenting with bias and using their imagination to create their own versions of events.
In our RW anti‑racism lesson this week, children researched key leaders from different religions who have made a courageous stand for justice, equality, and fairness. They then presented their findings to the rest of the class, sharing what they had learned.
It has been wonderful to see the children engaging with stories, using their creativity, and exploring important topics over the past two weeks!
 
 
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NSPCC Guidance
The NSPCC’s guidance on children, mobile phones and online safety is a useful resource.
It addresses one of the most common questions schools are asked: when is a child ready for a phone, and how can families manage the risks?
The guide offers balanced, practical advice on readiness, boundary-setting, parental controls, and ongoing conversations about safe and responsible use.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/children-phones-online-safety/
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T: 020 8363 1406 
