In science, our topic is light, and we have been learning about mirrors and how they work. We learned that mirrors reflect light and that this is how we see our reflection. We explored which objects are reflective and which are not, and discovered that smooth, shiny surfaces reflect light best. We talked about how mirrors are used in everyday life, such as in bathrooms to help us see ourselves, in cars to help drivers see behind them, and in shops for safety. We also used mirrors to try to walk around the yard by following the lines on the ground. We found this very challenging because everything was reflected and looked the opposite way.

The children in year 4 have been exploring complementary colours and how artists use them to create contrast and make their work stand out. The pupils began by learning what complementary colours are and how they sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. By using these colours, the children were able to add depth, balance and visual impact to their still life artwork.

St Alban's pupils learn vital road safety skills through council scheme Road safety was on the timetable when children at St Alban’s Catholic Primary learnt some crucial skills in a scheme run by Gateshead City Council. Our Year 3 pupils were put through their paces by the Council’s Child Pedestrian Team over six consecutive Tuesday afternoon sessions held at the school. The ‘Smart Walker’ Child Pedestrian Training covered the Green Cross Code, as well as such essential skills as finding a safe place to cross a road, crossing safely near a junction, and crossing between parked cars when no other place is available. “The programme aims to equip children with the knowledge and confidence to navigate busy roads safely,” said our Headteacher, Mrs Yeoman. “The school is committed to supporting pupils in developing practical life skills, and this programme forms part of that wider aim. During the six weeks, pupils participate in a variety of interactive sessions. They learn how to identify safe places to cross the road, practise using pedestrian crossings, and explore the importance of wearing visible clothing and following traffic signals. “The sessions also include role-play activities, where children simulate real-life road situations, helping them understand potential risks and how to respond safely.” The programme has become a regular fixture on our calendar after a manned crossing near the school was removed. “As the school is located on a main road, and, unfortunately, does not have a manned pedestrian crossing due to funding limitations, this programme provides an important opportunity for pupils to develop practical skills for staying safe when walking in their local area,” added Mrs Yeoman. “As part of our duty of care, we have continued to work with the local authority over a number of years to ensure pupils receive high quality road safety education.” Proudly a member of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

St Alban’s Catholic Primary launches specialist Base Room to support pupils Baking, building, swimming, and exploring are all on the timetable at St Alban’s Catholic Primary in Walker, which has recently introduced a special ‘base’ to coordinate and oversee the activities. “The Base Room focuses on language and communication and was newly established in the current academic year,” explained Headteacher Ciara Yeoman. “It provides a safe and supportive haven for pupils who require specialised teaching and learning." “The provision is stage- not age-based, ensuring that support is tailored to each pupil’s developmental stage, rather than their chronological age.” Funded by the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, the Base is supported by a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant and Teaching Assistant, who work together to deliver a bespoke curriculum for a select group of Key Stage 2 children at the school. “At the heart of the Base is our mission to celebrate each pupil for who they are, recognising and valuing their individuality, strengths, and potential,” continued Mrs Yeoman. “Every aspect of our provision is designed to foster confidence, independence, and a love of learning, ensuring that pupils feel seen, supported, and celebrated as unique individuals. “Some pupils access the Base for specialised interventions or more tailored support, while others split their time between the Base and mainstream classrooms in a hybrid approach.” Activities on offer include cookery, swimming lessons, a Lego League, and Forest School, where outdoor sessions in small groups enable children to take part in survival skills, den-building, and nature exploration. “The timetable is flexible, incorporating sensory circuits and shorter lessons to provide pupils with additional time to complete work,” added Mrs Yeoman. “In addition to core learning, the Base offers a variety of curriculum enhancements to enrich pupils’ experiences and develop practical, social and life skills, all while celebrating their individuality. Through these enhancements, pupils gain practical experience, independence, and self-confidence, while reinforcing core learning and social-emotional skills. “The Base’s hybrid model ensures that pupils can apply new skills both within the Base and in mainstream classrooms, promoting generalisation of learning and holistic development.” St Alban’s was further supported by BBCET in introducing the programme. “In developing this base, visits were made to other established provisions in schools, alongside guidance and best-practice advice from lead SEND specialists within the Trust,” said Mrs Yeoman. “The Base is a fantastic provision for pupils, with planning led by the SENDCO, ensuring high-quality, personalised teaching and learning. “Every element of the Base is designed to celebrate the individual, ensuring that each pupil feels valued, empowered, and supported to reach their full potential.”

Year 6 are very excited for their upcoming visit to the Theatre Royal, next Thursday, where they will get the chance to be among the first audience members to see a brand-new musical, based on Shakespeare's Macbeth.  We were fortunate enough to be selected to receive complimentary tickets, which is providing our class with a wonderful opportunity for us to experience a live theatre performance.  This also fits in really well with the work that many of us have been doing in drama club.  What an exciting trip for us all to look forward to! We will let you know all about it next week!

Year 6 have had a wonderful time making a start on their new science topic about electricity. They worked so well together using different components to make a range of circuits and their troubleshooting skills and teamwork were second to none. It was brilliant to hear discussion about how to solve problems that arose and every group's willingness to share their ideas and their equipment with others. Well done, Year 6 and we will look forward to learning even more about electricity as the weeks go by.

We were proud to see one of our Year 6 children living out our school values on the feast of the Epiphany last week. During a celebration event in her local parish, she served on the altar during mass, and helped with the event by selling raffle tickets, handing out chocolates to the elderly parishioners who attended and even helped with the tidying up afterwards! A great example being set for others of giving our time to serve others.

Our winners this week are...

This week, we started our new topic in our Talk for Writing sessions, focusing on the story The Great Kapok Tree . To begin our learning, we took our learning outside the classroom, where we observed nature and discussed how lucky we are to have it. This helped begin our focus on persuasive writing.

We’ve started our new painting topic with a burst of creativity. The children made their own  paintbrushes, experimented with different sized brushes, and revisited the primary colours. Our focus was exploring all the different lines and marks we can create — and Year 2 absolutely loved it. We’re now building towards something exciting… by the end of the topic, we hope to create our very own Kandinsky‑style masterpieces  inspired by all this experimenting. A brilliant start to our art journey this term.

This week year 4 have been investigating how well sound travels through different mediums. We tested how well we could hear different sounds though, a solid, a liquid and a gas.