Woodlands Academy’s Early Years Foundation Stage children enjoyed a traditional teddy bears’ picnic to celebrate a successful year of learning and achievement.
There was plenty to eat and drink, with the children also enjoying delicious ice creams to round off the special occasion.
The picnic was held in recognition of the children’s hard work and effort throughout the year, with lots of families attending to join in the celebrations.
A spokesperson said: “Our teddy bears’ picnic was a wonderful way to celebrate everything the children have achieved this year.
“They have worked incredibly hard, grown in confidence and developed so many new skills.
“It was lovely to welcome families to share in the celebrations and create some special memories together as we mark the end of a fantastic year.”
Possible Olympic stars of the future took to the field as pupils at Woodlands Academy’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) enjoyed a fun-filled and highly competitive sports morning.
The young athletes gave every event their all, showing fantastic enthusiasm, determination and teamwork as they competed in a variety of races, including the egg and spoon race, welly wang (throwing), bean bag on the head race and sprint races.
Families turned out in force to cheer on the children, creating a wonderful atmosphere and making the morning even more memorable for everyone involved.
The event celebrated not only sporting achievement but also participation, confidence and having fun, with every pupil demonstrating great effort throughout the morning.
EYFS Class Teacher Tanya Sherborne said: “It was wonderful to see every child taking part with such enthusiasm, determination and big smiles.
“They showed fantastic perseverance in every event and loved having their families there to cheer them on. The support from parents and carers made the morning extra special, and we’re incredibly proud of all our young athletes.”
Woodlands Academy would like to thank all the families who came along to support the event and help make it such a successful and enjoyable morning.
Year 6 pupils from Woodlands Academy enjoyed their final sports day at the school, making it a memorable celebration of teamwork, determination and leadership.
The pupils gave their best effort in every race, demonstrating resilience and enthusiasm throughout the day. Alongside competing, they also played a key role in supporting all three sports day events across the school.
Year 6 pupils helped hand out stickers, set up equipment and encouraged younger children with motivational speeches at the start line, showing excellent leadership and setting a fantastic example for others.
Katherine Brockett, KS2 Phase Lead, said: “Our Year 6 pupils have been exceptional throughout sports day. They not only gave their all in every event but also showed maturity, kindness and responsibility by supporting the younger children and helping the day run smoothly.
“We are incredibly proud of the positive role models they have become, and this was a wonderful way to celebrate their final sports day at Woodlands Academy.”
Academy governors and members of the local church recently visited Year 4 pupils at Woodlands Academy to take part in a creative and reflective activity centred on the Easter story.
During the session, pupils worked together to unpack six different boxes, each representing a key moment from the Easter story as told in the Bible. Inside each box were carefully chosen props, including a keyring, a token, a scratch card, bunting, and a plastic egg, designed to help bring the story to life and encourage thoughtful reflection.
As the items were passed around, pupils discussed their meanings and connections to the Easter narrative. They were then asked to write an emotion or a sentence inspired by each box, helping them to engage more deeply with the themes and messages behind the story.
To conclude the activity, the children created their own ‘Easter in a box’ egg boxes, giving them a personal and memorable way to revisit and understand the story.
The initiative aimed to provide an interactive and meaningful approach to teaching pupils about Easter, combining storytelling, discussion, and hands-on creativity.
Rebecca Floyd, Key Stage Two teacher, said: “We were delighted to welcome our governors and local church members into the classroom.
“The ‘Easter in a Box’ activity was a fantastic way to help pupils engage with the Easter story in a thoughtful and memorable way.
“The use of props really brought the story to life, and it was wonderful to see the children reflecting so deeply and creatively on what they had learned.”
Year 4 pupils at Woodlands Academy have been showcasing their creativity by designing and making their very own Easter jars.
Easter jars are decorative containers, typically made of glass or ceramic, used to store and display seasonal treats such as mini eggs, chocolates, and sweets. Popular during springtime, they often feature bunny-themed lids, pastel colours, and festive decorations.
As part of the project, pupils were challenged to first design their jars before bringing their ideas to life using Modroc – a plaster-impregnated gauze bandage ideal for quick and effective 3D modelling and sculpting.
After carefully constructing their jars, pupils then painted them with a wide variety of vibrant colours and imaginative designs. Each jar reflected the individuality and artistic flair of its creator, resulting in a fantastic collection of unique Easter-themed pieces.
Rebecca Floyd, Key Stage Two teacher, said: “This project has been a wonderful opportunity for pupils to explore their creativity and develop their design skills. They showed great enthusiasm throughout the process, and it has been fantastic to see their ideas come to life in such colourful and imaginative ways.”
Pupils at Woodlands Academy have taken part in an inspiring creative arts project led by three highly-respected artists from the Bristol Beacon Centre.
Over the past few weeks, the artists have visited the school on a weekly basis, working closely with pupils to explore their wishes, hopes and dreams for Stockwood, the community they proudly call home.
Through a series of engaging workshops, children were encouraged to express their ideas creatively using a range of artistic techniques.
The project brought together pupils from across the school in groups: Year 1 and 2, Year 3 and 4, and Year 5. Each group developed their own unique pieces based on their shared visions for the future of their community.
The project culminated in a series of performances during the final week, where pupils confidently showcased their work.
They performed brilliantly, demonstrating exceptional teamwork, creativity and imagination. Pupils’ enthusiasm and confidence shone through as they brought their ideas to life, making the performances both moving and memorable for all who attended.
Rebecca Floyd, Key Stage Two teacher, said: “It has been incredible to see our pupils grow in confidence and creativity throughout this project.
“They have worked collaboratively to express meaningful ideas about their community, and the final performances were a true reflection of their amazing talent.”
Alongside their very important SATs preparation, Year 6 pupils at Woodlands Academy have been working hard on developing their artistic skills.
They have been using vibrant watercolours to recreate paintings of various food items, demonstrating both creativity and attention to detail.
Pupils have shown great focus, concentration and effort in their work and are now looking forward to the next part of the unit – creating and painting portraits.
Katherine Brockett, KS2 Phase Lead and English Lead at Woodlands Academy, said: “We are incredibly proud of the dedication our Year 6 pupils have shown, not only in preparing for their SATs but also in embracing their creativity through art.
“Their watercolour work has been fantastic, with pupils demonstrating patience, precision and imagination.
“We are excited to see how they build on these skills as they move on to portrait work, which will allow them to further express their individuality and artistic confidence.”
This week in computing, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils at Woodlands Academy explored how to use Bee-Bots.
A Bee-Bot is an award-winning, bee-shaped programmable floor robot designed for young children (primarily ages 4–7) to learn basic coding, sequencing and directional language in a fun and engaging way.
During the lesson, pupils learned how to programme the robots by giving them precise step-by-step commands. Through this activity, they developed important skills including sequencing, problem solving and computational thinking, while also building confidence in early coding concepts.
Working together, pupils planned routes and tested their instructions, learning how to debug and improve their commands when the Bee-Bots did not move as expected.
Laura Jane Dowling, Year 1 and Year 2 teacher, said: “Introducing Bee-Bots is a fantastic way for our youngest pupils to begin understanding the basics of coding.
“The children loved giving instructions and seeing the robots follow their commands. It’s wonderful to watch them develop problem-solving skills, teamwork and confidence while having so much fun learning.”
Nursery and Reception children at Woodlands Academy made the most of the recent sunny weather by taking their learning outdoors for a fun and creative session.
Pupils enjoyed exploring mark-making using vibrant, colourful chalks, transforming outdoor spaces into canvases full of imagination. They delighted in drawing around each other, experimenting with shapes and patterns, and sharing their creative ideas with friends.
The activity not only encouraged artistic expression but also supported collaboration and communication, as children worked together and celebrated each other’s creations.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “It has been wonderful to see our youngest pupils so engaged and inspired by the change in weather.
“Outdoor learning provides fantastic opportunities for creativity, teamwork and self-expression, and the children thoroughly enjoyed bringing their ideas to life with chalk.”
Learners from Year 6 at Woodlands Academy have been developing their love of science by discovering how rainbows are created.
As part of a hands-on scientific investigation, pupils used torches and prisms to demonstrate how white light can be split into the visible colour spectrum. Through this engaging experiment, learners observed first-hand how light refracts and separates into the vibrant colours of a rainbow.
The activity encouraged teamwork, critical thinking and curiosity, as pupils worked collaboratively to ask questions, test their ideas and examine their findings in detail.
By exploring the science behind a natural phenomenon, the class deepened their understanding while building essential investigative skills.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “We are incredibly proud of our Year 6 learners for their enthusiasm and curiosity.
“Practical experiments like this bring science to life, helping pupils to understand complex concepts in an exciting and memorable way.
“It’s wonderful to see them working together, asking thoughtful questions and developing a genuine passion for discovery.”
