Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

As part of our whole-school Diwali celebration, pupils across all year groups deepened their understanding of the Festival of Light and its significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. Children learnt about the story of Rama and Sita, explored the themes of good triumphing over evil, and discussed how families prepare for Diwali through cleaning their homes, wearing new clothes and exchanging gifts. Classes investigated how Rangoli patterns and light are used to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, and reflected on the values of hard work, virtue and bravery associated with her blessings.

Year 1 immersed themselves in the traditions of India, learning about Jaipur Elephant parade. They worked collaboratively to create their own colour elephants, which were displayed outside during the ‘Colour Run’ event.

Year 3 looked at rangoli designs. These are usually made during festivals and celebrations becuase they are though to bring good luck. Many rangoli designs are symmetrical and include geometric shapes, as well as lots of curved and straight lines.

The community were invited to join our Holi celebration by attending the colour run. This was a fantastic opportunity for families to join together and really capture the essence of the festival.

Celebrating Kindness, Equality and Sharing at Our School

During Autumn Term (2) our whole school has been exploring the theme “Kindness, Equality and Sharing – The Teachings of Guru Nanak.” Through stories, discussion, creativity and reflection, pupils from EYFS to Year 6 have taken part in a special RE focus designed to deepen their understanding of Sikh beliefs and values.

Across the week, children learned about Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and why his teachings continue to inspire millions of people today. Each phase focused on an age-appropriate concept — from recognising special and kind people in F2, to thinking about how Guru Nanak’s messages can help us make the world fairer in Year 6. Lessons linked directly to our SACRE strands, encouraging pupils to learn about religion, learn from religion, and express their ideas creatively.

Our KS1 assembly introduced children to the story of young Nanak and the “true bargain,” helping them think about how simple acts of kindness can make a big difference.
In KS2, pupils explored how Guru Nanak’s message of equality is still relevant today, reflecting on fairness, inclusion and the importance of treating everyone with respect.

As part of our whole-school celebration of Lunar New Year, each year group learnt about the festival and its significance for the Year of the Dragon. School was decorated with lanterns, artefacts and a Dragon’s Head, creating an immersive environment for pupils and visitors. Members of the school community were invited to share their experiences, enriching children’s understanding. The week concluded with a ‘Showcase’ assembly, during which selected pupils from each year group explained what they had learnt. To mark the occasion, the kitchen served a Lunar New Year meal, helping raise awareness of the celebration across the school and within the local community.

Year 2 learnt all about the significance of the dragon in the Lunar New Year celebrations. They even created their our dragon dance. Click on the link below to view it.

During our whole-school Ramadan Day, pupils developed a meaningful understanding of Ramadan as a month of prayer, reflection and charity. Following assemblies introducing the significance of the period, each year group explored key themes at an age-appropriate level, including why Muslims fast, the importance of community, and the values of gratitude and kindness. Children learnt about how families prepare for Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, and discussed the significance of the sun and moon in marking the lunar calendar. Across the school, pupils contributed to our Gratitude Tree by writing personal reflections on what they were thankful for, helping them recognise and appreciate the ‘small things’ often taken for granted. Year-group activities included creative art responses, good-deed calendars, and reflections on the impact of charity, strengthening pupils’ understanding of compassion and generosity. Community members were welcomed to share their experiences, and the week concluded with a showcase newsletter highlighting the rich learning that took place across the school.

As part of our whole-school learning focus on the story of Moses, pupils in every year group explored key themes from the narrative Foundation Stage children learnt about the idea of protection, discussing how baby Moses was kept safe by being placed in a basket on the river. In Years 1 and 2, pupils studied the moment Moses encountered the burning bush and reflected on how he trusted and obeyed God; they linked this to the school rule “follow instructions first time” and produced writing and artwork to deepen their understanding. Years 3 and 4 investigated the theme of slavery through the events of the ten plagues. Year 3 explored what life might have been like for an enslaved Hebrew, writing from the perspective of someone living through that experience, while Year 4 considered Moses’ and Pharaoh’s contrasting viewpoints through conscience-alley drama. In Years 5 and 6, pupils explored the theme of freedom, discussing what freedom means to them and linking this to the significance of Passover. They created poems expressing ideas of liberation within the story and their own lives, with Year 6 also engaging in thoughtful discussion about the importance of living respectfully in a multi-faith society.