Somersham Primary School

Welcome to the website of Somersham Primary!

Please look around our site to learn more about our school, meet us and our teachers and governors, and see lots of our exciting work.

You can keep up with even more news and events from school by reading the newsletters. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed to be kept informed whenever there are updates to this site.

What's New

The Somersham Golden Star Rules

Reach for the stars...

This year we have refreshed the school’s good learning code, introducing the following five 'Golden Star Rules' that offer, we believe, the route to becoming a happy and confident learner: The rules are simple to remember and there are examples of good practice posted around the school in words and pictures:

We are all happy at Somersham Primary because...

We are kind and helpful (Yellow star)

We are honest (Green star)

We are polite and listen carefully (Red star)

We are responsible; (Orange star)

We try our best (Blue star)

Rewards can be gained at any time and from any member of staff. In Key Stage 2 classes, new star charts and certificates will reaffirm this code throughout the year.

Christmas Crackers - 19 December 2011

Bringing Autumn Term to a traditionally Festive close with music, drama and song

Nativity Rules! Our Play within a Play A report by Megan H

Upper School’s Christmas Production told the imaginary story of how panic and disagreement nearly wrecked the traditional Nativity show! All the children had a great time, especially during the auditions, when they embarrassed themselves badly – especially Craig and Sonya’s rap!

There were some great songs – I really enjoyed ‘Don’t Wanna Do No Nativity’, which we sang with attitude!

The message in the end was that if you have enough encouragement and all pull together, it’s amazing what you can achieve. A great performance from everyone.

More great photos of the show can be viewed on our FLICKR Channel

Tinsel and Tea-Towels A report by Bailey (Inspector 2 – Mr Jones) and Harry (Mr McArthur)

We think the play was really good. A few children were nervous, but everyone loved it. It was really exciting and fun and everyone remembered their lines, spoke and sang clearly. We particularly enjoyed playing the teachers and inspectors and thought it was really funny wearing shirts and trendy ties. It was great on Monday when the audience got involved with the actions for the final song ‘They called his name Jesus’

We really enjoyed the show and think this Nativity play is the best ever!

Enjoy again the show on DVD - available from 1st January 2012; fill out an order form from the school office today! More great photos of the show can be viewed on our FLICKR Channel

Celebrating our musical achievements Mrs Marsh explains

Our final assembly of the term saw over 75 children impressing with singing and playing instruments whether solo, duet or ensemble. The standard and variety of the music performed was wonderful with a number of children from Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 taking part for the first time.

Thanks to all our tutors, but especially Mrs West and Mrs Cusworth for their help with ocarina, recorders and choir.

Hear an example of the children in action on Radio Somersham now! Also more great photos of the show can be viewed on our FLICKR Channel

Raising the green flag: Looking out for our world - 24 November 2011

Reaffirming our children’s commitment to building a sustainable future

We are delighted to announce that following a visit to the school by assessors from Cambridgeshire’s Environmental Team (CEES) last Friday morning, our school has been reaccredited with the prestigious Eco Schools’ Green Flag award, which symbolises 'excellence in the field of environmental activity'. In their preliminary judgement, members of the Assessment Team complimented the children’s knowledge, enthusiasm and energy towards more than meeting the award’s strict nine point criteria.

Children from our Eco and School Councils shared their experiences in planning major projects and changing attitudes on the way to Green Flag status, a detailed process that spanned 18 months. We are extremely proud of the children's efforts, coordinated expertly as ever by Ms Denton, which continue to enhance the school's reputation for creative thinking and learning.

A copy of the Eco Council 2010-2011 progress review, prepared by the children themselves, can be read by clicking here.

Learning through discovery - 21 October 2011

Feedback from our first of three cross-curriculum multi-sensory events in school this year

Last week saw the first in a planned programme of whole school events that encouraged children to use their preferred learning styles (visual, auditory and/or kinaesthetic) to explore a range of creative activities. Titled ‘Discovery Days’, the children were grouped in mixed-age and ability settings, having chosen drawing, making, thinking or composing-type tasks.

Our Autumn term session followed the theme of ‘Thinking about learning’ and the impressive pupil outcomes will form the basis of displays around the school (poetry; drawing and sculpture), but staff were equally delighted by the sense of co-operation, communication, perseverance and team work on show within and between groups of children, who became better acquainted as the day wore on (see photo left - more images can be viewed on our FLICKR Channel).

These qualities form the corner stones of our school values and newly-introduced Learning Star rules. Two more Discovery Day sessions are planned later in the year, with first-hand learning activities based in classes and the outdoor environment.

Somersham Primary gains prestigious ICT Mark Award...again! - 23 September 2011

We are proud to reaffirm that children at Somersham Primary are at the forefront of using information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance their work, and that’s official!

Following an extensive external assessment, the school has been awarded the prestigious NAACE ICT Mark. Our first accreditation was in 2008 and we are delighted that our efforts to excite and innovate in digital learning have been further recognised.

The award recognises the school’s success in developing the strategic use of ICT in both administration and across the curriculum. Parents have positive proof that their children are attending a school at the forefront of modern technology.

We are very proud to include the mark on our website and our mailings and this has been noted on a number of occasions, which has further raised the profile of ICT at Somersham Primary. Our recent (2009) OFSTED report positively acknowledged that we had received the ICT Mark in the description of the school.

Bernadette Brooks, Naace General Manager, said "Somersham Primary thoroughly deserves the accolade of an ICT Mark accreditation. The staff clearly demonstrate how important it is to take a whole school approach to using ICT in schools. We look forward to working with Somersham Primary to demonstrate how ICT can have a substantial impact on learner outcomes in the future."

A copy of the ICT Mark Summary Report can be read by clicking here.

That was the year that was...

Selected highlights of an exciting and successful 2010-2011 at Somersham Primary

Drama and song provided a fitting end to the school year, with Upper School’s ambitious and hugely enjoyable production of Kenneth Grahame’s novel, The Wind in the Willows. The show’s length and complexity in terms of dialogue, stage routines and characterisation challenged the children’s performing abilities; but they really rose to the occasion, as the official DVD shows (on sale from 1st September, priced at £5.00 pre-order now!).

Recent tests and teacher assessments have confirmed that pupils’ attainment in English and Mathematics at Key Stage 1(Year 2) is high (maintaining a three year trend) with good overall progress and achievement. Similarly in Key Stage 2 (Year 6), attainment remains above average and progress over the same three year period is good. The school’s ongoing moderation and self-evaluation processes in Early Years and Lower School were audited this year by Local Authority colleagues, and adjudged to be robust and rigorous.

Wider curriculum focus areas shone through during the year. Many children were engaged in a Pupil Voice initiative that sought to encourage children to have a greater say in the direction and depth of their learning. Within groups such as School, Eco and Class Councils the children have created a ‘pupil prospectus’, initiated fund-raising appeals for communities in need, led sustainability workshops for teaching staff and visited an Environmental camp. A drive towards further enriching the school’s curriculum has seen creative opportunities in sculpture, gardening, ICT Film-making and learning new languages. Music-making has continued to thrive, with successful whole school ‘rhythmicity’ and ‘drumathon’ events, and the chance to hear renowned artists perform. There were separate outward-bound residential visits to Grafham Water and PGL Caythorpe Court. Project ‘truffle moments’ abounded during Book Week; and also through team visits to Stibbington, Shepreth Wildlife Park and Burleigh House; our website features reports, images, film and audio clips for many of these activities.

The Wind in the Willows – Upper School’s Summer Production

19-20 July 2011

It is spring time, the weather is fine, and good-natured Mole loses patience with his spring cleaning and dares to leave his underground home, heading up to take in the air. He ends up at the river, which he has never seen before. Here he meets Ratty who spends all his days in and around the river. Rat takes Mole for a ride in his rowing boat. Some time later, one summer day, Rat and Mole find themselves near Toad Hall and pay a visit to Toad; a rich, jovial and friendly fellow, who tends to become obsessed about things, only to dismiss them later. After several crashes and motor accidents, they decide to put Toad under house arrest, with themselves as the guards. But feigning illness, Toad manages to escape and steals a car. He is caught and sent to prison on a twenty-year sentence. In prison, Toad gains the sympathy of the jailer's daughter, who helps him to escape disguised as a washerwoman. Toad hears from Rat that Toad Hall has been taken over by weasels, stoats and ferrets from the Wild Wood, despite attempts to protect and recover it by Mole and Badger. Although upset at the loss of his house, Toad realises what good friends he has, and how badly he has behaved. Badger, Rat, Mole and Toad enter Toad Hall via a secret entrance and drive away the intruders.

Upper School children brilliantly recreated Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of animal intrigue and true friendship in a riot of colour, dance and song. The performance is available to enjoy again on DVD, and a series of photos can be viewed on our FLICKR channel.

Sports events & picnics

4-5 July 2011

Photographs of this event are available in one of our many Flickr galleries or in a slideshow.

All the fun of the fayre

PFA Summer Fete 9 July 2011

Over £3K was raised this year! Again, photos are available in a Flickr gallery or slideshow.

They got rhythm

24 June 2011

Somersham School indulged in a day of foot tapping excitement at a unique 'Rhythmicity' event. The children themselves coined the phrase to describe the day of creative exploration, which included Street Dancing, Jazz and Performance Poetry workshops, and culminated in a pulsating performance by the Upper School children.

Jo Buffery, who led a Performance Poetry workshop, has run many prestigious projects for clients such as the English National Ballet and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. "It is the creativity and ambition of these projects that I aim to bring to my work in schools," she explained; an approach shared by Tim Gunnell, the percussionist, who has worked for most of the top orchestras in the country and has a huge interest in taking live music into schools. "I'm really impressed by what the children of Somersham School can do", says Vicky Lincoln, the joint principal of the Norma Terry School of Dance who ran a street dance workshop.

Singing in harmony

15 June 2011

Members of the nationally renowned Jesus College Choir visited Somersham Primary to perform and lead a series of choral workshops. The children learned how to sing in two and even three-part harmony, and then performed alongside the Cambridge College students and staff. Overall it was a great experience, described by Millie in Year 6 as one of the highlights of her final year at the school. "I was amazed at the range of sounds that human voices together could make; and (the choristers) worked so well as a team".

You can listen to the amazing performance on Radio Somersham.

May I have this dance?

6th June 2011

As a celebration of the Tudor Britain project, Middle School children visited Burghley House this Term and looked great in their Tudor costumes. They had a tour of the rooms and took part in a Tudor feast. Some children were lucky enough to perform a Tudor dance in the Great Hall, a Pavane that was written by none other than King Henry VIIIth. This was enjoyed by a group of tourists, who gave a round of polite applause!

Older 'What's New' articles are available in the news archive.

Swine Flu Update

Tel: (01487) 840412 / Fax: (01487) 741194 / Emergency Site No. (07905) 945411
E-mail: office@somersham.cambs.sch.uk / Website: www.somersham.cambs.sch.uk
Copyright © Daniel Bates
15,143 visits to this site from 4,871 different people in 2010 (from 67 different countries!)