Keep up to date with our latest news.

• Y6 adventures

  Sun 26 Jun 2022

  This month, over 40 children from Y6 had a wonderful week at Redridge, in Mid Wales. Our school values of unity, perseverance and love shone out as children worked together, attempted things they never dreamed possible and had lots of fun. 

  Activities included paddle boarding, caving, archery, high ropes, kayaking, orienteering, abseiling and rock climbing as well as walking in the most incredible scenery. It was a brilliant visit and one that Y6 and the staff who took them will remember forever. 

  

• Fun in the sun for Early Years

  Mon 16 May 2022

  Children in our reception and nursery classes have been delighting in school life this month. 

  In nursery, a new 'creative station' has captured children's imaginations whilst in reception water play and the giant mud pit have been very popular with the children. 

  Coming soon will be a woodworking bench, with some teaching from Mr Rees, our friendly carpenter as well as an exciting new kitchen.

  We are also pleased to have created a dedicated family room where our community can come together. Lessons for parents who want to learn or improve English have already begun with spaces available for anyone who would like to join us. Please do get in touch for further details.

  

• New experiences

  Thu 31 Mar 2022

  March has been a month full of new experiences for the children at St Thomas Cantilupe. During the pandemic our plans for getting out and about in our community and inviting others into school had to be put on hold. It is fantastic to be able to move on from that and to share all that our county has to offer.

  Children in Class 1 and Class 2 ended their Spring term project by working with Jon the Potter to created coil pot monster lanterns. Having the opportunity to work to learn new skills and create such exciting pots, which looked so beautiful after being fired,  was something they will all remember.

  Class 3 have been taking part in a project with the Courtyard Theatre, focusing on Roald Dahl. These weekly workshops will culminate in a performance at the theatre, where they will be able to showcase their talents.

  Classes 4 and 5 have each completed intensive swimming sessions. Being able to walk to and from the pool, every day for two weeks, has certainly given the children opportunities to know more about their city as well as improving their swimming skills.

  Some children in Class 6T and Class 6R were able to take part in the 'Ferrous Festival' and work with blacksmiths to create their own pieces of art that were displayed in the city. This was a truly memorable, and noisy, experience!

   

  

• Safer Internet Day 2022

  Thu 17 Feb 2022

  On the 8^th February 2022, STC celebrated Safer Internet Day 2022 supported for the first time by the West Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Unit. Through assemblies, class discussions and lesson activities we covered topics including:

  • Being Respectful Online

  • Preventing Cyber Bullying

  • Mental Health – Positive Use of Technology

  • Protecting your personal information

  • How and when to get help

  • Positive Cyber Choices

   

  From gaming and chat, to streaming and video, young people are shaping the interactive entertainment spaces they are a part of. Safer Internet Day 2022 celebrates young people’s role in creating a safer internet, whether that is whilst gaming and creating content, or interacting with their friends and peers. 

   

  Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people, and to inspire a national conversation about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively. Safer Internet Day 2022 was celebrated with the theme ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’. Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre.

   

  Ask us for more details on how you can help your family stay safe online.

  

• Early Years Excitement

  Tue 18 Jan 2022

  Children in our nursery and reception classes love coming to school! Every day they are met by experienced staff, welcomed with a smile and know that they are going to have an exciting day. 

   

  Exploring their world through play is the cornerstone of what we do at St Thomas. Nursery and Reception have a dedicated Early Years area within the school so that there is daily collaboration and opportunity for learning. 

   

  Our provision will be expanding in 2022 to include a family room where young children and babies will be able to come to school with their parents for a coffee or tea, to link with local services or just to have some time together. More on this exciting development coming soon!

  

• #AttheheartofChristmas

  Fri 03 Dec 2021

  Children, parents and staff at St Thomas Cantilupe were honoured to take part in the national Christmas film, for the Church of England, #AttheheartofChristmas. Launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the film explains why Christmas matters to different people across the United Kingdom. Filmed across a day earlier this term, it was released on 3 December 2021 and shared across national channels. BBC Hereford and Worcester radio interviewed the children and staff about the experience and each shared how exciting they had found it and how magical they found Christmas time. In representing so many schools  across the country, we are very proud that they so clearly explained what the heart of Christmas meant for them. 

  

• Queen's Garden Canopy

  Wed 20 Oct 2021

  St Thomas Cantilupe CE Primary was selected as one of 70  schools, nationally, to be given a tree by Her Majesty the Queen. The special planting ceremony was held on a bright Autumnal morning with the whole school, the Lord Lieutentant of Hereford, Mr Edward Harley, the Dean of Hereford Cathedral, Mayor, Leader of the council and the CEO of the Diocese of Hereford Multi Academy Trust, Mr Andrew Teale.

  The youngest children sang a seasonal song, older children read prayers and poems and two children were given the honour of planting the Acer with Mr Harley. Rayne Exton and Amelia Koleczek used a priceless spade, last touched by Queen Mary, to plant the tree whilst the whole school looked on. 

  The children were complimented by the guests for their smart uniforms, worn with pride, their clear speaking voices and tuneful song. It was a day that they will always remember. 

  

• Lego masters at STC

  Thu 23 Sep 2021

  Children at St Thomas had some amazing deliveries this week. We will be taking part in a national Lego league and to enable us to do this we were the lucky recipients of some amazing kits. The children, from reception to Y6, can't wait to get started. They will be working in teams, creating vehicles, buildings, towns and robots, using their programming skills. We are very excited to be able to give our children an engineering experience and maybe in the future a pathway towards our partners at NMITE. 

  

• End of term

  Mon 19 Jul 2021

  The summer term has brought the children and staff at St Thomas much joy. Children have competed in sports days, made bug hotels, art works, written poetry, solved maths puzzles, taken part in science experiments and learnt about their world. They have been fortunate to have been taught science by Prof Helen Rogers from NMITE, developed their abilities in reading and writing thanks to Pie Corbett's 'Teaching Live', learnt to play the ukelele thanks to Hannah and Helen from Encore, found out how move, stretch and be still in yoga with Jenny May and learnt to play chess with Mr Pritchard.

   

  The children have shown incredible levels of perseverance during this toughest of years and have learnt what true unity brings. By showing one another how much we care we have all grown stronger. As we say goodbye and good luck to our children in Y6 we wish them well and hope that they shine bright their lights in the future.

  

• Ofsted praise for St Thomas as a GOOD school

  Thu 17 Jun 2021

  Ofsted inspected our school in May and have judged St Thomas to be GOOD in all areas. This is a truly remarkable achievement and one of which the whole school community is rightly proud. Inspectors praised the school in all areas and some particular areas of strength are noted below:

  • 'Early Years is a hive of activity.'
  • 'Pupils feel safe and happy.'
  • 'Pupils' behaviour is good.'
  • 'All staff have high expectations of pupils.'
  • 'Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive.'
  • 'The curriculum is very well planned.'
  • 'Children learn to read as soon as they are ready.'
  • 'A strong sense of community fills the school.'
  • 'Pupils speak with enthusiasm about the books they enjoy'
  • 'Teachers know their pupils well.'
  • 'Children are immersed in language.'

  We are thrilled that the rigorous inspection process identified our many strengths. St Thomas is a very special school and we want to share this with prospective parents, including of children starting school in 2021. Please do get in touch and we will arrange a personal tour with you.