Like a scene reminiscent of the iconic musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, pupils at Waycroft Academy eagerly unwrapped chocolate bars in the hope of discovering a winning prize.
The initiative, organised by The Friends of Waycroft Academy, has captured imaginations across the school. This year’s theme, inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, brought a whimsical twist to the much-anticipated fundraising event.
Around 400 chocolate bars were sold, with all proceeds being reinvested back into the academy to support pupils and enhance school experiences.
Each bar was carefully rewrapped by organisers, hiding a special surprise underneath. Pupils who discovered a Queen of Hearts card beneath their wrapper were rewarded with an exciting prize.
A wide range of prizes were up for grabs, including five sets of circus tickets for Paulo’s Circus, bowling vouchers from Hollywood Bowl, Nando’s vouchers, family swim sessions, and cinema tickets.
The academy also contributed a selection of unique in-school rewards, including hot chocolate with Principal Mr Smith, a non-uniform day for an entire class, the chance to sit on a chair during assembly for a week, and a VIP lunch table experience.
A spokesperson for The Friends of Waycroft Academy said: “This event has been a fantastic way to bring a sense of fun and excitement into the school while raising valuable funds. Seeing the pupils’ reactions as they opened their chocolate bars has been truly magical.”
Adam Smith, Principal of Waycroft Academy, added: “We are incredibly grateful to The Friends for organising such a creative and engaging fundraiser. Events like this not only support the school but also create memorable experiences for our pupils.”
Waycroft Academy was delighted to welcome retired Winter Olympian and Team GB skeleton racer Laura Deas for a special visit designed to inspire pupils through sport and perseverance.
Laura, who represented Team GB, enjoyed a highly successful career, winning her maiden Skeleton World Cup race in Altenberg in November 2015, following earlier podium finishes with silver in Calgary and bronze in St Moritz. She later achieved international acclaim by reaching the Olympic podium at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
The visit was organised through the school’s partnership with Great Athletes, a social enterprise that connects Olympic and elite athletes with primary schools across the UK to motivate children through fitness and personal development.
Two special assemblies were held. In the first, 390 pupils from Reception through to Year 6 took part in an energetic fitness circuit led by Laura, testing their stamina and teamwork.
The second assembly gave pupils the opportunity to engage in a question-and-answer session, where Laura shared insights into the dedication, resilience, and mindset required to become a world-class Olympic athlete.
As part of the initiative, children were encouraged to seek sponsorship from families, parents, and carers to participate in the event. Funds raised will go directly towards purchasing new sports equipment for the school, supporting ongoing physical activity and wellbeing.
Emma Sweet, Vice Principal at Waycroft Academy, said: “Having Laura visit our school has been an incredible experience for our pupils.
“Her story of determination, resilience and success has truly inspired everyone. Events like this not only promote physical activity but also show our children what can be achieved with hard work and belief.
“We are extremely grateful to Great Athletes for making this opportunity possible.”
Back left Emma Sweet Vice Principal, back right Laura Deas.
Year 4 pupils at Waycroft Academy have been enjoying an exciting hands-on journey into the world of 3D art.
As part of their learning, pupils explored the history of pottery and discovered a range of different pottery styles from across time and cultures.
Pupils were given the opportunity to work with clay to create their own coil pots. After a very messy start, through patience, creativity and perseverance, the finished pieces looked amazing and showcased the pupils growing confidence and skill.
Everyone worked extremely hard throughout the project, and staff were thoroughly impressed by both the effort shown and the final creations produced.
A spokesperson for Waycroft Academy said: “This project was a fantastic way for pupils to explore art in a creative and practical way.
“Pupils showed real determination and enthusiasm, and their finished coil pots are something to be very proud of.
“It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as the project progressed.”
Year 3 pupils from Waycroft Academy had a fantastic day at We The Curious, the interactive science centre and educational charity located on Bristol’s harbourside.
Pupils explored the exhibits with great enthusiasm and curiosity, engaging in a wide range of hands-on activities that supported their current science learning.
From experimenting with interactive displays to investigating how things work, pupils showed real excitement and interest throughout the visit.
As part of the trip, they also took part in an exciting light and shadow workshop. During the session, pupils carried out a range of experiments, including using a prism to split white light into the full spectrum of colours. They were fascinated to see how light behaves and especially enjoyed discovering the science behind rainbows.
Pupils represented Waycroft Academy brilliantly, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating excellent behaviour and teamwork throughout the day.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “Trips like this bring learning to life.
“Pupils were fully engaged, curious, and enthusiastic all day, and it was wonderful to see them making such strong links to their classroom learning.
“We’re incredibly proud of how they represented Waycroft Academy.”
There was no hurricane at Waycroft Academy as Year 3 pupils created their own weather reports for the South West of England.
Using green screen technology, pupils filmed their forecasts before selecting background images to replace the green pixels in their videos. The project gave pupils the opportunity to step into the role of weather presenters, delivering reports directly to camera.
As part of the activity, pupils developed confidence in speaking, worked collaboratively as a team and learned how to use an autocue, gaining valuable digital and communication skills along the way.
A spokesperson for Waycroft Academy said: “Projects like these bring learning to life.
“The children showed fantastic enthusiasm and creativity, and it was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they presented their weather reports.
“These experiences help prepare pupils with skills they will use both in school and beyond.”
Pupils at Waycroft Academy were thrilled to welcome former professional basketball player Daniel Edozie during a special assembly.
Daniel, who previously played for the Bristol Flyers, spoke openly about his life as a basketball player and shared powerful messages about the importance of staying positive, embracing challenges, and never giving up.
He also highlighted key values such as teamwork, dedication, and resilience, encouraging pupils to apply these lessons both in and out of school.
The assembly sparked lots of enthusiasm, with pupils asking thoughtful and insightful questions. Daniel kindly stayed after the session to sign autographs, chat with pupils, and even treated them to an impressive slam dunk, which was met with huge applause.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “Daniel’s visit was incredibly inspiring for our pupils.
“His positive message about perseverance, teamwork and believing in yourself really resonated with them. It was a fantastic opportunity for our children to learn from someone who has worked hard to achieve their goals, and they will be talking about it for a long time to come.”
A massive well done to Waycroft Academy’s Year 6 football team, who secured an impressive 2–1 victory away from home in a hard-fought match against strong opposition.
The team once again demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, with every player showing teamwork, commitment, skill and dedication that proudly represents Waycroft Academy.
School leaders extended a sincere thank you to everyone who came to support, and to Jeff for assisting Mrs Sweet with the team and helping make this success possible.
The team is now looking forward to its next game, where Waycroft will be aiming to secure a place in the next round.
A spokesperson said: “We are incredibly proud of our pupil’s determination and togetherness.
“Their hard work on and off the pitch truly reflects the values we celebrate at Waycroft Academy.”
Year 6 pupils at Waycroft Academy had a fantastic time this week as they began the exciting process of creating their very own papier-mache masks.
Armed with balloons, newspaper, and plenty of enthusiasm, the children inflated their balloons before carefully layering them with wet newspaper.
This activity proved to be both artistic and delightfully messy, sparking lots of fun and creativity in the classroom.
Once the papier-mache layers have fully dried, the pupils will pop the balloons and begin decorating their masks with colour, texture, and imagination.
The final designs promise to showcase pupils individuality and artistic flair.
A spokesperson for Waycroft Academy said: “This project is a wonderful way for our Year 6 pupils to express themselves creatively while learning new artistic techniques.
“We are so proud of their enthusiasm and can’t wait to see the unique masks they produce.”
Children at Waycroft loved trying to guess which staff were behind the masks!
Pupils from Waycroft Academy recently embarked on an unforgettable adventure during their Year Two camp at Mendip Activity Centre.
The young explorers immersed themselves in a fun-filled, action-packed experience designed to inspire confidence, teamwork, and a love for the outdoors.
Pupils took part in a wide variety of thrilling activities, including bushcraft skills and a scenic nature trail.
Laughter and excitement echoed through the camp as pupils zoomed down the exhilarating toboggan run and explored the dark and gloomy depths of the on-site caves.
The camp offered the perfect balance of challenge and fun, helping pupils build resilience and form lasting memories with their classmates.
A spokesperson for Waycroft Academy said: “This has been a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to step out of the classroom and into nature.
“The children showed great enthusiasm and courage throughout the week.
“It’s been a joy to watch them grow in confidence and friendship through these shared adventures.”
The school extends its thanks to the Mendip Activity Centre for providing such a safe and inspiring environment for learning and play.
