The sun was shining when Class Three visited Sizergh Castle. We all enjoyed the walk through the fields and a play on the wild trail. Following out picnic in the sunshine we had a talk about the history of the castle including the wedding cake chimneys! We then had a look around the castle and garden and then walked back to school. A fabulous day with lots of local history.
Today our Year 6 pupils spent the morning at Kendal’s police and fire stations, taking part in the Junior Citizenship event—a special programme designed to help young people develop essential life skills and learn how to stay safe as they move on to secondary school.
Throughout the morning, students rotated through a variety of engaging and thought-provoking activity stations, each focusing on a different aspect of personal safety and responsible citizenship.
One station featured a virtual reality film, giving pupils an immersive look at how quickly a house fire can spread. The realism of the film helped them understand how important it is to spot fire hazards early, plan escape routes, and know what to do in an emergency.
Another hands-on activity involved using a “throw bag”—a piece of rescue equipment often found near lakes, rivers and reservoirs used to assist someone struggling in the water. Students practiced proper throwing techniques and learned how to call for help and guide a person to safety, reinforcing the importance of staying calm and acting quickly in emergency situations.
A talk on hate crime and anti-social behaviour encouraged thoughtful discussions around respecting others and recognising unacceptable behaviour. Officers explained how such actions can affect individuals and communities, and what young people can do if they witness or experience them.
In a final session on cybercrime and online safety, pupils were challenged to crack a fictional person’s password using clues gathered from their social media profile. This eye-opening activity demonstrated how seemingly innocent information—like pet names or birthdays—can be used to guess passwords, underlining the need to protect personal data and think carefully about what we share online.
All of our students found the day incredibly valuable. It not only taught them practical safety skills but also helped build their confidence in responding to real-life situations. Most importantly, it sparked important conversations about making smart, safe choices both in person and online.
We’re very grateful to Cumbria police & fire services for organising such a meaningful and memorable experience.
Wow! What an amazing two days we have had a Brathay last week. The children took part in lots of different adventurous activities such as, canoeing, climbing, den building, fire making and ghyll scrambling! Thank you to FOLS helping fund this trip, the children have really enjoyed it and can’t wait for next year already!
Just before the half term break, Class 3 and Class 4 visited the Jewish Synagogue and Museum in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.
During the morning we toured the inside of the Synagogue, learning all about the symbols, artefacts and furniture surrounding us. We heard about how Jewish settlers had travelled from different parts of Europe to this area of Manchester during the industrial revolution to trade and set up their lucrative businesses. This Jewish community soon became a thriving, busy commercial hub where business boomed for many decades.
We also got the opportunity to handle a range of different artefacts, including: prayer shawls, a sedar plate, prayer scrolls and Jewish hats, known as Kippah. The museum upstairs had even more displays and objects to explore and sketch.
We have learnt so much more about the Jewish faith and heritage, both during this experience and in our focus on Judaism as part of Multi-faith week.
