Pupils from Waycroft Primary Academy recently embarked on an exciting adventure to the local library, immersing themselves in the world of books, stories and the joy of reading.
During their visit, pupils explored a variety of books, delving into new and captivating literary worlds.
They engaged in shared reading activities with adults, read aloud to each other, and encouraged their peers to discover different genres and styles of writing.
The highlight of the visit was a vibrant story-time session led by the librarian, who delighted the children with a tale of bravery.
A spokesperson from Waycroft Primary Academy said: “It was a magical experience that further sparked their love for reading and learning.”
With Christmas just around the corner, Year 3 pupils at Waycroft Primary Academy have been exploring the Nativity story as part of their religious education (RE) lessons, focusing on identifying acts of kindness throughout the narrative.
In a thoughtful activity, the children were tasked with writing down what they believe makes a ‘kind person’. Both classes reached a unanimous agreement: a kind person must show they are ready, respectful, and resilient – values which align perfectly with the school’s ethos.
To further enrich their exploration of the Nativity, pupils had the unique opportunity to learn about frankincense and myrrh, two of the gifts presented by the Wise Men to baby Jesus.
Pupils were fascinated by how these ancient offerings continue to spark curiosity and wonder in modern times.
A spokesperson for the school said: “It’s been wonderful to see pupils connect the values of kindness with the timeless lessons of the Nativity.
“The opportunity to engage with elements like frankincense and myrrh has made the story even more meaningful for them, showing how these age-old traditions still hold relevance today.”
Pupils at Waycroft Academy celebrated individuality and collectively by wearing odd socks to school, marking the start of Anti-Bullying Week – a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and take a stand against bullying.
Odd Socks Day, which kicks off the week, encourages students to wear mismatched socks as a reminder that differences make us unique and valuable.
This gesture aims to reinforce the message that everyone deserves respect and kindness, no matter their background, interests, or personality.
A spokesperson from Waycroft Academy said: “Odd Socks Day is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to embrace their uniqueness while coming together to support a vital cause.
“By wearing odd socks, we’re encouraging everyone to celebrate each other’s differences and stand united against bullying in all its forms.”
Waycroft Primary Academy held an engaging read-along event for Year 2 pupils, welcoming parents and carers to join their children to celebrate reading and learning together.
The event provided a unique opportunity for families to take part in their children’s education, developing a love for reading and strengthening the home-school partnership.
Pupils and their families explored a variety of engaging reading activities, from storytelling to discovering the joy of taking Accelerated Reader (AR) quizzes together.
This interactive format allowed parents and carers to see firsthand how AR quizzes help reinforce comprehension and encourage independent reading in a fun and supportive way.
A spokesperson said: “We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for the read-along.
“It was fantastic to see our children not only sharing their favorite books but also engaging in various interactive activities with you all.
“Events like these help to build a community of readers and inspire our young students to keep exploring the world of literature.”
Waycroft Academy pupils have successfully held their first school council meeting of the year, alongside Miss Pick and Mr Smith.
The meeting was a great success, with pupils brimming with creative and exciting ideas that will keep them busy throughout the academic year.
The next meeting promises to be equally productive, with pupils eager to start developing an official school song that will promote school spirit.
Additionally, pupils will review their playground suggestions, some of which are expected to already be in place by that time.
A spokesperson said: “Waycroft Academy is excited to see the enthusiasm and leadership demonstrated by its pupils and looks forward to the positive impact their ideas will bring to the school community.”
Pupils at Waycroft Academy did a great job of talking to Jamie Notton, one of the school’s Academy Councillors.
Jamie is Waycroft’s link councillor for behaviour, so was visiting lessons, watching transitions and also took time to talk to the school’s House and Vice-House Captains and pupils in class.
For Jamie, it was a return to familiar territory, as he is also an ex-pupil who Mr Smith (Principal) taught in Year 5 at Waycroft.
Year 2 pupils from Waycroft Academy took an interesting walk around their local area of Stockwood as part of their geography lesson.
The walk was designed to help pupils learn about the various buildings in their community and the important roles they serve.
During the walk, pupils identified different types of buildings and discussed what they are used for.
Pupils were excited to explore their neighbourhood and engage in discussions about the variety of jobs that can be done in Stockwood.
Highlights of the walk included spotting an ambulance, which prompted a lively discussion about the role of paramedics.
The pupils also spotted a sign related to rubbish collection and learned about the importance of bin collections and waste management in the community.
In addition, they explored the different types of jobs within their own school, adding to their understanding of local employment.
A spokesperson said: “The walk not only helped the pupils connect with their local environment but also introduced them to the wide range of careers that contribute to the functioning of their community.”
We hope that everyone enjoys our end of year celebration video. Thank you to Mrs Morris for putting this together for us.
Waycroft Academy’s Year 2 pupils have been engaging in an exciting exploration of geography, focusing on human behaviour and its impact on the environment.
Through a series of interactive and educational lessons, young geographers have been developing a deeper understanding of how our actions affect the world around us.
As part of their studies, the pupils read My Colourful Chameleon and were inspired to think creatively about where their chameleons might hide. They engaged in a hands-on activity, making rubbings to capture the textures of various surfaces.
The children carefully matched the colours and shapes to copy the unique camouflage abilities of chameleons, demonstrating both their artistic skills and their understanding of environmental adaptation.
Adam Smith, Principal of Waycroft Academy, said: “Waycroft Academy is committed to providing an enriching educational experience that encourages our pupils to think critically about the world they live in.”
Recent improvements to teaching and curriculum at Bristol’s Waycroft Academy have had a ‘huge impact’, according to Ofsted inspectors, who say the school is now ‘Good’ in all areas.
The primary school – located in Stockwood – offers a ‘calm and purposeful’ learning environment where children are ‘supported with kindness and understanding’, inspectors said.
Ofsted’s glowing endorsement follows a two-day visit from an inspection team, who met leaders from Waycroft and theschool’s multi-academy trust the Cabot Learning Federation, spoke to staff, parents and pupils, and carried out a ‘deep dive’ into teaching and curriculum.
In his report, lead inspector Gavin Summerfield praised Waycroft’s ‘ambitious’ and ‘well-planned’ curriculum, ‘effective’ safeguarding, and the ‘warm and nurturing relationships’ established with early years pupils and those with special educational needs.
On behaviour, his report said: “Pupils work hard in the classroom and participate in lessons with enthusiasm. Pupils learn in a calm and purposeful way.
“The school values of ‘Ready, Respectful and Resilient’ are understood by all. Pupils behave well around the school and live up to the high expectations set by staff.”
On teaching, it said: “The quality of education has improved greatly since the previous inspection and is now in line with the strong pastoral support that pupils receive.
“The school has reflected on the 2023 published pupil outcomes and has prioritised the curriculum. There has been huge impact.”
On wellbeing, it said: “Pupil leadership opportunities such as the school tech team or school council let pupils play an active part in improving the school. Members of the pupil-led wellbeing team welcome other pupils into school and support the mental health of their peers.
“The selection process for these roles is designed to help pupils to understand the importance of democracy and prepare them for life in modern Britain.”
On personal development, it said: “The rich and varied curriculum for personal development is a strength.
“Older pupils show a mature understanding of healthy relationships, power imbalance and discuss important and relevant issues such as the impact of social media on body image. High-quality pastoral support helps pupils manage and understand their feelings.
“Trips and visits are deliberately planned, enhancing many areas of the curriculum.
And on leadership, it added: “The school has recently joined a new multi-academy trust. The expertise and experience available in the trust has supported the school to strengthen its curriculum and provide the right level of challenge and support to school leaders.
“Staff are well supported by leaders who are considerate of their workload and wellbeing. As a result, staff support each other well, there is a strong team ethos and they are proud to work at the school.”
Adam Smith, Headteacher at Waycroft Academy, said:
“Throughout the inspection we were incredibly proud of our children, and of their behaviour, attitudes and understanding of our school values.
“Staff are obviously delighted our school was judged as ‘Good’ in all areas, as it reflects the dedication and hard work that has gone into making improvements since the previous inspection in 2021.
“We are especially pleased with the inspectors’ commendation of our strong team ethos and the way our staff are proud to work at the school, support each other and support the children. It is fitting recognition of our efforts to provide the very best education that we can.”
