Head’s Welcome – Mrs Owen, Head of Prep
In assemblies this week, I have spoken to both Lower and Upper Prep pupils about the 2026 National Year of Reading. I shared my own aim of reading more books this year than last year and ensuring that I make time to read more often. It is something that I enjoy so much, but it so often gets pushed down the list of priorities when life gets busy. As a staff, we have been encouraging the children to continue discovering the pleasure of reading, and I was delighted when a Lower Prep pupil showed me the 8-page book she had written and illustrated in After School Club this week. It was written for her parents, and I know they will have been delighted when she took it home for them.
Another super assembly this week was led by Miss Herbert in Lower Prep, all about the RSPB Birdwatch, which we will be taking part in soon. Miss Herbert will be working with each class from Nursery to Year 2, making bird feeders that will be positioned around the school site and will hopefully result in some good sightings over the next couple of weeks. I was also very impressed with the children’s bird knowledge as they identified many of the photos that I showed them of garden birds; we have some budding ornithologists in our midst!
The final assembly of the week was 5CO’s form assembly on the theme of things that we love to do but aspects of them that we find difficult. We heard from pupils who love to play with their pets but aren’t so keen on cleaning them out, those who love playing sport but don’t like it when they lose, and others who love to read but don’t like it when they’re told they have to put their book down and go to sleep! Thank you to Mr Owen and 5CO for ending our week so well.
The Start of 2026 in Year 2 – Katharine Wood, Teacher of Year 2
What a start to our term for Year 2. We made a list of everything we have done in the last two weeks and were surprised with how much we had covered. We have started our new IPC topic, Green Fingers, with a super entry point where we all made cress heads. We decorated our yoghurt pots as heads and sprinkled cress seeds onto wet cotton wool. We now have to wait for our hair to grow. The pots are sitting on the windowsills and are kept under very close watch by the children. We have got our fingers crossed they start to sprout soon.
We have also started our new Little Wandle spelling work. We have been learning about how to complete our phonics code with alternative ways to spell the ‘r, t, c and w’ sounds. This week we have started on spelling rules, knowing when to double the last letters in words. The children have been surprising themselves with the difficult words they can now spell.
In Maths we have been learning about 2D and 3D shapes. We have talked about different properties of shapes and how to sort them. We have also started to investigate lines of symmetry and how to complete a shape using symmetry. It was very tricky having to think about how to draw the other half of a shape, but we all had a go and now understand what is symmetrical and what isn’t!
Our Nurture Sessions this term are taking place in the Outdoor Learning Area with our Nature through Nurture sessions. We had a fantastic, if rather chilly, morning taking part in a scavenger hunt and exploring the outdoor area. It was so lovely to be in the fresh air and have a wonderful “nature wake-up” to start our day. We are looking forward to our term’s activities.
Prep PE Update – Alistair Palfrey, Prep Head of Sport
The Lent Term has got off to an energetic start in PE and Games, with pupils across the school enjoying a wide range of activities. In Lower Prep, pupils have begun their dance units of work, developing coordination, creativity and confidence. Nursery and Reception have been learning to move to the beat of a drum like soldiers and performed their parachute dance excellently. Year 1 have made excellent progress with their first dance, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, whilst Year 2 have been enjoying being cowboys and cowgirls as they learn the choreography for their square dance.
In Years 3 and 4, swimming sessions are now underway, with pupils building their water confidence and improving their technique in the main strokes. Year 5 can look forward to a term focusing on health-related fitness alongside the Big Balance unit in gymnastics, learning how to perform group balances safely whilst developing their strength, stability and control. Year 6 are also focusing on health-related fitness and have begun the Flight unit in gymnastics, where they are learning how to use springboards and trampettes safely before building up to performing basic vaults.
In Games, the football and netball seasons are well underway, with pupils training hard and looking forward to a busy programme of upcoming matches. I wish all teams the very best of luck as they represent the school this term.
Future Events
Looking ahead, pupils will be representing their clubs in the Swim Gala on Tuesday 10th March, showcasing their progress and confidence in the pool. We can also look forward to the Year 5 & 6 Northants Sport Bee Netball Festival, where our Bee Netball teams will enjoy a masterclass led by the 1st team netballers before participating in matches against visiting schools. I look forward to an enjoyable and active Lent Term, celebrating pupils’ progress and enthusiasm across PE and Games.
Prep Pupil Council – Pupils Lucy, Felicity and Azalea
Hello, we are the Prep Pupil Council. We are Felicity, Lucy, Azalea, Aman, Archie, Oli and Monty. As the Prep Pupil Council, we take the ideas of all the pupils – and we take the best ones and pass them on to Mrs Owen. We act as the voice of the pupils. We are very committed and meet every single week on Tuesdays to discuss our ideas.
The Prep Pupil Council created a survey and went around each classroom in the Upper Prep and asked them questions on how to make school even better for everyone. After we collected the results, we discussed them and decided which were the best and the most likely to be approved. Lucy, Felicity and Azalea went to Mrs Owen with our top ideas, and here is what she said!
Our first idea was archery. Mrs Owen said no to it being a sport in PE, but maybe it could be an after-school activity for Mr Benest to think about. The second idea was Year 6 playground leaders for the Year 3 and 4 playground. Mrs Owen said it was a great idea and said it was a yes! Now we need to find how many Year 6 pupils want to do it! Next were swings in the playground; this was popular, but sadly we weren’t allowed it – Mrs Owen said it was a safety hazard, which is a valid point! After that we had some sporting options like basketball and golf. Mrs Owen told us that we can do this in the senior school, so we can just be patient. Then we suggested a crochet club, and that was a really good idea! Mrs Owen said that it’s a yes, but we need someone who can run it! Then we got an idea for an eco-day/outdoor learning day! This was a great opportunity for pupils to spend time outside in the summer term! Luckily it was a yes! Then we had an idea for trampolines in playgrounds! It was a great idea, but it was a safety hazard! Finally, we had protection for windows, but Mrs Owen said our school would look like jail if we put bars over windows, so we just need to be careful!
Working Together to Keep Young People Safe
Many children are talking about ‘Brainrot’ games on Roblox—a term that refers to a group of viral, user-created experiences inspired by the online ‘brainrot’ meme. As a parent or carer, it’s helpful to understand what these games are, why they’re popular, and how you can help your child play safely.
This month’s newsletter addresses concerns around ‘Brainrot’ games and provides guidance for parents on how to respond to child-on-parent violence situations.
Read the full safeguarding newsletter for this month here.
Key Calendared Events for the Next Two Weeks
Friday 23rd January
- 5SA Assembly (Parents invited) (08:25-08:45)
Wednesday 28th January
- WPSA Committee Meeting (19:30-21:00)
Friday 30th January
- 6CP Assembly (Parents invited) (08:25-08:45)
To view the most up-to-date calendar information, please log onto Firefly – click here.
Junior Star Easter Camp – Book Now!
Join us at Wellingborough School this Easter for an action-packed holiday camp that your kids will love!
- Mon 30th March – Thu 2nd April 2026
- Children in Reception to Year 6.
- £40 per day, with a 5% sibling discount and an additional 5% early booking discount if you book before half term.
Click here for more information.
To book your place, click here.
Joins Us for Brew Monday!
On Monday 19th January, the Wellbeing Team is hosting a coffee morning to mark Brew Monday, a campaign by the Samaritans that turns “Blue Monday” into a day of connection and conversation.
This event takes place on the third Monday in January, a day often referred to as “Blue Monday” and aims to turn this traditionally gloomy day into something positive by encouraging connection and conversation.
The coffee morning will take place from 7:30am to 9:00am (8:30am for pupils) in The Loft above the Dining Hall.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Wellingborough School parents, staff and students to connect, enjoy a warm drink, and start the week with a positive conversation. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing a moment of connection together.
Safeguarding Message: Frozen Water
Frozen lakes and rivers might look beautiful, but they’re extremely dangerous. People lose their lives every year when they venture onto the ice or attempt to rescue others. Recently, there has been a rise in incidents regarding young people getting into difficulty in ponds and lakes after going onto the ice.
The poster below includes safety details that will help you stay safe around these areas and what you should do if you do see someone fall.
Whole School Open Day – Book Now
Join us on Saturday, 7th March, from 9am, to explore Wellingborough Prep, Senior and Sixth Form.
You will be able to meet with our specialist subject teachers and explore our facilities and nurturing environment. While gaining a better understanding of what makes a Wellingborough education so special.
Click here for more information and to book your place.
Love to Learn – Nursery and Reception Stay and Play
Join us on Friday, 13th February, 9:30 to 10:30am, for fun and engaging activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity, while you experience our warm and nurturing Early Years environment.
Our Stay and Play sessions are for Nursery and Reception-aged children (aged 2+) and their parent or guardian.
Come meet our dedicated team and explore how Wellingborough School provides the ideal start to your child’s learning journey.
Click here to book your place.
Stay Connected
To see more of what’s happening at Wellingborough School, follow us on social media here.
You can also explore upcoming events and activities on our Events Page here.
Wellingborough School Business Directory
Please find the Business Directory at the following link: https://wellingboroughschool.org/community/business-directory/
