There was great excitement at Little Hadham Primary School this week as a team of our talented Year 5 and Year 6 girls proudly returned to school carrying a winners’ trophy after an outstanding performance in a local football tournament.

Competing against a number of schools from across the area, the team displayed fantastic skill, determination and resilience throughout the competition. Match after match, they worked tirelessly for one another, showing composure under pressure and never giving up. Their hard work paid off in spectacular fashion as they were crowned tournament champions.

While lifting the trophy was a wonderful moment, what made us most proud was the way the girls represented our school. They demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, encouraging one another, showing respect to opponents and officials, and playing every game with honesty, humility and integrity. These are the qualities that truly define success.

The smiles on their faces as they returned to school said it all—a mixture of pride, excitement and the joy that comes from achieving something special together.

Some of the girls reflected on their memorable day:

“When we won the final, it was the best feeling ever!”

“Bringing the trophy back to school made us feel really proud.”

The team have been fantastic ambassadors for Little Hadham Primary School and wonderful role models for our younger pupils. Their success is the result of commitment, teamwork and a positive attitude, and they thoroughly deserve every congratulations.

Well done to every player—we are incredibly proud of you all. What a fantastic achievement!

There is something rather special about watching children step outside their comfort zones, discover new strengths and return home with memories that will last a lifetime. Last week, our wonderful Year 6 Willow Class did exactly that during their residential visit to Gilwell Park.

From the moment they arrived, the excitement was infectious. Over the course of three action-packed days, the children challenged themselves with an incredible range of activities including team-building challenges, Aeroball, crate

stacking, high ropes and the exhilarating zip wire. For many, these were activities they had never experienced before, but with encouragement from their friends and staff, they embraced every opportunity with courage, determination and plenty of laughter.

The team-building activities were a particular highlight, reminding everyone that success often comes from listening carefully, encouraging one another and working together. Watching children cheer each other on as they climbed higher on the crate stack or took those first brave steps onto the high ropes was a real joy.

Of course, residential visits are about so much more than adventurous activities. Sharing rooms with friends, making beds (with varying degrees of success!), enjoying meals together and chatting long into the evening all become treasured memories. There was certainly no shortage of laughter in the accommodation, and the excitement of being away from home with friends made the experience even more special.

Some of our favourite comments from the children included:

“I didn’t think I’d be brave enough for the zip wire, but I did it—and I want to do it again!”

“The best part was everyone cheering me on when I was crate stacking.”

“Gilwell was the best trip ever. I wish we could stay longer!”

As staff, we could not have been prouder. The children demonstrated resilience, kindness, excellent manners and a willingness to support one another throughout the visit. They represented Little Hadham Primary School brilliantly and were a credit to their families.

There was one noticeable difference when everyone returned to school… they were very, very tired! The smiles may have been accompanied by plenty of yawns, but every single child came back with a huge sense of achievement, greater independence and memories that they will carry with them long after they leave Little Hadham.

In the week before the half term break, our school was buzzing with the power of words as every class took part in our very own Poetry By Heart celebration! Each class chose a poem to learn, rehearse, and perform to the rest of the school — and what a fantastic showcase of rhythm, rhyme, and confidence it was.

Learning a poem by heart is a wonderful way for children to explore the beauty of language. It helps develop memory skills, enrich vocabulary, and encourages an appreciation for the patterns and sounds of words. Performing poetry also gives children the chance to use their voices expressively, build confidence in front of an audience, and enjoy the shared joy of storytelling through performance.

In addition to the laughter and excitement, there were a few happy nerves on the day! As part of pupil voice, I asked children across the school what they enjoyed most about Poetry By Heart. Here’s what they had to say. Keeley in Beech Class said, “I like the rhythm and that we got to perform it together. I liked the end of our poem because it was funny and I loved saying ‘eletelephony’!” Robin from Beech Class told me, “Our poem was a tongue twister! I liked the tangling trunk actions we did when we performed it.”

Jack from Lime Class shared, “I felt nervous performing, but the actions helped me to learn my  poem. It was fun listening to the other poems being performed.” And Louis in Maple Class said, “I thought the youngest children did a really good job performing ‘Miss Polly’. I loved listening to their poem! I thought our class poem was catchy. When you learn things off by heart, you always have them with you.”

I couldn’t agree more — the performances were a joy to watch, and the enthusiasm from every class was infectious! It is wonderful to hear how much the children valued both performing and listening to others. They spoke about rhythm, teamwork, performance skills, and the fun of exploring language — exactly what Poetry By Heart is all about!

What an exciting week we’ve had here in Year 6! Our learning has been rich, meaningful, and full of opportunities to practice important life skills—all while having a great time together. Here are some highlights of our week.

Election Fever: Our New School Captains

In keeping with our democracy theme, we held an exciting election for our new school captains. We began by exploring the features of persuasive speeches and studied some effective speech delivery tips—like making eye contact, using hand gestures, speaking clearly, and standing with confidence.

A fantastic eleven candidates wrote and delivered their own election speeches in front of the whole school—what bravery and enthusiasm! After careful voting, we are thrilled to announce our new school captains. Drum roll, please…Congratulations to Joe and Otis, our new School Captains, and to Grace and Hugo, our new Vice Captains. We know you will carry out your new roles diligently and with pride!

It’s been a real joy to welcome everyone back this week – the school is once again buzzing with energy and laughter. A special welcome to our new families who are joining the Little Hadham community for the first time. Already, it’s been wonderful to see children settling quickly, making new friends, and supporting one another.

The classrooms are calm, purposeful places, with children diving straight into their learning. In the playground and at forest and lunch, you can feel that sense of togetherness which makes our school so special.

This year promises to be filled with exciting opportunities for learning, discovery, and growth. We’re looking forward to the adventures ahead and to celebrating the achievements, big and small, of every child.

Here’s to a happy, successful year for us all.

We kicked off the morning with a hearty breakfast—so hearty, in fact, that quite a few went back for seconds! Fuelled and ready, we split off into our groups for the morning’s activities.

The morning kicked off with two brilliant activities – crate stacking and nightline. For those unfamiliar, crate stacking is all about teamwork, balance, and courage. The children worked in pairs to build a tower beneath their own feet, climbing higher with each crate – think Jenga, but you’re standing on top of it! Lots of wobbling, plenty of cheering, and a few triumphant topples kept spirits high.

Meanwhile, the nightline tested their senses and teamwork in a very different way. Blindfolded and holding onto a rope, the children had to navigate a woodland obstacle course – trust, communication, and a good sense of humour were essential! Let’s just say there were a few bumps into trees and plenty of giggles along the way and lots of peeking!.

Then came a definite highlight – the 3G swing! We’re fairly sure some of you did hear the screams from back in Little Hadham. The anticipation, the countdown, the huge swoop through the air – they were fearless (well… most of them)! So much joy and bravery on display.

We followed this with archery, where Robin Hood would’ve been proud of some of the shots on display. Bulls-eyes were cheered, arrows flew (mostly in the right direction!), and the children loved every moment.

Fencing was a curious affair… We’re not sure exactly what some of the “moves” were, but we can say with confidence that the children learned a lot and had an absolute blast.

Of course, no adventure day would be complete without a treat – so on the walk to archery, the children were surprised with a much-needed ice cream stop.

As we write, they’re heading into their final activity for the day – the Mini Olympics. A mix of team games, silly challenges, and good old-fashioned competition awaits. We’re hoping it will use up the very last reserves of energy, and that we’ll be treated to a peaceful, early night!

We’ve seen such confidence, resilience, kindness, and team spirit from your children – you should all be incredibly proud. They’re making memories to last a lifetime.

One final note… Who knew Rick Astley would become the unofficial soundtrack to the trip? Yes, that song. It’s been on repeat in the background—and in our heads. Will we ever give it up? Unlikely.

We’ll see you all tomorrow! (With slightly scruffier clothes, fuller hearts, and maybe a lost sock or two!)

Team Little Hadham @ Kingswood ✨

Hello Little Hadham families!

We’re thrilled to let you know that our fabulous Year 6 adventurers have arrived safe and sound at Kingswood, Kent! Spirits were high as we rolled in, and after a much-needed lunch and some games to stretch our legs, it was time to tackle the biggest challenge of the day… bed-making. Let’s just say it was entertaining! We thought we’d trained them but who knew sheets could be so tricky?

Once we’d conquered the linen monsters, it was straight into the action. Two activities so far: abseiling(with some seriously impressive climbers showing off their nerves of steel) and fire lighting – where we may have discovered a few natural-born fire starters. Don’t worry – we’re keeping a close eye on them!

What’s really lovely is the way the children are helping and encouraging each other – whether it’s cheering on a nervous climber or teaming up to get those fires lit. Ah yes, we do have a brilliant bunch here!

For dinner (they were absolutely starving!) they all managed to have something! After that, it was time to dust off the dancing shoes for the infamous Kingswood Disco  – and yes, they did dance and run around- where do they get the energy from?

Now there are more showers and getting pjs on and hopefully they will All fall into a deep slumber until we wake them for breakfast: we can but dream!

Team Little Hadham @ Kingswood ✨

On Thursday, representatives from our School Captain team, our School Council and our Green Team participated in the Bishop’s Stortford Pupil Voice Network event, where children from eight local schools gathered to engage in meaningful dialogue about community involvement. Hosted by Bishop’s Stortford College, the theme of the event, ‘Every Voice Matters’, provided a perfect backdrop for our children to showcase their initiatives and learn from one another. The event was attended by the Mayor of Bishop’s Stortford, who our children chatted happily with, further enriching their experience and emphasising the importance of community involvement.

Our very own representatives—Sachin, Jacques, Dylan, Belle, Joe, and Hugh—made us immensely proud as they spoke beautifully, eloquently, and with great confidence about some of the fantastic projects we have undertaken at our school. They highlighted our Foodbank Friday initiative, where we have taken steps to support families in need, and the successful tree planting at Millennium Wood earlier this year, which aligns with our commitment to creating a greener future.

Throughout the event, our children had the opportunity to connect with children from the other participating schools, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration. They shared their thoughts on how we can support people in their local community, and discussions flourished around the crucial topic of diversity and the shared responsibility we all have to empower others.

As part of the afternoon’s activities, each child crafted a personal pledge and created a friendship bracelet, symbolising their commitments to fostering kindness and collaboration within their community. These tangible mementoes will serve to remind them of the friendships formed and the important lessons learned.

Of course, no gathering would be complete without some delightful sustenance, and we are pleased to report that the buffet lunch was a resounding success—much to the delight of our young attendees! The scrumptious afternoon tea and cake were absolute highlights, rounding off a very special afternoon.

Last week, eight VERY enthusiastic Year 5 pupils took on the HFL Education Annual Year 5 Mathematics Challenge Competition—an exciting event that brings together schools from across Hertfordshire and beyond to put their problem-solving skills to the test!

The competition, which includes both state and independent schools, is designed to stretch mathematical thinking while encouraging teamwork. And what a team effort it was! Our pupils tackled each challenge with determination, enthusiasm, and plenty of smiles along the way.

Mrs. Afenti-Sassis, our Maths Coordinator, was full of praise, saying, “Once again, our children showcased fantastic teamwork and mathematical skills. They tackled each challenge with determination, all while smiling and enjoying the experience!”

And the best part? Team A has made it through to the next round! What an incredible achievement for such a small school—proof that big things really do come in small packages. A huge congratulations to all the pupils who took part, and good luck to Team A in the next stage of the competition!

A huge shout out to Mrs Campbell for coming in to support too- thank you so much, we truly appreciate it.

Our Foodbank Friday has been a heartwarming triumph, thanks to our wonderful children and families! The generosity and enthusiasm from our school community have been truly inspiring.

The best part? This has been completely driven by the children! Our School Council wrote a heartfelt letter to the local foodbank, sharing why this matters to us, and they were absolutely thrilled to receive it. So thrilled, in fact, that they’re coming in soon to lead an assembly!

Our council has been thinking carefully about how we move forward. They are determined to continue supporting the foodbank but also understand that we must be mindful of our own families. So, the message is simple: Give if you can – every little bit helps.

The children have loved sorting the donations, seeing the boxes fill up, and knowing that they are making a real difference. One pupil summed it up perfectly:

“It feels good to help. Even just one tin of beans could mean someone has dinner tonight!”

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far – your kindness is making a real impact.