Today year 9 took part in a thought-provoking role play about genetic testing and inheritance of genetic variants. They acted as couples and genetic councillors and discussed the possibility of having a child with cystic fibrosis, explored genetic probabilities and had a class debate on the ethical challenges families may face. Please do ask your child what they thought about these discussions, as some great insights emerged! Well done year 9 a great start to exploring complex topics in biology and ethics! #genetictesting #cysticfibrosis #ethicsdebate #biologyclass #criticalthinking #education #futureleaders

Lower Juniors: A Week of Exploration and Learning

This week, the Lower Juniors have been busy with hands-on learning across various subjects.

In science, the children delved into how scientists classify living things. Working in teams, they used Carroll and Venn diagrams to sort animals into different categories, sharpening their analytical and collaborative skills. They extended this learning in computing, where they used Apple Pages to design a diagram that grouped living things into five categories—a great blend of science and tech!

In comprehension, the focus was on historical fiction. The children read an engaging story about a Viking attack on an Anglo-Saxon village. They practiced highlighting key details and learned how glossaries function as mini dictionaries, helping them to expand their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the text.

Meanwhile, in maths, the Lower Juniors reviewed telling time. Using interactive analogue clocks on iPads, they practiced reading and setting the time, combining digital tools with traditional skills to build confidence in this essential life skill.

It’s been an exciting week of discovery, teamwork, and creativity across all subjects!

Nursery Adventures in Colour Mixing

This week in nursery, we’ve been diving into the magical world of colour mixing! The children have had a wonderful time experimenting with different hues, discovering the endless possibilities of blending colours.

One of the highlights was creating vibrant car tracks—rolling wheels through paint and watching as new shades appeared right before their eyes. We also put our colour-mixing skills to the test while crafting stunning firework pictures, blending colours to capture the dazzling sparks and excitement of fireworks.

It’s been a lively, creative week, full of exploration and vibrant discoveries!

🌟 **Anti-Bullying Week: Choose Respect** 🌟

Today in PSHEE, our Year 7 pupils took part in meaningful discussions about this year`s Anti-Bullying Week theme, *Choose Respect*.

We explored the different types of bullying, its impact on mental health and school life, and why it can sometimes be hard to confront. Together, we delved into ways to seek help and support, and watched an eye-opening video about the emotional toll bullying takes on individuals.

A key takeaway from the session was understanding how bullying can sometimes be masked as "banter." This sparked thoughtful conversations about empathy and the importance of fostering respect in all their interactions.

At Pattison School, we are proud to empower our students with the knowledge and tools to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone. 💙 #AntiBullyingWeek #ChooseRespect #PSHEE #PattisonSchool #EmpathyMatters

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old"
This was the theme of our assembly today: remembrance. Over the weekend, and of course in school on Monday, we will all have cause to pause and contemplate the sacrifice of so many throughout our modern history.

As we gathered this morning as a school, the strains of “Flowers of the Forest” welcomed everyone to our Remembrance Assembly. Pupils from across the school contributed to the assembly: Year 2 had written a poem, read by Mrs. Green; Genevieve and Ade read extracts from books and poems; and Mr. Bath gave us an informative talk on the Armistice and why we wear poppies.

“In that moment, I knew that courage was not something you could always summon up inside yourself. Sometimes it was given to you by those around you, and sometimes, as I looked at the other horses and soldiers, I realized it came from knowing that what we did here would be remembered long after we were gone.”

Thankfully, the years since these awful events have slipped by, and now many of our pupils will not have known someone who took part in the world wars. To illustrate the point that there are still many people whose family members answered the call, I shared with them a photograph of my grandfather, taken in the midst of the war. Many of us have family members who served—parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents—and it remains just as essential today to honor their contributions and sacrifices.

On the 11th itself, we will be joined by Reverend Claire and a bugler from the Royal British Legion to mark the two minutes’ silence at 11 a.m.