THE
LJS REVIEW 202 5 20 26
01 I L J S R E V I E W 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6
The year at
Laxton Junior School
02 I L J S R E V I E W 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6
Welcome from the Head The pages of this year’s Review capture what life at Laxton Junior School so often feels like: purposeful, thoughtful and richly lived. Looking through them is a reminder that a school year is made up of both landmark occasions and countless small moments, each playing its part in shaping childhood here. As you turn the pages, you will see evidence of deep learning, curiosity at work and confidence growing steadily over time. There are moments of concentration and creativity, collaboration and independence, alongside the humour, playfulness and warmth that belong so naturally to these years. Laxton Junior School is a place where childhood is taken seriously. We believe that children thrive when they feel known, supported and encouraged to be themselves. This year has offered many opportunities for pupils to explore new ideas, take risks in their learning and discover what they are capable of, all within an environment designed to be caring, purposeful and ambitious. What emerges most clearly from this Review is the strength of our community. It reflects the commitment and care of our staff, the trust and partnership of families, and, above all, the character and spirit of our children. Their voices, creativity and enthusiasm give this publication its heart. These pages offer a snapshot of one year at LJS, a single chapter in a much longer story. I hope you enjoy revisiting familiar moments, discovering new ones, and gaining a sense of the richness and variety that make daily life at Laxton Junior School so special. Lydia Waller, Head of Laxton Junior School
Inside this issue Welcome from the Head ... 2 Reception at LJS....................... 3 Pre-Prep at LJS.......................... 9 Spotlight on Year 3................. 13 Prep at LJS.................................. 19 Music at LJS.............................. 29 Art at LJS....................................... 31 Sports at LJS...............................33 Science & STEM at LJS.........35 The National Year of Reading................................... 37 House Matters......................... 38 Clubs at LJS............................... 39 Charity at LJS............................. 41 Year 6 at LJS................................43 Staff Salvete and Staff Valete........................ 57
RECEPTION
“Reception is where it all begins. It lays the foundations for everything that follows, helping children learn how to learn through play, curiosity, and joyful experiences, giving them a happy, confident start to their school journey.” Mrs Jennie Burnham, Head of EYFS
First Stages of Education
04 I R E C E P T I O N
The Powerful Partnership of Play and Learning At LJS we strongly believe in the power of play and the importance of sustained time for the children to engage in their own games. Over the course of the academic year we invested in the power of play and the importance of sustained time for the children to engage in their own games. This promotes independence, decision making, collaboration and joy, as well as giving them opportunities to explore world building and a range of different resources. We also believe in the importance of academic learning and following a broad and balanced curriculum in phonics, maths, understanding the world, art, PE, story time and many more besides. We don’t believe that these are exclusive to each other; learning can and should be playful and play can be a serious business! This academic year, we have thought carefully and intentionally about timetabling to ensure
we can provide the children with a wealth of teaching opportunities, whilst making sure they have long blocks of time to be busy in their own way. Both types of timetabling are equally valued, and both are protected times. We promote and value daily lessons such as phonics, while also promoting and valuing playfulness and exploration. We want our little learners to be happy at school, to be curious and engaged, and to enjoy a childhood full of awe and wonder. At LJS, we achieve this through a careful balance of academic and play; interwoven, equally valued and thoughtfully nurtured. Mrs Jennie Burnham, Head of EYFS
05 I R E C E P T I O N
Little Coders, Curious Minds This year, Reception pupils have enjoyed an exciting introduction to the world of Computing, developing their confidence, curiosity and a positive attitude towards technology. The children have enjoyed exploring a variety of digital tools, building the fundamental skills that will support their learning both now and in the future. From taking photographs using iPads and experimenting with simple programs to developing mouse control on PCs, I’ve been so proud to see them becoming increasingly confident and independent users of technology. One of the highlights of the year for me has been working with our Bee-Bot robots. Through these hands-on activities, the children took their first steps in understanding algorithms and computational thinking. They enjoyed planning routes, testing their instructions and solving problems together, while developing valuable collaboration and communication skills - not always an easy task for 4 to 5 year olds! As their confidence has grown, the children have been introduced to basic coding concepts, using simple inputs to create animations and interactive games. They were so excited to see their efforts rewarded when the Bee-Bot robots followed their instructions!
Computing has also been closely linked with learning across the curriculum. Children have created some outstanding digital artwork to strengthen their mouse-control skills and applied mathematical thinking during coding and robotics activities. It has been wonderful to watch the children embrace new challenges, develop their digital skills and grow in confidence as young learners throughout the year. We look forward to watching them grow in confidence and technical expertise over the coming years, following in the footsteps of this year’s Year 6 pupils, who proudly represented the school in the national BEBRAS challenge during the Michaelmas term with six of them placed in the top 10% nationally! Mr Fraser Harper, Head of Computing
Building Movement in EYFS The Reception year represents one of the most important periods in a child’s physical development. Before children can confidently enjoy sport or develop a lifelong love of being active, they first need to master the fundamental movement patterns that underpin all physical activity. By participating in a wide range of fun, active and play-based experiences, our Reception children have certainly grown in confidence, coordination and physical competence this academic year. Throughout the year, the children have been practising and refining key movement patterns including running, jumping, hopping, balancing, climbing, throwing, catching and rolling. While these may appear to be simple childhood activities, they are, in fact, the building blocks for future sporting success, physical confidence and healthy lifestyles. My favourite activity with the Reception children this year has been using music to promote movement. We have had lots of fun dancing to a range of songs, experimenting with different ways of moving and I have certainly learnt a few dance moves too! Children who develop strong movement skills at a young age are more likely to feel more competent and confident when trying new sports. Conversely, children who miss these early opportunities can become reluctant to join in, creating barriers to activity that may persist into adolescence and adulthood.
At LJS, we see fundamental movement skills as the foundation upon which all future sporting opportunities are built. By working together, both at school and at home, we can help every child develop the confidence, competence and enthusiasm to enjoy an active, healthy life long after they leave the playground. Mr Simon Eldridge, Head of Sport
Here are a few simple activities which we do at school with every single child from Reception age. They are also activities which families can enjoy together at home: •
Create an obstacle course using cushions, chairs, tunnels or garden furniture. Crawling, climbing, balancing and jumping challenge coordination and spatial awareness.
•
Play throwing and catching games with beanbags, soft balls or rolled-up socks. Vary the distance and use one or two hands to develop hand-eye coordination.
•
Practise hopping, skipping and jumping by making hopscotch courses with chalk or creating “stepping stone” games using paper plates.
•
Dance together to favourite songs. Moving to music develops rhythm, balance, coordination and body awareness while encouraging creativity.
•
Go on nature adventures, encouraging children to climb over logs, jump across puddles or explore uneven terrain safely.
•
Play classic games such as Simon Says, What’s the Time Mr Wolf? or Follow the Leader, all of which naturally develop movement, listening skills and agility.
06 I RECEPTION
Tiny Steps, Mighty Skills
07 I R E C E P T I O N
Reception Trips and Activities
08 I T R I P S & A C T I V I T I E S
PRE-PREP
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
10 I OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Outside the Classroom Outdoor Learning offers a rich and dynamic environment for our Pre-Prep children, supporting their development in ways that a traditional classroom alone cannot. Our bespoke designed woodland area has given the children the freedom to explore, discover, and grow through a balance of structured curriculum-based activities and self-led adventure. It’s been especially rewarding to observe their learning becoming more tangible and meaningful. One of the favourites amongst the Pre-Prep children is mud kitchen play, where creativity and imagination flourish alongside early social skills, creating imaginative recipes and role-playing different scenarios. Reception children have carefully tracked a tree through the changing seasons, observing and discussing how it transformed throughout the year. This ongoing project encouraged observation skills and an appreciation for the natural world. Year 1 pupils planted daffodil bulbs and took great pride in nurturing them as they grew, developing an understanding of plant life cycles and the importance of caring for living things. Meanwhile, Year 2 children became enthusiastic young explorers as they searched for minibeasts and investigated different habitats, learning how animals and plants adapt to their environments while observing seasonal changes firsthand. Year 3 enthusiastically embraced their woodworking project, using a saw and hand drill safely to create wooden rounds and craft their own coins while developing valuable practical skills.
We have introduced our youngest children to manageable risks in a safe and supervised way. Experiences such as early fire lighting and using tools, like sawing and whittling with potato peelers, have improved their sense of responsibility. We have continued to ensure our Outdoor Learning lessons naturally weave in core academic skills into engaging contexts. Games and exploration have supported vocabulary development, while activities like letter formation and spelling are practised. Mathematics is brought to life through shape hunting, counting and problem-solving in the environment around them. Although our children have found it challenging to learn to tie knots, this has benefitted fine motor control in class. Just as importantly, the woodland environment has played a valuable role in supporting the children’s wellbeing. The freedom and open space have provided a calm and nurturing setting where pupils have been able to build confidence, develop friendships and learn how to work cooperatively with others. It has been a joy to see the children embrace every aspect of Outdoor Learning this year. Their enthusiasm and willingness to try new experiences has been remarkable, and they have developed a deeper appreciation of nature while building skills that will benefit them throughout their educational journey and beyond. Mrs Heather Poole, Head of Outdoor Learning
11 I PRE-PREP
Science in Pre-Prep: Where Real Investigation Begins Drawing on the knowledge and skills developed in Reception and Year 1, Year 2 offers exciting opportunities for children to bring their science learning to life. Our dedicated lab gives young scientists the space they need to think, move and explore. Want to understand how the body works? Children have become red blood cells themselves, travelling around the classroom, visiting organs and experiencing circulation first-hand. Science isn’t just learned here; it’s lived. Working in small groups, Pre-Prep children have designed and set up their own experiments, followed their own ideas and learnt that mistakes are part of the process. Investigations included testing the absorbency of different materials, exploring how best to clean hands, and growing broad beans under different conditions to discover what plants need to thrive. Children also explored the properties of materials before putting that knowledge to creative use,
designing and building a capsule to protect an egg from a drop from a great height. Pupils used temperature probes and data loggers to compare the insulating properties of synthetic and natural wool, bringing a genuine sense of scientific rigour to their enquiries. Pupils developed core skills in fair testing and learnt to use equipment such as measuring cylinders and pipettes with accuracy and care. Each month, children had the chance to earn our coveted Spotlight Science Award, celebrating outstanding curiosity, perseverance and scientific thinking. With our state-of-the-art SciTec Centre on our doorstep, Year 2 scientists also have the opportunity to apply their skills beyond the classroom. This year, they visited the SciTec Centre to create jelly plates, combining scientific exploration with creativity as they used them to produce their own unique works of art. Mrs Lisa Smith, Head of Science
12 I PRE-PREP
A Musical Journey Through Pre-Prep Music plays a vital role in Pre-Prep education, supporting children’s development in a holistic, engaging, and progressive way. In EYFS, music builds a strong foundation through developing an understanding of pulse and pitch. Children explore these concepts through songs and rhymes, using body percussion, movement, and a range of percussion instruments. This learning is extended in Year 1, where children begin to understand rhythm more formally through stick notation. They develop the ability to both read and write simple rhythmic patterns, strengthening their musical literacy alongside their listening and coordination skills. Children also begin to explore how music is structured, while spending time learning about string instruments in preparation for the Year 2 String Project. In EYFS and Year 1, children have two 30-minute lessons each week. In Year 2, this increases to two 60-minute lessons to support their exciting opportunity to learn a string instrument, choosing between the violin or cello. The children explore lots of different ways to play a string instrument, playing pizzicato and arco, and also
using left hand fingers on at least two scales, finishing the year by being able to play a full one octave scale. This experience nurtures discipline, focus, and a strong sense of achievement. By Year 3, children broaden their musical experiences further. They explore brass and woodwind instruments, spending half a term on each family. They also take part in African drumming and are introduced to music technology, using GarageBand on iPads to create their own compositions. This varied approach fosters creativity, confidence, and collaboration, ensuring that music remains a dynamic and essential part of early education. From Year 1 onwards, children also have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in one-to-one lessons with our excellent team of Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs). In Year 1, the most popular instruments are piano, voice, guitar, and drums, with strings becoming more popular in Year 2. Woodwind and brass are typically introduced towards the end of Year 3, although individual pathways can be discussed to suit each child’s musical journey. Miss Nina Haynes, Head of Music
Little Linguists, Big Adventures This year, the children in Pre-Prep have enjoyed a rich and engaging introduction to languages and cultures from around the world. In Reception, the children embarked on a virtual journey across the globe, exploring France, Spain, India, China, Japan, New Zealand, Bali, Kenya and South America. Through songs, dance, traditional tales and craft activities, they were introduced to different languages, customs and ways of living. From flamenco dancing to learning the Haka, celebrating Chinese New Year with an enormous golden dragon to counting to 10 in Japanese, the children developed curiosity and enthusiasm for the wider world in a highly creative and memorable way. In Years 1 and 2, the children learn German, accompanied by their puppet friends Felix and Franzi. Lessons are lively, interactive and centred around songs, games and oral participation, helping the children build confidence and enjoyment in speaking another language. Year 1 particularly enjoyed creating German menus and welcoming parents to their “Kaffee und Kuchen” afternoon tea, where they proudly shared some of the songs they had learnt. Later in the year we brought the learning of months, colours, numbers and food together by reading ‘Die Kleine Raupe Nimmersatt’ (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) in German and making our own caterpillars.
In Year 2, alongside language learning, the children explored German traditions and celebrations, including hosting a traditional birthday party for Franzi and learning about Sankt Martin’s Tag and the beautiful lantern processions associated with the festival. Our Year 3 children have commenced their French studies focusing on the four key language skills: reading, speaking, listening and, for the first time in a foreign language, writing. They have also explored a range of francophone countries and learned about their cultures and traditions. Learning languages at this age offers enormous benefits for children. It strengthens listening and memory skills, encourages confidence in communication and develops an awareness and appreciation of different cultures. Through stories, music and shared experiences, children learn to be open-minded, resilient and willing to take risks in their learning. Language learning also nurtures creativity, collaboration and curiosity about the world around them. Mrs Tessa Humphrey, Head of Modern Foreign Languages
13 I PRE-PREP
Spotlight on Year 3 A day in their life We caught up with William, Albie, Gabriel, Ellie and Margo in our Woodland Garden to find out more about what life is like in Year 3. What’s your favourite thing about Year 3?
What are your favourite subjects?
Margo: The best thing about Year 3 is probably Outdoor
My favourite lessons are Games, Maths and Humanities. I love those lessons: Maths, there are so many new things you've got to learn and Humanities you learn about history – we are learning about Greece, Romans and the Stone Age.
Learning Days.
Gabriel:
My favourite thing about Year 3 was doing the swimming gala.
Albie: My favourite part was doing the outdoor climbing. William: My favourite part of Year 3 was doing Shape
nets in Maths.
Ellie: My favourite part about Year 3 is Outdoor
Learning Days as we do so many fun activities in the Woodland Garden.
What’s your favourite club in Year 3?
Albie:
William:
Gabriel:
First, Games because we do lots of fun activities like cricket, athletics, tennis, football and Mr Eldridge gives us challenges on every single one and it just helps us get better at all the sports. I love Art, so we're doing mosaics at the moment and it's just really fun colouring in and then putting the tesserae on it to make pictures.
Albie:
I like Music because we do this thing called Garage Band where you can compose your own music.
I love Lego club, as you’re free to be really creative and make whatever you want.
Ellie: My favourite lessons are probably Science
I really like Multi-sports because you can run around and have a calm time after your day.
Gabriel:
First, Science because we're learning about plants right now.
William: I do Play Leaders and I like doing choir. Margo: I like doing sewing, because it’s calm and I just
And then Maths because all the challenges get harder and since Mrs Ormston is a really good teacher I think I'm getting better and better at it as I go along.
like sewing.
Ellie: I like doing choir because I can express how I feel and I’ve also auditioned for the Chamber Choir.
What’s your favourite lunchtime food?
Albie: I think it has to be macaroni cheese
because it's just delicious.
Gabriel:
My favourite food is spaghetti bolognese because it just tastes so nice and pasta is really good. Also, I think the puddings are really good!.
William:
My favourite is fish and chips, but I don't eat the chips. I like it, because the chefs give me two pieces of fish!
Margo: My favourite food at LJS is probably jacket potato, just because I like potatoes and my favourite dessert is probably the rocky road.
Ellie: My favourite lunch is probably pizza
because everyone knows pizza is the best. My favourite dessert is probably jelly.
and Maths.
Margo: They're probably Science, Art and Maths. I
like Science just because it's fun and it's also really interesting. Today we had Science and made a grass head because we're learning about plants.
What do you think of the teachers at LJS?
Margo: I think the teachers are kind and funny. William: They are really kind and really helpful. Gabriel: I like teachers because they're very kind and they help us do our work.
William:
So the thing I like about sport in Year 3 is you play actual matches in the open world playing against people you don't know!
Gabriel:
My favourite sport is football because when we're in the Barnyard I play with my friends and they make learning football really fun and we can have a good time playing a match at the end of the day.
Margo: My favourite sport in school is
probably tennis and my favourite sport out of school is probably horse riding. I really like tennis because we normally do really fun activities and we don't just hit the ball around. Mr Eldridge sets us challenges. For example, he says bounce the ball on your tennis racket 10 times in a row.
Ellie: My favourite sport is probably cricket because
we get to play matches and I think our house cricket is coming up soon. I also really love cricket because there's lots of people you can play with and they're very talented.
Do you play any instruments?
William:
Piano is not right for some people, but as soon as you try a few instruments, you find your right one. All the instruments are really good. You might play piano, drums, violin or brass instruments.
Gabriel:
I play piano and drums. Playing the piano, it's really fun because then I can show my dad at home and I can just spend a couple of hours playing piano with my dad.
Margo: I play violin and piano. The reason I like violin is because I also like strings and the more instruments you do, the more you'll achieve. I also did piano at my old school and wanted to carry it on.
Albie:
I do singing lessons, it’s really fun because you express your feelings through singing.
What did you learn in Year 3?
William:
What I really didn't expect to learn was that leaves have microscopic, small, really tiny holes.
Gabriel: They’re called stomata! Ellie: The thing I learned from Year 3, basically, I
learned my 9 times tables and my 11 times tables, and everyone in Year 3 is very kind.
14 I YEAR 3 INTERVIEWS
What do you like about sport in Year 3?
15 I P R E - P R E P
Pre-Prep Trips and Activities
16 I T R I P S & A C T I V I T I E S
17 I PRE-P R E P
18 I T R I P S & A C T I V I T I E S
PREP
Year 4
Year 5
20 I ACADEMICS
Academics Overview As another vibrant academic year draws to a close, it feels only right to pause, reflect, and celebrate what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow. At the heart of our success lies a simple but powerful belief: children flourish when they are taught by passionate experts who truly know them as individuals. One of the defining features of our school is our subject specialist teaching structure. From the moment our children step into our classrooms, they benefit from teachers who bring energy, depth of knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm for their subjects. Whether it is the excitement of a science investigation, the precision of a maths lesson, or the storytelling magic in English, our specialists inspire curiosity and confidence in equal measure. It is a joy to watch our children begin to see themselves not just as learners, but as mathematicians, writers, linguists and scientists in their own right. Yet expertise alone is not enough. True teacher efficacy is built on relationships, and this is where our staff truly shine. Every child is known, valued, and understood as an individual. Our teachers take great care to build strong connections with each child, recognising that confidence in the classroom often grows from feeling secure, supported, and understood. It is these relationships that allow us to stretch, challenge, and nurture each pupil in a way that is both ambitious and compassionate.
Another strength of our school lies in the freedom we have to shape our curriculum. While many schools are closely tied to the constraints of the National Curriculum, we are proudly guided by the demands of the 11+ and, more importantly, by what we know works best for our children. This autonomy allows us to design a curriculum that is both rigorous and responsive - one that develops academic excellence while also fostering creativity, resilience, and a genuine love of learning. This does not mean, however, that we operate without structure, quite the opposite. Our academic programme is underpinned by a robust system of monitoring and evaluation. Heads of Department play a vital role in ensuring that teaching standards remain consistently high. Through careful oversight, collaboration, and professional dialogue, they support teachers in refining their practise and maintaining the high expectations we set for ourselves and our children. As we look back on the year, we are immensely proud of all that has been accomplished - both inside and outside the classroom. More importantly, we are excited about what lies ahead. Here’s to another year of curiosity, growth and plenty of joyful learning along the way! Mrs Sumitha Hill, Assistant Head Academic
21 I P R E P
Infinitas: Where Future Skills Meet Real-World Learning This academic year we have introduced our Future skills programme, entitled Infinitas. At Laxton Junior School, Infinitas is far more than “another subject”; it is redefining what learning can look like in a modern prep school. Designed for Year 4 to 6, this bespoke programme places our 5Cs, creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and community, at the heart of learning, preparing children not just for the next stage of education, but for a rapidly changing world beyond the classroom.
One standout example came through our Year 5 charity enterprise project supporting Tasaaga Primary School in Uganda. Working in teams, the children conceived, planned, marketed, and ran their own fundraising stalls at the Winter Fete. From budgeting and resource creation to promoting their ideas to visitors, the pupils demonstrated remarkable teamwork, resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking. Creativity flourished through face painting, sporting challenges, lucky dips, and handmade products, helping the children raise £445 for charity. Yet the greatest success was the growth seen in the children themselves: increased confidence, stronger communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively to overcome challenges.
Through ambitious, hands-on and experiential projects, children explore meaningful real-world challenges, connect ideas across subjects, and apply their learning with genuine purpose. This year, pupils have designed entrepreneurial ventures, led collaborative woodwork projects, explored global issues, and developed innovative solutions with confidence and enthusiasm. Infinitas gives children the opportunity to think independently, take risks, solve problems, and grow as resilient and reflective learners.
What truly distinguishes Infinitas at LJS is the culture surrounding it. Our staff embrace imaginative and purposeful learning opportunities, families actively champion and celebrate the programme, and children approach every challenge with curiosity, energy, and determination. The result is learning that feels exciting, relevant, and deeply empowering. Infinitas reflects our belief that education should nurture not only academic success, but also the character, mindset, and futureready skills children need to thrive in life. Ms Stacey Crump, Deputy Head
22 I OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Building Character Through Sport
Once again the benefits of our Games lessons have provided far more benefits than simply playing sport; it is an integral part of our School curriculum and plays a key role in every child’s development. From Year 4 through to Year 6, every pupil represents the school in competitive fixtures, proudly wearing our school badge. We have travelled on our minibusses to away fixtures and welcomed visiting schools onto our own pitches and courts at Oundle School and it is encouraging to see that every child experiences the excitement, challenge and camaraderie that competitive sport provides (including sharing match teas with our opposition!). Throughout the academic year, our Prep children have competed across a wide range of sports, including Boys’ Rugby, Girls’ Hockey, Girls’ Netball, Boys’ Hockey, and Cricket for both boys and girls. It is immensely rewarding to observe the benefits of playing competitive sport. The children have learnt resilience when results do not go their way, humility in victory, determination in the face of challenge, and the importance of teamwork, communication and leadership. They have developed confidence by stepping outside of their comfort zones, learnt to support one another and understand that success is built on commitment, effort and a positive attitude. These are
qualities that will serve them not only on the sports field but throughout their education and beyond. I want to thank all our Games staff who work tirelessly to provide outstanding sporting opportunities for every pupil. Their expertise is further enhanced through collaboration with colleagues from Oundle School, whose Heads of Sport regularly support coaching and player development, ensuring pupils benefit from specialist knowledge across a range of disciplines. Our programme is also strengthened through valued external partnerships. Northampton Saints coaches have brought professional expertise and inspiration to our rugby programme, while our partnership with MJS Coaching has provided outstanding cricket support throughout the Lent and Summer Terms. These collaborations have certainly enriched our Games provision, exposing pupils to high-quality coaching while complementing the excellent work of our own staff. At the heart of our Games programme is a simple philosophy: every child plays, every child represents the school, and every child has the opportunity to grow and develop. Mr Simon Eldridge, Head of Sport
23 I P R E P
Prep Trips and Activities
24 I T R I P S & A C T I V I T I E S
25 I P R E P
26 I T R I P S & A C T I V I T I E S
WHOLE SCHOOL
Introducing Tooled Up Education Tooled Up Education
Pastoral Support
Learning for Life
In September 2025, we were proud to become a TooledUp Education school. This whole-community approach to wellbeing is now well embedded with many families registered and strong engagement from both staff and parents. The use of this resource complements school priorities and supports a shared pastoral language. Tooled Up Education has provided teachers and parents with support on a range of topics including children’s emotional, academic and social development.
We have continued to strengthen our support for children through early intervention led by form teachers and tutors, with dedicated tutor time woven into lunchtimes and form sessions. These moments create valuable opportunities for children to talk, reflect and feel heard in a safe and supportive environment.
Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education
Tooled Up Education forms a part of our early intervention strategy, enabling us to support need more quickly, offering evidence-informed guidance that supports pupils’ wellbeing both in school and at home. Parents have reported substantial benefit from the tool, in key areas including building resilience, managing emotions, regulating screen time, addressing over-scheduling, and resolving sleep-related difficulties. This is why we are delighted to be a Tooled-Up Education school.
During the Prep phase, children benefit from smaller tutor groups, allowing for deeper conversations, stronger relationships and highly personalised support tailored to individual needs. Our strong home–school partnership remains at the heart of everything we do. Working closely with families, our pastoral team has supported both groups and individual children across a wide range of areas, including friendships and relationships, emotional wellbeing, managing worries and understanding feelings. At LJS, every member of staff is committed to ensuring children feel valued, supported and happy. The Golden Thread of Nurture is embedded in every interaction, shaping the culture of our school community through compassion, kindness and care. We are also fortunate to have our own Therapeutic Pastoral Mentor, whose expertise and guidance enrich our pastoral provision. Alongside supporting the wider pastoral team, they provide targeted 1:1 support for children who need additional care, helping every child to flourish both emotionally and academically.
Learning for Life plays a central role in fostering confident, resilient, and compassionate pupils. The curriculum is designed to support personal, social, and emotional development within a nurturing environment that prioritises community, opportunity, and individual growth. Pupils are encouraged to become openminded, respectful, and reflective individuals who are equipped to thrive both independently and collaboratively. This year, we have been preparing for the update, by the Department for Education (DfE), to the statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education. Although we have covered the statutory requirements since 2014, amongst others, the changes include a greater emphasis on online safety and understanding consent. As part of the update, we have consulted pupils, parents and staff and we are ready for the start of the new academic year in September 2026.
28 I FRIENDS OF LJS
Friends of Laxton Junior School Events:
5 Pre-loved Uniform Sales
Winter Fete
Movie Night
School Disco
Family Quiz
Supported May Picnic and Play
(+ WhatsApp request group)
Funded: Oundle Festival
of Literature
£912 each child in school being part of an author visit
Y6 Leavers Party
£400 Playground project
£20,346
New STEAM equipment for the next academic year
£1080 £795
(3 Lego Sets)
(5 Data Loggers)
Staff
appreciation day
Other: 1 WhatsApp Community
Ice cream treat
£617
for all children
Donated
20% of proceeds to TASAAGA
Gross Income
£9178.93
(23 groups, 301 members) Total Outgoing
Christmas cards AGM (held in September 2025)
17 Parent members
£6141.33 (plus playground)
29 I WHOLE SCHOOL
30 I MUSIC
Musical Highlights Reintroducing Chamber Choir
Oundle Sings
An invite only choir made up of children from Years 4 to 6. This choir gives them the opportunity to develop their technique further and sing a variety of different musical styles. Their debut performance was at the Friends of LJS Winter Fete, with festive songs including Carol of the Bells.
Chapel Service Our Chapel Service at the end of each term is always a fitting and reflective way to bring each term to a close. These services have included performances by different choirs as well as lively and energetic congregational hymns and carols. The Christmas Service started traditionally with the solo first verse of Once in Royal David’s City, beautifully performed by Year 6 pupil, Leah H.
House Sing As usual, House Sing was part of our Crash into Christmas celebrations. This year, the Heads of House decided on the theme and it was house colours! We heard fantastic performances of Rudolph, the RedNosed Reindeer by Whitmore, You’re a Green One, Mr Grinch by Lilford and Blue Moon by Burghley, however, it was Gloucester’s rendition of Yellow Submarine that clinched victory!
House Music House Music is a standout event in the Lent Term, with over 150 high-quality performances making up the first round. The final, held on Tuesday 24th February, saw five finalists from each House compete in both the Junior and Senior categories. Our adjudicator, Richard Dawson (Director of Music at Oundle School), had the difficult decision of choosing the winners. Our Junior winner was Year 3 pupil, Joshua B (violin) and our Senior winner was Sebastian B (drums). For the second year running the overall winning House was Gloucester!
Just before February Half Term, the fourth Oundle Sings brought together over 150 Year 5 pupils from five local primary schools for an energetic day of music-making. This year’s theme, Broadway, took participants on a musical journey through different musicals, including Hercules, Rent and Oliver. Performances by individual schools helped to complete the journey through the highlights of musical theatre, and the day culminated in a joyful and enthusiastically received concert for parents.
Community Concerts and Sense Sensation events We have continued to host a variety of community events throughout the year, inviting and welcoming members of the local area to enjoy a variety of both solo and ensemble performances. For the first time we held a Community Concert for our youngest instrumentalists in Years 1 and 2, giving them a chance to showcase their hard work in their first years of learning an instrument.
Summer Concerts For the first time, we split our Summer Concerts into a choral and instrumental evening. The choral concert was held at the Chapel on Monday 15th June, featuring beautiful performances by all four choirs, including a joint item which brought together over 120 singers performing Like the Beat of a Drum. The instrumental concert was held at the Great Hall on Monday 22nd June and featured performances from all our instrumental ensembles, ending in a Full Orchestra performance of the theme to the New World Symphony by Dvorak.
Examinations We have held a face-to-face Trinity exam session in every term of this academic year, as well as entering some children for RockSchool and ABRSM exams as well. We have had 125 exams taking place throughout the year, with 51% of children receiving a merit and 30% receiving a distinction.
191
26%
23%
16%
12%
11%
6%
6%
Instrumental lessons per week
Percussion
Strings (including harp)
Brass
Piano
Woodwind
Voice
Guitar
31 I WHOLE SCHOOL
The Yarrow Gallery Whole School Art Exhibition In February, every child from Reception to Year 6 had a piece of artwork on display at our beautiful Yarrow Gallery. All the children also took part in creating collaborative pieces, which meant every single child contributed to at least two pieces of art in the exhibition. It’s not often you can say that you have had a piece of art in a real exhibition at the age of 4! This was part of a whole school exhibition celebrating creativity and diversity, inspired by influential, global artists, both past and present. The children’s exhibition, titled Around the World with 18 Artists, playfully echoed the phrase Around the World in 80 Days, inviting audiences on a vibrant artistic journey across cultures and continents. All the children visited the exhibition to see their work on display and families, friends and members of the wider community were also invited to view the artwork. The artworks evoked a wide range of responses: some brought a sense of calm, others radiated energy, while many inspired joy or a feeling of awe. Together, their diversity created a powerful impact and seeing such a rich display of creativity and dedication gathered under one roof was truly remarkable. Many of the children were particularly inspired by the Emily Kam Kngwarray inspired large-scale whole-school collaborative pieces which grabbed your attention as soon as you entered the gallery. In front of you stood seven large canvases adorned with striking Aboriginalinspired patterns, reflecting Emily Kam Kngwarray’s distinctive style. Bold and bright in their earthy colours, each piece had been collaboratively created by every child in the school. The children had worked as classes, but finally seeing all seven together took the effect to a new dimension. The canvases were then sold through a silent auction, with all proceeds going towards the school’s chosen charities.
Another favourite were the Keith Haring inspired dancing figures which were created by the Prep Art Club. As you went up to the top floor of the gallery they would catch your eye in bright colours and made you want to dance and move around. When children visited the gallery they tried to ‘do the moves’ demonstrated in these artworks. They gave the onlooker energy and made you smile. Year 4 Art Club artists worked together with pastels and bright colours to create the beautiful picture inspired by the contemporary Ugandan artist Evelyn Babirye. The artwork created a powerful sense of community, identity and heritage, but also a sense of calm as you stared at it. It was so popular with adults and children that it now hangs in our corridor by the Hall in school. Year 6 pupils took great pride in their individual pastel flamingo artworks, which they felt reflected aspects of their own identities and served as personal, selfrepresentational pieces. At LJS, by embedding the art within our curriculum, this exhibition provided pupils with meaningful access to a diverse range of cultural expressions, including both global and contemporary practices. This enriched their educational experience, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the wider world while nurturing creativity and cultural awareness. Mrs Sarah Ashby, Head of Art
32 I A R T E X H I B I T I O N
“When children visited the gallery they tried to ‘do the moves’ demonstrated in these artworks.”
33 I WHOLE SCHOOL
Sports Round Up Training & Commitment
227
Total hours of Games training across Years 3 to 6
Over
100
Hours of Swimming taught to Reception through to Year 6
179
Fixtures played across Years 3 to 6
This year our children have enjoyed Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Swimming, Cross-Country and Football fixtures, coached by our own dedicated Games staff, Oundle School Heads of Sport and peripatetic coaches, as well as MJS Cricket Coaching and Northampton Saints rugby coaches. Sporting Highlights Michaelmas Term
Lent Term
•
•
•
U11A Boys’ Football competed at IAPS progressing through to the Plate competition. The boys won their semi-final 2-0 and went on to win the competition with a 1-0 victory in the final. U11A Girls’ Football competed at IAPS, also progressing through to the Plate competition. The girls drew their play-off game but lost on sudden death penalties resulting in a 10th place finish overall on the day.
•
U11 Girls’ Hockey team competed at IAPS
•
U8 Boys team won the Brooke Priory Cross-Country event
•
U9 Girls team won the Brooke Priory Cross-Country event
•
U10 Boys team won the Brooke Priory Cross-Country event
•
First Swimming Gala of the academic year for our U10/11 Swimming squad took place at Kimbolton. LJS finished 2nd out of four schools (Kimbolton/ Stamford/Bedford Modern/Laxton Junior School).
Year 6 Sports Tour - 16th and 17th January Year 6 Sports Tour to Norfolk saw LJS compete against Beeston Hall and Gresham's School, strengthening our links between the schools and matching up against very competitive sides.
•
U11 Boys Hockey Festival – 11th February We welcomed 11 schools to Oundle School for our U11 Boys Hockey Festival on Wednesday 11th February 2026. This saw over 300 pupils with varying ability levels all take to the Astros to compete in our festival with a grand total of 78 matches played throughout the afternoon.
•
House Cross-Country – W/C 16th March Years 3 to 6 took place at Oundle School running through Heron Woods. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 took place at Laxton Junior School.
•
IAPS Boys’ Hockey at Oundle School U11A Boys’ Hockey fell short in their group phase of the IAPS Festival, placing them into the Bowl competition, which they won, beating Solihull 1-0 in the final.
IAPS Netball at Oundle School Girls U11A Netball team progressed to the plate competition at their IAPS Festival. They beat Kimbolton in the knockout round taking them through to the semi-final, which they lost to The Dragon School.
•
Summer Term •
Through our OPEN Partnerships programme, led by Mrs Humphrey, we hosted an Athletics Festival for Year 3 children at the Oundle School Athletics Track. This event saw around 180 pupils from a variety of local schools in attendance. Our Year 6 pupils who hold Sports Captaincies supported the running of the event.
IAPS Swimming U11A and U10A Swimming Squad travelled to Chesham Prep School to compete in their regional IAPS qualifier. Otto A (Y6 Freestyle), Harry H (Y6 Breaststroke) and William B (Y5 Freestyle) all won their individual events.
•
Y3 Athletics Festival - 15th May 2026
•
Whole School Sports Day - 12th June 2026
•
IAPS Festivals Summer term Boys’ Cricket – 1st May 2026 at Oundle School – the U11 boys remained unbeaten in their group stage against Ratcliffe, Beachborough Prep and Wolverhampton. The boys then beat Repton in the semi final before an incredibly close final against Winchester House, winning the IAPS competition by 6 runs.
Cross-Country U9 Girls came in 3rd at both Copthill and Leicester Grammar Cross-Country events U9 Boys also came 3rd at both Copthill and Leicester Grammar Cross-Country events U11 Boys came 2nd in the Copthill Cross-Country event
Girls’ Cricket – 19th June 2026 at Bishop’s Stortford College
Fairfield Prep School (Football IAPS) Ratcliffe College Brooke Priory LGS Stoneygate Leicester Grammar School Witham Hall Copthill School Stamford Junior School
Beeston Hall (Norfolk Sports Tour) Gresham’s School (Norfolk Sports Tour)
Where we started KCS Cambridge
Wellingborough
Cambridge Stadium (Year 4 & 5 Athletics Championships)
Spratton Hall Bilton Grange
Bishop’s Stortford College (Girls’ Cricket IAPS)
Kimbolton Bedford Modern Bedford School Bedford School for Girls Chesham Prep School (Swimming IAPS)
34 I S P O R T S
•
35 I WHOLE SCHOOL
Science & STEM at LJS From Bee Houses and Natural Indicators to cutting-edge facilities at the Patrick Engineering Centre and SciTec, this has been a year of rich scientific discovery and cross-curricular challenge. Investigative learning has been at the heart of everything, with pupils questioning, hypothesising, testing and evaluating at every stage, making genuine connections between classroom science and the wider world. Year 2 Year 2 visited SciTec to create jelly plates, which were then used in Art for printing; a lovely example of science and creativity working hand in hand.
Year 3 Year 3 enjoyed a summer term studying plants: dissecting flowers, examining their tiny stomata, watching coloured water travel up stems, exploring seed dispersal and growing grass-head characters to understand germination. We also welcomed Miss Dorman from Oundle School, who led an exciting investigation that really tested our pupils’ scientific enquiry skills.
Year 4 Year 4 explored different habitats and each built their own solitary bee house from bamboo, learning how to measure with precision and use a junior hacksaw. The year was then topped off with a wonderful Busy Bee Afternoon, led by the student Beekeeper group from Oundle School. The visitors brought real enthusiasm and expertise, running quizzes that tested and deepened pupils’ knowledge of bees and beekeeping. They showed the class the specialist clothing worn by beekeepers and pupils even got the chance to dress up in the full outfit themselves. Trays from the apiary were passed around, giving everyone a close look at the fascinating world behind the hive. The afternoon also included a honey taste test, comparing the school’s very own homegrown honey with a supermarket variety. The Sixth Form students were wonderful ambassadors and the whole afternoon was a real highlight of the year.
Year 5 made the most of Science Week with a deep dive into the world of robotics. Before designing their own creations, pupils explored what defines a robot, the essential components every robot must have, and the many ways robots are used across industries today. They considered the exciting potential for robots in the future and discussed the wide range of careers involved in robotics, from engineers and programmers to designers and testers, as well as the skills each of those roles demands. Pupils then reflected on where their own strengths might lie, whether in design, construction, programming, testing or communication, before channelling those ideas into their entries for the RoboRevolution challenge. Entries included a Robot Referee, a drone and an ocean-floor cleaning robot. They were also fortunate enough to watch a live webinar streamed by Expert Ed with astronaut Helen Sharman, and were delighted when she read out an LJS question live, asking what worried her most about going into space. Her answer genuinely inspired the children.
Year 6 Year 6 continued their partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, searching for new antibiotics. Remarkably, one swab taken near the Barnyard showed strong antibacterial properties and progressed through several rounds of testing; the university has indicated it will explore its potential further. Year 6 also took part in an exciting cross-school collaboration during Science Week, connecting via Teams with another school to investigate natural indicators. This project gave pupils a genuine insight into how science really works in the wider world, where discoveries are rarely made in isolation and progress depends on researchers sharing, questioning and building on each other’s findings across distances and disciplines. Pupils independently researched the chemistry behind natural indicators before testing a wide range of materials from flower petals and spices to blueberries. The two schools worked together throughout, agreeing on shared criteria for assessing results and discussing what their findings meant alongside each other. Pupils came to understand that reproducibility is not just a technical requirement but a cornerstone of trustworthy science; a result only carries weight when others can test it and arrive at the same conclusion. Seeing that principle come to life through their own collaborative investigation made it meaningful in a way that a textbook explanation never could. It was a powerful reminder that the best science is a conversation, not a conclusion.
After-School STEM Club The club explored catapults, robotic arms, Cartesian divers and moss safaris, and made excellent use of SciTec to learn about alkali metals, air pressure and the science behind the infamous elephant’s toothpaste experiment.
STEAM Day: “Nature’s Solutions - Designing the Materials of the Future” The highlight of the final term for Years 5 and 6 was a full STEAM Day built around nature-inspired design, featuring four interdisciplinary workshops: •
Science: Investigating the strength and applications of seaweed
•
Art: Capturing nature’s forms and textures through printmaking
•
Mathematics: Exploring nature’s mathematical patterns
•
Technology: Investigating flight
Two workshops were held in the Patrick Engineering Centre and SciTec, giving pupils a genuinely immersive, professional experience. STEAM Days are now a firm fixture in the calendar.
“Today we are scientists, artists and engineers learning how nature solves problems and how we can use those ideas to design materials for the future.” Looking Ahead Pupils across every year group have shown curiosity, creativity and real scientific thinking this year. The breadth of experiences, investigative, collaborative, competitive and creative, has sparked a genuine passion for Science and STEM. Nature has proved the most inspiring of teachers. We look forward to seeing where curiosity takes us next. Mrs Lisa Smith, Head of Science
36 I SCIENCE AND STEM
Year 5
37 I WHOLE SCHOOL
The National Year of Reading at LJS This year, LJS has enthusiastically embraced the National Year of Reading, fostering a love of books and storytelling across our community. One of the highlights has been our Reading Newsletter, published at the start of every month, which has celebrated a wide range of themes and voices. So far, we have explored Pride in stories, shared the books our teachers love and reflected on the texts that inspired members of our community when they were younger. Within English lessons across the school, carefully selected high-quality texts continue to inspire our pupils, sparking imagination and encouraging beautifully creative writing throughout the school. We place great importance on exposing children to rich language and engaging narratives that deepen both their reading and writing experiences.
Our library remains a true treasure trove: a welcoming space filled with a wealth of books for every reader to enjoy. With shelves brimming with stories, there are always new worlds to discover and characters to meet. Alongside this, we proudly celebrate a diverse range of authors and genres, ensuring that children are introduced to a variety of voices and stories beyond the most mainstream choices. Together, these initiatives have helped continue to nurture a vibrant reading culture at LJS, where every child is encouraged to develop a lifelong love of reading. We look forward to sustaining and growing this love of reading in the next academic year and beyond. Mrs Kerrie Houghton, Head of English
Overall House Winner for 2025/6 - Whitmore General Knowledge - Gloucester Cross-Country - Lilford Photography - Lilford Rugby - Whitmore Boys Hockey - Whitmore Girls Hockey - Lilford House Sing - Gloucester House Music - Gloucester Christmas Tree - Whitmore Speech & Drama - Gloucester Netball - Lilford Cricket - Whitmore Library Challenge - Whitmore Swimming - Lilford Sports Day - Whitmore Michaelmas Housepoints - Whitmore Lent Housepoints - Whitmore Summer Term Housepoints - Burghley
38 I H O U S E
House Events
39 I WHOLE SCHOOL
I like Drama because is it fun to go on stage and exciting to do a LAMDA exam. Aurora
I have really enjoyed the bouldering challenges set by Rick at Climbing Club. Otto
Rugby Club was fun because it has helped me learn new skills ready for next year. Rufus
Cheerleading is my favourite club. I had lots of fun and enjoyed being lifted in the air! Clara
We explore Disney at Disney Club. I loved making lanyards. Michael
I like Play Leaders as you can get to have responsibility and you learn and enjoy fun games. Clara
I like doing gymnastics at Gymnastics Club because it helps me improve. Miss Amos is a great teacher. Aleesha
In Clay Club, you can make what you want. It was fun. I made a battle ship. Ellis
I really enjoy Basketball as it is my favourite sport, and it involves teamwork and resilience at the same time. Maher
Clubs at LJS I enjoyed Cricket because I really love having a chance at batting and hearing the sound of hitting the ball.
Collier
I love Cartoon Sketching Club because you can draw your favourite cartoons. Margot
Scottish Dancing is my favourite club because I love dancing with my friends. All the dances are fun! Violet
I have really enjoyed Research Club. I think it is a really good opportunity where you can research and write about a topic of your choice. Imogen
It is really fun playing diamond cricket and learning better batting techniques. Abdullah
40 I C L U B S
I have loved STEM Club as I have seen amazing experiments like ‘Elephant Toothpaste.’
Chase
I liked climbing on the traversing wall.
Ottilie (on Climbing Club)
You do fun things like shoulder stands and the plough, when you go right over. Ida (on Yoga Club)
Cross-Country is a brilliant club. It is good for your stamina and it’s really fun! Edmund
My favourite club has been Art Club as we have done lots of different things including origami. Iris
Sewing Club is a nice, calm environment for doing sewing. Elias
I love Lego Club as I like building and creating stuff. Xoel
I like running around and being a tagger. Then saving people by running under their arms. Rory (on Mini Runners)
Chamber Choir is the best because I love singing with my friends as a group.
Capture and Create is fantastic. I loved having our own book to draw whatever we wanted in and take our own pictures to put in to make it our own.
Leah
I have enjoyed Tennis Club as it has improved my technique a lot.
Liberty
The breadth and variety of our co-curricular provision means that every child can discover something that excites them. There is truly something for everyone to explore, develop and enjoy. Claire Henderson, Assistant Head Co-curricular
I really enjoyed Athletics Club. My favourite things are high jump, 800m and relays. Felicity
I have enjoyed playing Chess. I have learnt how to get people in checkmate in two moves! Aarushi
In Cross-stitch Club, I loved making different things to admire. Making cross-stitch dream catchers was great and they actually kept the bad dreams away.
Austin
Sophie
I loved Netball Club because it brings people together. Effie
I loved doing Newspaper Club and writing all about the different clubs going on at school. I loved working with my friends and we had so much fun making up wacky headlines!
James
41 I WHOLE SCHOOL
Charity Michaelmas October Hello Yellow Day raised £523.29 for YoungMinds. Harvest Assembly donated a total weight of 329.7kg of food to Yaxley Foodbank.
November Pre-loved Book Sale raised £520.80 for Tasaaga Primary School. Children in Need Day raised £349.75. Scholastic Book Fair donated rewards to Tasaaga Primary School totalling £1238.18 of book credits.
Whole School Charity - Tasaaga Primary School in Uganda House Charities - Oundle Mencap, Little Miracles, The Johnny Reynolds Foundation and The Faraway Tree
December Winter Fete raised £636.28 for Tasaaga Primary School through Year 5 Infinitas and Griffin Club stalls. Presents for Father Christmas - children donated wrapped gifts to Santa during Crash into Christmas which were then distributed to Thrapston Foodbank. Christmas Carol Service collection raised £370.25 which was divided between the four House Charities.
Lent
Summer
February
May
House Charity Day raised £1477.34 which was divided between the four House Charities.
Community Picnic and Play afternoon raised £387.10 from the pre-loved book sale, Name the Elephant and tombola for Tasaaga Primary School.
Silent Auction of Collaborative Artwork from Yarrow Gallery Exhibition ‘Around the World in 18 Artists’ – raised £1026.25 for Tasaaga Primary School.
Schools’ Triathlon at Oundle School on Sunday 10th May raised money for both Restless Development and Tasaaga Primary School.
March World Book Day pre-loved book sale raised £1521 for Tasaaga Primary School. Red Nose Day raised £478.03 for Comic Relief. Easter Service collection raised £228.10 which was divided between the four House Charities.
April Community Dog Show organised by Community Kids raised £352.85 for Tasaaga Primary School.
June Our Summer House Charity Day raised over £350 which was divided between the four House Charities. End of year Service collection on Thursday 25th June was divided between the four House Charities.
42 I C H A R I T Y
YEAR 6
Year 6 Our Favourite Moments “Doing the cheerleading assembly with Anastasia, Leah and Olivia.” ‘Tenire O “I enjoyed the stem club. Making and testing creations has been extremely fun.” Joshua D “I liked Steel pan band because we were playing some very catchy music with my friends.” Ewan W “My favourite moment in LJS was getting into football IAPS because it was really fun being the goalkeeper and winning the plate and playing the game I love.” Declan R
“The day I joined Reception and met my best friends for the first time made me really happy and I’ve been with them for the whole time I’ve been in LJS and have been having lots of fun.” Atticus H
“It definitely has to be the lead up to Matilda the Musical, finding out we were doing it and the Matilda workshop. My character (Mrs Wormwood), her scenes, the songs, EVERYTHING!” Iris R
“The French Trip when we went into the huge supermarket in groups of four. Also on the French Trip when we milked the cows.” Seth M “Hockey IAPS because everyone did amazing and we won the bowl. We lost 2 and drew 2.” Elias P “The lead up to our Year 6 production because I learnt how to act in front of an audience and sing confidently.” Sienna W
“I loved the high ropes on the French trip because it was so exciting being so high up and I loved the feeling of being able to see around the landscape. I also really enjoyed Crash into Christmas as being Head Boy, I got to perform a piece on the Wak-a-Tubes with the new teachers.” Sebastian B “My favourite part of the year was when I went to swimming IAPS. Only four people went and two were my friends Oliver and Otto, but the best part was when I came 1st in my heat and finding the results in May to see if I’m in the final in London.” Harry H “One of my favourite memories at LJS was the lead-up to our production, Matilda the Musical. I loved being with all my friends. The tension was immense, but it was definitely worth it: finding out I was one of the Matildas, taking part in the amazing dance workshop with someone from the West End, and trying on our costumes. I’ve also loved sharing moments with my friends, whether it’s in the classroom or on the sports field. Good or bad, I hope I will cherish these moments forever.” Ottie H “I had many great moments, but I really liked hockey IAPS and netball IAPS and Cross-Country and football IAPS.” Evelyn A “My favourite was the France trip. I loved going to see all the sea life; it was so awesome meeting our pen pals and speaking to them in French while they spoke to us in English. I also loved the disco; it was very fun.” Emily M “I have had lots of memorable moments in Year 6, especially because it was my first year here. I loved the France trip because it was my second overnight trip and it was lots of fun! I also loved Netball and Football IAPS because I got to do it with close friends and I got to explore more about those sports. In total I loved Year 6, but my favourite memories are with my friends, we had funny, embarrassing, sad, and happy moments.” Imogen E “Sports tour because doing the activities with my friends is so much fun.” Daniyal F
“Meeting Sebastian B as I made a great friendship which I will remember.” James E “My favourite moment was when I was named rugby captain because I felt very proud.” Henry L “My favourite LJS moment was the sports tour because even though we lost both matches I had a lot of fun with my friends and I liked all of the activities.” Momo H “Swim IAPS. I liked travelling on the minibus, going to a different school and a different pool, and having the match tea at the very end of the competition.” Amelia T “When I got Rising Star in House Music. I was recognised as the best Brass player. Amelia, Olivia, Evelyn, Will and Harrison were also Rising Star.” Leah H “There have been many memorable moments during my time in Year 6 but my favourite moments come from the sports pitches, playing the sports I love with my friends during IAPS competitions.” Anastasia F “One of my favourite memories was the Peterborough Drama Festival because I loved Smugglers’ Song. We were the best and won the competition! It was worth it, as we practised nearly every lunch break. I loved it. Thank you, Mrs Humphrey.” Rosie T “My favourite moment was the Welsh trip in Year 5 where we went to Nature’s Base and spent a week doing fun activities and spending time with friends.” Oliver J “My favourite moment has been netball IAPS as it was extremely fun. Everybody did an amazing job and Rosie scored the most goals. It was at Oundle school and overall was a fabulous day.” Olivia CW “I absolutely loved Cricket IAPS in Year 5 – we played 3 cricket matches and we won the first match, lost the second and won the last. I played for the year above and it was great. We came second in our group.” Quentin H
44 I F A V O U R I T E M O M E N T S
“My favourite moment at LJS was the Peterborough speech and drama festival when we won the King Charles Cup. I was in a large group and it was a lot of fun.” Margot G
45 I Y E A R 6
The Making of
Matilda the Musical Jr! Two weeks in May are the culmination of months of build up to the Year 6 production each year. We are asked what the production will be on a regular (by which I mean frequent) basis from around Year 4 and the big reveal is a much-anticipated event. This year was no different. Each week in Drama, Year 6 were shown a PowerPoint with 8 musicals on it, one of which would be removed at the end of the lesson. And so, the countdown began…
backstage bits and pieces from the actual Matilda the Musical in the West End, and the film – which she also worked on. Wow.
There was much excitement when the final slide showed that we would be staging Matilda the Musical Jr, and, although some had been sad to see others go, it was a positively received choice.
By now, Miss Haynes was well into individual and small group song rehearsals at break times, Mrs H-C was knee deep in costumes and props, and Mrs Humphrey had sourced us a Chokey and Bruce Bogtrotter cake prop. Rebecca and Paul at the Stahl were building our stage divider, Mr Humphrey was cutting out additional letters (first used in Mary Poppins), and Mr H-C was collecting costumes from Grantham. The children were perfecting their lines and polishing their BSL alphabet. Oh, and Mrs H-C was experiencing Matilda song insomnia.
Cast lists were swiftly distributed, along with treasured scripts for pupils to learn. Music lessons became a lively blend of curriculum content and song rehearsals, while at home, parents were treated (willingly or otherwise) to enthusiastic line practice and song renditions. Whilst this was going on, Mrs H-C was busy designing costume and set mood boards and discussing staging with the staff at the Stahl Theatre. Drama lessons continued to focus on Remembrance Assembly and King Lear, with regular refrains of ‘Are we doing Matilda this week?’ Until, finally, the day came. First read through. Yes, you do need your scripts because yes, we are doing Matilda. And what a joy that read through was, as children revealed that they had been working on their lines, delivery and character. We were on the way. Lucy Mackenzie offered her support and led an engaging workshop on character to further excite and encourage the children. She also put us in touch with Claire Cassidy, who has performed in and worked on an amazing range of West End musicals (Google her!), including Matilda. Claire very kindly gave up some time on a busy day to lead a choreography workshop that gave us a fantastic movement phrase for Revolting Children. She also shared loads of hints and tips and
May the 4th is always a special day in the H-C household (Star Wars fans, the lot of us), so what a day for our first walk up to the Stahl. After a quick look around and some ground rules, we spent the morning blocking the first scenes. A brisk walk back to school for lunch and the Community Afternoon was next for the children, while the self-named Production Dream Team headed back to the Stahl to set things up on and off stage. As rehearsals got underway, we were lucky enough to arrange lunch at St. Anthony Boarding House on our full days. This meant we could enjoy a hot meal and make use of their paddock for some well-earned downtime, all without losing valuable time walking back to school. Huge thanks to Fiona Greaves for the suggestion, and to Chris Bradnam and the St. Anthony’s staff for accommodating us. Onstage, things were developing nicely and it was time to talk about ‘layering’. Whilst we clearly had the structure and content of a musical, we were a long
46 I M A T I L D A T H E M U S I C A L
way from performance ready. Costumes, set changes, sound, lighting, and additional props are all part of the layering process, but those elements were for us to focus on. For the children, layering meant more character, more actions and reactions, greater nuance, improved audience awareness, clearer voice projection (Slow, Loud, Clear) … The list is endless, as was our daily feedback! To maintain a healthy balance between rehearsals and everyday school life, children had fixtures on the first Wednesday as well as Maths and Swimming on the first Friday. They had workbooks to keep up with English, Maths and Science when they were not needed on stage, and they even had Maths prep! The life of a performer is not all singing and dancing, you know, as Claire explained to us in her workshop. Week Two gets serious - quickly. We had a planned Dress Rehearsal for our photographer on Tuesday afternoon, followed by Dress Rehearsals to an audience on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. And then, of course, the performance to friends, family, and Matilda fans on Friday evening. By now, we had full lighting and sound in place, along with a set and a well-stocked prop table and more Amazon deliveries than a busy household in December! Our saved shopping lists are a direct representation of the inner workings of our brains at this point. Wigs, toy newts, chalk, ribbon, slippers, garish sports socks, lint rollers, alphabet mats, the list goes on. Rehearsals were going well, absences were expertly covered (thank you to everyone who stepped in at short notice), and the show was beginning to come alive before our very eyes. The costumes looked fantastic under the lights and School Photographer Ivan took some amazing photos.
Feedback from the two audiences attending Dress Rehearsals was extremely positive, so the next job was clear. Keep building up confidence without creating apathy or monsters! I feel confident in saying that anyone who attended the Friday evening performance (and it was a packed house) would agree that the children saved the best for last. They were outstanding. Audience engagement and enjoyment was high and the performers fed off the energy to produce a spectacular show. The Production Dream Team could not have been prouder and there were quite a few tissues on show as eyes were dabbed by hands that were sore from applauding. We did it. And, by we, I mean every single person who had any level of involvement in the show. All that was left was for us to take down the set, send home the scooters, along with tired and emotional children, and collapse in a heap. With Matilda songs ringing through our heads. Now, the props are finding homes around the school (will someone please build me a room as my little Drama cupboard is bursting at the seams), the set has been stored away for another year, and the costumes have been sent to laundry or back to the hire shop. Children (from Years 4, 5 and 6) are asking us what next year’s production will be, and I am still singing the songs. Just not all through the night anymore. Matilda was a wonderful experience. Memories for life have been made. And the Production Dream Team have already started planning for next year. Mrs Rachel Hamilton-Charlton, Head of Drama
47 I Y E A R 6
“I loved the France trip because we got to meet our pen pals.” Millen R “I loved the France trip because we were away from our parents and played lots of games with French pen pals.” Huzayfa H “Anastasia and I had loads of fun in our dorm in France. I made some new friends who are French in France.” ‘Tenire O “I loved it when we went into the huge supermarché in groups of four. I also loved the French trip when we milked the cows.” Seth M “I loved the high ropes on the French trip because it was so exciting being so high up and I loved the feeling of being able to see around the landscape.” Sebastian B “During the France trip, we went on the Eurotunnel to France and then to the Nausicaá Aquarium.” Bertie F
L’Aventure Française “Finally, our turn to go on the French trip! I’d heard so many great things about it and it didn’t disappoint.. To begin with I was really nervous, however once we were all on the coach and heading towards the Channel Tunnel, my nerves disappeared as the excitement took over. Our first activity in France was visiting Nausicaá, the largest aquarium in Europe. It was an unforgettable experience, especially seeing the gigantic manta ray! Then we headed to the Château de Chantereine, where we got allocated our rooms, shortly followed by our first taste of French dining. One evening, we got to try escargots. I was very brave; however, I must admit that once was enough! Over the time in France, we got to do some brilliant things. A tree top adventure course, milking cows and making butter, making bread and team games with our penpals, visiting the beach and the Joan of Arc museum in Rouen. I learnt how to use my French speaking skills in the market when we had to buy our picnic for a competition. A highlight was meeting my French penpal and immersing myself in the culture. Overall, I loved France and would definitely recommend going.” Ottilie H (Year 6)
“I loved going to see all the sea life. It was so awesome! We saw stingrays and then we went in the underwater train. We played fun Scotland games with our pen pals, and we spoke to them in French and they spoke to us in English. I also loved the disco; it was fun.” Emily M “The France trip was brilliant because of all the time I spent with my friends. On Monday, after a six-hour journey and a visit to a massive aquarium, we arrived at the château. On Tuesday, we met our pen pals, who spoke English to us while we spoke French to them. We made bread with our pen pals and played Highland games. On Wednesday, we went to a city and saw a giant church. We also had some free time, which me and my friends spent playing Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. On Thursday, we went to the market, bought supplies and made sandwiches. We also went on a treetop adventure.” Chase H “I enjoyed the Joan d’Arc Museum as it was really interesting, and I learnt a lot. I liked the Highland Games, and the disco was fun as we all went crazy!” “I really liked the treetop adventure, but found it scary being so high up! It really tested my fears, but I did manage it! Market day was fun, and I loved testing my French! Also, on the beach, we found some heartshaped pebbles (obviously my group should have won the picnic competition).” “I loved the mega French supermarket and found some delicious French sweets. The France trip is probably my favourite trip at LJS. I loved being there with my friends, and sharing a room with Margot was fun! Overall, the trip was brilliant, and I hope Year 5 love it as much as I did!” Matilda E “We had a 6 hour long ride but on the way we went to the train station, watched movies, went to the biggest aquarium in Europe, went to a border mall and took lots of pictures on the way. We went to a Château palace. We went to a farm and fed the cows hay. I sat in a big tractor. Next I went to the beach and bought a badge and lunch for the day.” Maher E
“The sports tour was fun because it was the longest time away from my parents and the zip line was super fun.” Ewan W “The sports tour was a great trip for our netball season. In my opinion the food was great and so were the staff!” Iris R “The boys’ hockey A team played two matches against Gresham’s and Beeston Hall; we sadly lost both matches but had a valiant attempt.’ Seth M “The sports tour was fun! My favourite part was the massive zipline. I learned teamwork with my friends.” Atticus H
“It was one of the best highlights of this year; we got to play against schools we have never played against before and learn new skills from them.” Sienna W
“The sports tour was brilliant! I loved doing the netball fixtures. The food was very nice and the dorm was well thought through. The games room was very ideal for us to have fun with our friends and the calm area was really good too. I loved the activities like archery and the zip wire! Overall it was great.” Ottilie H “My favourite was the big zipper; it was so high!” Evelyn A “For netball, we learnt to stop the ball before it went out of the court and to pass quickly but carefully.” Amelia T “Everything was fun because sport is my favourite hobby and the dorms were really fun - it showed hockey can bond people and make people do more teamwork.” Henry L “We learnt skills like archery, perseverance and a bit of fearlessness when we did the big zip line!” Daniyal F “I loved the sports tour. The food was amazing, and the big zipper was the funniest thing ever, and so was the archery. The matches were fun, and the playroom was amazing. I bet that the next Year 6 will love it!” James E
48 I FRANCE & SPORTS TOUR
Sports Tour
49 I Y E A R 6
Year 6 Leadership Margot G Head of School; Wellbeing Ambassador As Head of School, I help to manage the school and I get to choose the Cup of Kindness each month and present it to kind people I have noticed. Being Wellbeing Ambassador, I ensure people have good wellbeing and I do this in a small group. Declan R Charity Committee Rep I enjoyed being Charity Rep and raising lots of money for different charities.
Bertie F Eco-Team Rep Being Eco Team Rep was good fun with Mr. Marsden. We had meetings every week and wrote a letter to the Council.
Ottie H House Captain Being House Captain is an amazing opportunity especially for Gloucester! We’ve been very successful by winning House Singing, and I’ve loved collecting the house points for Gloucester every week! Evelyn A Wellbeing Ambassador; House Captain; Sports Captain
‘Tenire O Charity Committee Rep What I love doing in the Charity Committee is counting the money and doing it with Anastasia. Making notes and seeing how much we made!
Iris R Sports Captain Being Sports Captain for the girls is amazing. It’s built up my confidence and, hopefully, my team’s too. We’ve had some amazing games, with the help of Sam, a football coach that Mr Eldridge brought in. A huge thank you to my team: Chloe, Cianna, Anastasia, Immy, Matilda, Rosie, Evelyn, Sienna and Ottie. From your dear captain, Iris. Sienna W Eco-Team Rep We put a bird feeder in our woodland garden and we repainted the zebra crossing.
Sebastian B Sports Captain; School Council Rep; Head of School As Head Boy, I got to decorate the Christmas tree and we also get to write speeches every month for the Cup of Kindness award. I love the monthly meetings with Mrs Waller with biscuits and hot chocolate.
House Captain was fun when we counted house points and chose house points.
Emily M Charity Committee Rep As a Charity Committee member, we did a lot of work on the house charity day and counted money for the second hand book sale for the Tasaaga primary school in Uganda.
James L House Captain I felt it helped me build my independence and I tried to encourage teamwork amongst my House.
Imogen E Digital Leader Digital Leaders is really fun because you get to create and learn more about AI and tech, which is especially useful as our world is becoming more advanced with tech. Henry L Sports Captain My favourite part about being Rugby Captain was beating Spratton Hall 16-0 in the first game of the season! Whoever is Rugby Captain next year, just try your best.
Olivia C-W Sports Captain; Digital Leader
We collected house points and chose our House Stars. We announced the House Stars in assembly.
My Leadership role was a swimming Captain; the advice I would give to the future Swim Captain would be help your team mates and cheer them on.
Leah H Wellbeing Ambassador; School Council Rep
Nico B House Captain
School Council organised the events on World Book Day. We had a party at our next meeting to celebrate our work. Wellbeing Ambassadors give Wally the Wombat away to children who are kind and mostly happy.
Being a House Captain is amazing and a rollercoaster of great experiences, as you develop your leadership skills and lead your house with your fellow House Captain. It is wonderful being a leader, and it is great to collect House Points and look after your friends in your house.
Austin M House Captain; Sports Captain
Matilda E House Captain; Sports Captain
As Hockey Captain, don’t just focus on being captain; encourage your teammates and work together as a team.
I love being a House Captain and have found it to be a great challenge. My advice would be to always check when House Stars are due and when celebration assemblies are! Always make time for house point counting; otherwise, you don’t get to count or collect any House Points!
Chase H Digital Leader As a Digital Leader, I wrote an online safety article. We also created a quiz on Kahoot! and a questionnaire.
Anastasia F Wellbeing Ambassador; Sports Captain; Charity Committee Rep It has been a great pleasure to be appointed as Cricket Captain and lead my team into matches. I love being able to help people when they have a question. Playing sport is one of the things I love most and being able to lead people in sport is the greatest feeling. Rosie T Wellbeing Ambassador; Sports Captain I loved being Netball Captain because I felt that I had a great responsibility to lead the team to victory. Oliver J Sports Captain We have all been working hard in the pool and trying our best in races. Advice for following Swimming Captains are cheer for your team mates in the water and support everyone.
I am also Cross-Country Captain, and what I love most about this is writing the reports. But remember to do them and hand them in. You have to be quite loud, especially to get those Year 4s under control. Have fun leading the warm-up, and be joyful, as this helps you stay in control of everyone. Come up with fun ideas; otherwise, people may lose interest in the warm-up! Quentin H Sports Captain I became Cricket Captain this year. We played our first fixture against Bilton Grange and won. We batted first, scoring 97 runs and losing eight wickets. We then managed to bowl them all out. Our second match was against Spratton Hall, and we won that too. We batted first again and lost all 10 wickets, but we still managed to score 143 runs in a Twenty20 match, despite facing a very strong bowling side. We then took 10 wickets, and they fell 26 runs short. As a result, the Under 11A team is undefeated so far this season. Otto A House Captain; Sports Captain I am proud that we entered all the house events with enthusiasm and determination.
50 I Y E A R 6 L E A D E R S H I P
Amelia T House Captain
51 I Y E A R 6
The Next Chapter for Year 6 These pages mark both an ending and a beginning. At Laxton Junior School, we are privileged to walk alongside our children through some of the most formative years of their lives. They arrive with small hands and wide, wondering eyes; and then, almost imperceptibly, they grow. We see confidence take root, resilience deepen, and character emerge. They learn to take risks, to think independently, to work together and, perhaps most importantly, to lead with kindness. These are the qualities that matter most, the true and lasting outcomes of a high-quality Prep education. The transition to senior school is, quite rightly, seen as a milestone. It brings excitement and anticipation, often accompanied by that familiar flutter of nerves, what our children so perfectly describe as feeling ‘nervcited’. Yet what matters most is not simply where our pupils go, but how they go. They leave us ready; ready to embrace challenge, to seek opportunity, and to take their place in new communities with confidence and integrity. Whether continuing along the Oundle pathway or stepping out to forge a new one, they do so grounded in the same strong foundation. This moment is not an end, but the turning of a page.
The friendships they have formed, the experiences they have shared, and the values they now carry will travel with them, shaping the chapters still to come. What has been built here does not fade away; it stays with them, quietly guiding and steadily supporting the people they are becoming. We are immensely proud of every one of our pupils, for their spirit, their kindness, and their quiet strength. As their stories unfold in the years ahead, we know that this chapter, woven here at Laxton Junior School, will always remain part of who they are. Lydia Waller, Head of Laxton Junior School
Stamford School - 1
Bishop Stopford School - 1 The Peterborough School - 1 Casterton Community College - 1 Uppingham - 2
13+ Scholarships at Oundle
Oundle - 34
Eloise A
Drama Scholarship
Theodore B
Drama Scholarship
Oundle Scholarship
Jessica D
DET Scholarship
Oundle Scholarship
Jasper P
No award
Oundle Scholarship
Sam B
Sport Scholarship
Percy G
Swimming Scholarship
Lyla B
Netball Scholarship
Hana G
Music Scholarship
Lila B-R
Music Scholarship
Reuben N
Tuba Scholarship
Vivaan J
Drum Scholarship
Lautaro M A
Piano Scholarship
Zara A
Sport Exhibition
Sophia D
Sport Exhibition
Hannah Z
Sport Exhibition
Theodore B
Sport Exhibition
Jasper P
Sport Exhibition
11+ Entrance Exhibitions to Oundle
11+ Music Scholarship to Uppingham
Evelyn A, Sebastian B, Imogen E and Quentin H
Joshua D
52 I Y E A R 6 L E A V E R S
Year 6: 2026 Leaver’s Destinations
53 I Y E A R 6
Year 6 Teachers Say Farewell Dear Year 6, What a great year we have all had together. When I think about the trips, opportunities, events, performances, fixtures and workshops, I am struck not only by how much we have done, but by how fully you have embraced every experience. You truly are an amazing cohort. Personal highlights (in no particular order) include the Sports Tour, the French Trip, the positive feedback from staff following your LSO visit, Remembrance Assembly, IAPs Netball, King Lear, the Leavers’ Assembly and, of course, Matilda – all of it! (Well, maybe not the insomnia, but all the rest of it!) Your commitment to creating and achieving to the best of your ability is admirable and your final performance was outstanding. It was even worth still having the songs stuck in my head especially as they were sung so brilliantly. The solos this year were exceptional. As a year group, you are cohesive, fun and great company. Of course there have been the occasional niggles, but you gel together and you are a delight to teach and be around. Your reputation as a fabulous year group will be long lasting and you will be greatly missed. Your futures are bright and we very much look forward to hearing about your progress and adventures as you head off to Senior School. They are lucky to have you. It may feel nervewracking at first, but go in with your heads held high, ready to try your best and show them what you are capable of. Stay grounded, be humble, know yourselves, but speak up for yourselves and take every opportunity that comes your way. You may be leaving but you will always be LJS. We will be right here, championing you, cheering you on and basking in your glory. Remember – you started here.
All the best, Mrs H-C
Dear Year 6, It has been such a privilege to be your Tutor this year. There have been so many highlights: fun form times, Matilda, the French Trip, on sports fixtures, in assemblies, House competitions, and making a positive difference to the school through your positions of responsibility. These opportunities have given you the chance to shine! You have all brought something truly special to our tutor group. As you move on to senior school, remember to stay curious, ask interesting questions, and believe in yourselves, even when things feel challenging. Most importantly, be kind. You have all the skills you need to succeed and to make a positive difference to the world.
I wish you every success and happiness for the future. Mr Marsden
I just wanted to say a huge thank you. It has been an absolute pleasure teaching and coaching you this year. Every single one of you has played your part in making this such a memorable year group.
Dear Year 6, As we reach the end of your final year at Laxton Junior School, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly memorable time together. It has been an absolute pleasure to teach you this year: every lesson, every discussion and yes, even every very frequent request to do ‘6/7’ has brought its own kind of joy! Your energy, humour and sense of fun have made each day brighter. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching your impromptu dances appear at breaktimes (often better choreographed than you might think!), listening to you talk with such enthusiasm about songs and bands that, I must admit, I am no longer quite as familiar with and engaging in your thoughtful - and often impressively passionate - debates during ‘Votes for Schools’. You have such strong voices and you are not afraid to use them. You have also shone so brightly in your performances this year. From the dignity and respect shown in the Remembrance assembly, to the musical concerts where your talents were on full display and of course your fantastic production of Matilda: you have demonstrated confidence, commitment and teamwork at every turn. Watching you perform has been a real highlight. You are, without exception, a delight. Each of you brings something special to our school community and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of your journey this year. I love you all dearly and I truly mean it when I say I hope you keep in touch. Not all the time… … perhaps once every 6 / 7 months would be perfect … Wishing you all the very best as you move on to the next exciting stage; I will miss you greatly.
With very best wishes, Mrs Houghton
One thing that has stood out to me this year is just how much you've all matured. You've become more independent, resilient and responsible. But what I've loved even more is that, despite all that growing up, you've never lost your cheeky sense of humour or your wonderfully silly side. Your laughter, quick wit and ability to make each other smile have created such a happy, positive atmosphere every single day. It's a real skill to know when to work hard and when to have fun, and you've managed to strike that balance brilliantly. As you move up to your senior school, remember that it's completely normal to feel excited and a little nervous. Every new beginning comes with challenges, but I know each of you have everything you need to succeed. Be kind, work hard, ask questions, make the most of every opportunity and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Some of your greatest achievements will come from trying something that feels just a little bit scary. Most importantly, never stop being yourselves. Your personalities, your humour, your curiosity and your energy are what make you such a fantastic group. Hold on to those qualities because they'll take you much further than you realise. I wish every one of you the very best of luck for the future. I'm certain you'll go on to do amazing things, and I hope you'll always remember that you have people here at LJS cheering you on.
Best wishes, Mr Eldridge
54 I Y E A R 6 L E A V E R S
Dear Year 6,
55 I WHOLE SCHOOL
Head Boy and Girl It’s been an honour to be the Head Girl at LJS. During my years here, there have been so many memories. Some have been big moments, like school trips or winning an award, but I think the memories that matter most are often the small ones: a brilliant lesson, laughing with friends, or hearing one of Mrs HC's fabulous jokes! Without a doubt, some of my favourite memories are linked to our Matilda production. I will never forget the final performance of Revolting Children on Friday evening, or everyone belting out the songs together in the changing rooms afterwards. I can't decide on my favourite lesson, but one that definitely stands out is when we played I Want It That Way on the whacka-tubes in music. Moments like that are what make school so memorable. To me, LJS is all about trying new things (and yes, that includes trying your vegetables at lunch!). It is also about discovering what you enjoy. Everyone should remember that sometimes you find that straight away, and sometimes it appears when you least expect it. Of course, life does not always go your way. There will be challenges and disappointments in life, but you learn to keep going, learn from them, and move forward. Throughout my time at LJS, there has always been support around me. The support is there for everyone; all you have to do is ask. When things get tough, there is always a light somewhere in the darkness. That light might look different for each of us - a smiling friend, good music, a trusted adult or a walk in nature – but it’s there!
LJS is a place where people grow and find new opportunities. Mrs Kerr-Dineen, the previous Head of Oundle School, once said to us in assembly, "From tiny acorns to grand oaks." That has always stayed with me. We all start as the youngest somewhere, whether it is your first year at LJS or, like me and my Year 6 friends, the start of your first year at a new senior school. It reminds me not to wish time away, because LJS does not last forever (unfortunately!). There are so many firsts and lasts during your time here, but it is important to enjoy the present and make the most of every moment. One thing I have learned is that every Head Girl and Head Boy is different, each child at LJS is different. Each generation brings something unique, and I think that is what makes life interesting. My father has always told me to "plough your own furrow". When I listened to that and understood what that meant, it unlocked a whole new world. That world belongs to you, too. It just needs a key, and that key is you. Being Head Girl has meant a lot to me. It is not just about giving out the Cup of Kindness. It is about setting an example, helping others, and learning more about yourself as well as the people around you. I hope you have seen that in me, because I have certainly seen so much goodness and kindness in all of you.
I will always remember my first day at LJS. But most of all, I think I will remember my last days. Thank you. Margot.
56 I H E A D B O Y A N D G I R L
outside whilst the other class had a maths lesson. My first drum lesson also stands out because it set me up to have an incredible musical journey that I never expected. I discovered sports I had never played before and learned that, yes, you are actually allowed to wrestle people during rugby sessions (or at least that is how it looked through my inexperienced eyes!). Each year at LJS, you get the opportunity to be more and more involved in school life. I learned the French Horn, threw myself into House Speech and Drama and Music competitions and embraced every opportunity that came my way. This year has given me memories that I will never forget and I’ve had a blast: being part of the IAPS winning cricket team, Margot and my eventful meetings with Mrs Waller and getting to do a wak-atubes performance at Crash into Christmas!
Usually, the Head Boy would use this article to express how amazing this school is, the experienced teachers, the fantastic results we get and the state-of-the-art facilities. Whilst this is all true, I want to share with you what I have personally experienced during my time at this special school. I joined LJS in Year 3. My parents were understandably worried about my brother and me moving schools, but within the first five minutes I had settled in and was loving every second of it! In fact, I settled in so quickly that on my very first day I managed to spill chicken korma down the front of the Head Teacher! From that moment LJS felt like home. One of the things that makes this school so special is the way it celebrates values. Here, kindness matters and we celebrate and nurture pupils who throw themselves into LJS life. We celebrate achievement but we also celebrate character, and that is so important! The range of opportunities we get introduced to at LJS is unbelievable. Whether it is clambering through tiny holes that you wouldn't think were humanly possible on Mr Marsden’s Peak District trip, trying not to get lost whilst hiking through the forests of Wales, attempting to (not always successfully) sing three-part harmonies in Miss Haynes’ Chamber Choir, or joining in with the much less harmonious singing on the bus journeys to and from our fixtures, there is always something new to experience! Looking back, so many memories stand out. I still remember Mr Marsden letting us build a snowman
If I could give one piece of advice to the children in the school, it would be to take every opportunity that comes your way. Your years at LJS will fly by. The moments I’ve spoken about and the moments I have enjoyed the most have been the ones where I have stepped outside of my comfort zone and given something 100%! Deciding to join choir, school council and entering competitions are all things I might easily have decided not to do, but now I’ve tried it, I have grown in confidence and feel more ready for the things I might face as I move up to Oundle School. Before I leave, there are some people I would like to thank. Thank you Margot for being a kind and supportive partner to share this role with. We have definitely had some good laughs along the way. Thank you to my parents for coming to all my concerts and competitions and putting up with the endless drumming soundtracks at home! A special thank you to Year 6 for all the fun and friendship. And an important thank you to everyone who helps make this school what it is and who work relentlessly hard: teachers, James, the cleaners, the office staff, teaching assistants, the catering staff, support staff and everyone else who keeps this school running, without you our school would be very different.
Thank you LJS, for the opportunities, the memories and friendship. Keep being brilliant. Sebastian.
57 I WHOLE SCHOOL
Staff Salvete Louise Warren
Lisa Anderson
In early December 2025, Louise Warren joined us as Marketing and Communications Manager, just in time for the fun of the festive season. Louise brings with her a range of experience in Admissions and Marketing across a variety of schools, and she has immersed herself in all things LJS. Whether she is writing copy for a publication, capturing images of school life or posting a reel on our socials, Louise’s creativity shines through.
Covering Yasmin Jones’ maternity leave in Reception will be experienced Teaching Assistant Lisa Anderson. Lisa is a skilled and experienced practitioner, who is looking forward to joining the LJS team.
Joseph Bancroft From September 2026, we are delighted to welcome Joseph Bancroft to LJS as Assistant Head Co-Curricular and Year 5 Tutor. Currently a senior leader at Brooke Priory School, Joseph joins us with a wealth of experience in the independent school sector and a proven track record of developing engaging and enriching opportunities for children beyond the classroom.
Angie Claydon Angie Claydon joined us in November 2025 as maternity cover in Year 3 and will move into a permanent Year 1 position in September 2026. A highly experienced teacher, Angie quickly became a valued member of the LJS team, bringing warmth, enthusiasm and boundless energy to school life. We are delighted that Angie will continue her journey with us and look forward to the many contributions she will make in her new role.
Recognition of Long Service Together, they represent over 160 years of service, each having dedicated more than two decades to making a difference. An inspiring group of women and an extraordinary achievement.
Amanda Dopheide We are delighted to welcome Amanda Dopheide to LJS as our new Librarian. Amanda simply loves books and is passionate about encouraging young readers. We are excited about the enthusiasm, creativity and fresh ideas she will bring as she helps the library continue to flourish at the heart of school life.
Amanda Jackson-Bailey We are also delighted to welcome Amanda Jackson-Bailey as our new Therapeutic Pastoral Mentor. Amanda’s wealth of experience in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people, together with her compassionate and nurturing approach will make her a valuable addition to our pastoral team, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have across the LJS community.
Lucy Dudley Smith We are pleased to welcome Lucy Dudley-Smith to LJS as a Lunchtime Assistant. Lucy brings a caring and positive approach to her role and is dedicated to ensuring that pupils feel safe, happy and supported throughout the school day. We look forward to her becoming a valued member of the team and know that her warmth and enthusiasm will make a positive contribution to the LJS community.
From l-r: Jackie Ormston, Claire Laxton, Sophie Maslen, Sarah Ashby, Keren Edwards, Rachel Waterhouse, Claire Henderson
Georgia Lumley Georgia Lumley joined the Year 5 Tutor Team in May 2026 as maternity cover, also incorporating the Head of Maths role. Bringing extensive teaching and leadership experience to the role, Georgia has fitted into the LJS family seamlessly. From September, her role will shift to the Year 6 Tutor Team from where she will continue to lead Maths across the school in Elmé Marais’ absence.
Claire Henderson After 25 years of dedicated service, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Claire Henderson. Claire joined LJS in September 2001 to cover a maternity leave position and, thankfully for us, never left. Starting in Year 1, she went on to teach in almost every year group, inspiring generations of pupils with her skill, warmth and passion for education. A highly talented teacher and valued colleague, Claire made an outstanding contribution to school life. She led Mathematics for many years before becoming Assistant Head CoCurricular in 2020, bringing energy, creativity and commitment to enriching opportunities for pupils. Determined, resilient and kind, she has always placed children at the heart of everything she does. Claire’s infectious enthusiasm, distinctive laugh and positive spirit have brought great joy to the LJS community. Her professionalism, generosity and dedication have earned the respect and admiration of pupils, parents and colleagues alike. While we will miss her greatly, especially her laughter, friendship and boundless energy, we are excited to see her begin a new chapter with her own tutoring business. We thank Claire for her exceptional contribution to LJS and wish her every success and happiness for the future.
Jennifer Kirkley We also bid farewell to Jennifer Kirkley, our Therapeutic Pastoral Mentor. During her time at LJS, Jennifer has provided exceptional support to many pupils and families, making a lasting difference to the wellbeing of our school community. Her warmth, compassion and dedication have been greatly valued by colleagues, parents and children alike. As Jennifer moves on to focus on her role at Oundle School, we thank her for all she has contributed to LJS and wish her every success and happiness in this next chapter. She will be greatly missed.
Sarah Middleton In September 2025, we said goodbye to Marketing Manager Sarah Middleton. Sarah’s passion for creativity in Marketing was evident in all that she did and we are sure that her new colleagues at the Wildlife Trust will be benefitting from her skills.
Sophie Maslen After more than 25 years of service to LJS, we bid a fond farewell to Sophie Maslen as she embarks on an exciting new chapter with her family in Hertfordshire. Sophie joined the school in 1999 as a Form One Teacher and, following a brief break, returned in 2007, becoming a muchvalued member of the LJS community. Throughout her time at the school, Sophie took on a variety of roles with positivity, flexibility and professionalism. She spent many years as a parttime RE teacher before becoming Head of RE in 2020, while also supporting the school through numerous maternity and absence cover roles. In September 2024, she was delighted to return to full-time class teaching as a Year 1 Form Teacher, where her warmth, expertise and love of working with children shone every day. A dedicated colleague, thoughtful leader and passionate educator, Sophie has touched the lives of countless pupils and families. As she takes up a new role teaching Year 6 and leading History and Geography at a school in Luton, we thank her for her years of service, friendship and commitment. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her every happiness and success in the future.
Andrea Fryatt After more than 20 years at LJS, we bid farewell to Andrea Fryatt. Starting as a volunteer library helper before becoming our Librarian, Andrea helped shape the library into the vibrant and welcoming space it is today. Her passion for reading has inspired countless pupils and fostered a lasting love of books. Beyond the library, she made a valued contribution to school life through trips, visits to France and her many book recommendations. Andrea has left a lasting impact on the LJS community and will be missed by pupils, parents and colleagues alike. We thank her for her dedicated service and wish her every happiness for the future.
Kate Kimball We also say farewell to Kate Kimball, who has been a valued member of staff this year as a Griffin Club and Lunchtime Assistant. Kate has brought warmth, enthusiasm and positivity to school life, building strong relationships with the children and making a positive contribution to the LJS community. As she begins an exciting new chapter at university, we thank Kate for all she has contributed during her time with us and wish her every success and happiness for the future.
58 I S T A F F
Staff Valete
T: +44 (0)1832 277275 E: admissions@laxtonjunior.org.uk Laxton Junior School, East Road, Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4BX laxtonjuniorschool
Laxton Junior School
laxtonjunior.org.uk