# Laxton Junior School ## Pages - [Meet the LJS Staff](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/meet-the-ljs-staff/) - [Sports Day 2026](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/sports-day-2026/) - [Joining Prep (8 to 11 years)](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/joining-prep-8-years-to-11-years/) - [Joining Pre-Prep (4 to 8 years)](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/joining-pre-prep-4-years-to-8-years/) - [After LJS - Moving on to Senior School](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/after-ljs-moving-on-to-senior-school/) - [Welcome to Admissions](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/welcome-to-admissions-2/) - [Our People](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/our-people/) - [What do we learn at LJS?](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/what-do-we-learn-at-ljs/) - [Senior Leadership Team](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/29133-2/) - [Test page for whataspp](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/test-page-for-whataspp/) - [Infinitas - a skills based adventure in learning](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/infinitas-a-skills-based-adventure-in-learning/) - [Prep Phase : Year 4 to Year 6](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/academic/prep-phase-year-4-to-year-6/) - [Pre-Prep Phase: Year 1 to Year 3](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/academic/pre-prep-stage-years-1-to-3/) - [Head's Welcome](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/heads-welcome/) - [Contact Us](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/contact-us/contact-us-2/) - [Admissions FAQ](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/admissions-faq/) - [Project 24: Investing in our future](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/project-24-investing-in-our-future/) - [Open Events](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/reception-open-day/) - [Visiting LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/visiting-ljs/) - [Our Philosophy](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/our-philosophy/) - [How to Find Us](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/contact-us/how-to-find-us/) - [Insurance Information](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/insurance-information/) - [Fixtures and Sporting Events](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/fixtures-and-sporting-events/) - [Bursaries](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/bursaries/) - [Inspection Reports and Policies](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/inspection-reports-school-policies-2/) - [Welcome to Admissions](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/welcome-to-admissions/) - [Contact Admissions](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions-information/) - [LJS September Reopening](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/reopening-ljs/) - [Welcome](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-remote-learning-hub/welcome/) - [Safeguarding and Child Protection](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/pastoral-care/safeguarding-and-child-protection/): At LJS, keeping children safe and happy is at the core of everything we do. - [Online Safety](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/online-safety-3/) - [Oundle School Sports Centre](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/oundle-school-sports-centre/) - [iSAMS Form](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/isams-form/) - [Library](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/library/) - [Our History](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/our-history/) - [Our Community](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-community/) - [Reception](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/academic/reception/) - [Sport at LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/sport-at-ljs/) - [PSHE](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/pshe/) - [Community Partnerships](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-community/community-partnerships/) - [Homework](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/homework/) - [Wrap Around Care](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/wrap-around-care/) - [Our Relationship with Oundle School](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/our-relationship-with-oundle-school/) - [Assessment](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/assessment-and-reporting/) - [Admissions](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/) - [Outdoor Learning](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/outdoor-learning/) - [Educational Support](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/educational-support/) - [Senior School Destinations](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/senior-school-destinations/) - [Progression to Oundle](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/progression-to-oundle/) - [Our Fees](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/admissions/fees/) - [Prospectus & Enquiry Form](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/request-a-prospectus/) - [Employment Opportunities](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/employment-opportunities/) - [Oundle Town](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-community/oundle-town/) - [Governing Body](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/governing_body/) - [Contact Us](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/contact-us/) - [News & Calendar](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/news-and-calendar/) - [Beyond the classroom](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/) - [How we care](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/pastoral-care/) - [How we learn](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/academic/) - [Who we are](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/about/) - [Our approach](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/pastoral-care/our-approach/) - [Learning for Life](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/pastoral-care/learning-for-life/) - [Houses](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/houses/) - [Trips](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/trips/) - [Charities](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-community/charities/): We support others in a variety of ways, from our local community through to national and international charitable causes. - [Clubs at LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/extra-curricular-clubs/) - [Drama at LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/drama-at-ljs/) - [Music at LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/music-at-ljs/) - [News & Updates](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/news-and-calendar/school-news/) - [Calendar](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/news-and-calendar/school-calendar/) - [LJS Term Dates](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/news-and-calendar/ljs-term-dates/) - [Homepage](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/) - [Accessibility](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/accessibility/) - [LJS Modern Slavery Statement](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-modern-slavery-statement/) - [LJS-Cookie & Privacy Policy](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/cookie-privacy-policy/) - [Portals](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/portals/) ## Posts - [Big Adventures Ahead: Churchill Camps Coming to LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/big-adventures-ahead-churchill-camps-coming-to-ljs/): We are delighted to announce that Laxton Junior School has officially partnered with Churchill Camps to provide holiday club provision... - [100% Distinction in LAMDA Exams](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/100-distinction-in-lamda-exams/): We were delighted to receive the news that all of our children who took LAMDA examinations this year received a... - [Entrance Exhibition Success](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/entrance-exhibition-success/): We are delighted to congratulate Quentin, Sebastian, Imogen and Evelyn on receiving Entrance Exhibitions to Oundle School, an outstanding achievement... - [On Your Marks… Set… Shine! A Record-Breaking Sports Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/on-your-marks-set-shine-a-record-breaking-sports-day/): Our annual Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of teamwork, determination and fun, with all pupils from Reception through to... - [Oustanding results at the East Anglia Athletics Competition](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/oustanding-results-at-the-east-anglia-athletics-competition/): Twenty pupils from Years 4 and 5 proudly represented our Prep School at the East Anglia Southern Area Athletics Competition,... - [A Study of Contemporary and Classical Works](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-study-of-contemporary-and-classical-works/): Some of our Year 6s enjoyed a fantastic trip to London on Saturday, making the most of a day filled... - [Year 3 & 4 House Swimming Gala Makes a Splash](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-3-4-house-swimming-gala-makes-a-splash/): Our Year 3 and 4 pupils made a fantastic splash at this term’s House Swimming Gala, held in our impressive... - [Celebrating Trinity Champion Centre Recognition for a Second Year](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/29647-2/): We are delighted to share that Laxton Junior School has once again been recognised as a Trinity Champion Centre for... - [Pupils to Access World-Class Design, Engineering and Technology Facilities](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-pupils-to-access-world-class-design-technology-facilities/): We are delighted to announce an exciting development for our Year 6 pupils from September 2026, as they will begin... - [Year 6 Shine in Matilda Junior the Musical at the Stahl Theatre](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/29525-2/): Our talented Year 6 pupils wowed audiences with their spectacular production of Matilda Junior the Musical, performed in the beautiful... - [Under 11 Boys Crowned IAPS Cricket Champions at Oundle School](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/under-11-boys-crowned-iaps-cricket-champions-at-oundle-school/): A huge congratulations to our Under 11 Boys Cricket team, who were crowned champions at the IAPS U11 Cricket Tournament... - [School Council thank FoLJS for amazing equipment](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/school-council-thank-foljs-for-amazing-equipment/): We were delighted to welcome Friends of LJS into school to view our fantastic new playground equipment, which they had... - [“Even If You’re Little, You Can Do a Lot” – Year 6 Shine in Matilda Jnr Workshop](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/even-if-youre-little-you-can-do-a-lot-year-6-shine-in-matilda-jnr-workshop/): Our Year 6 children were treated to an incredible experience yesterday as we welcomed acclaimed theatre professional Claire Cassidy to... - [Fee-Fi-Fo-Fun in Reception!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/feefifofun/): Our Reception children delighted parents today with an amazing all-singing, all-dancing performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. The children performed... - [Building Future Skills through Science](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/building-future-skills-through-science/): British Science Week provided a fantastic opportunity for Year 6 pupils at Laxton Junior School and Beachborough School to experience... - [From Oundle to Uganda: A Dog Show with Global Impact](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/from-oundle-to-uganda-a-dog-show-with-global-impact/): Laxton Junior School was delighted to welcome families, friends and four‑legged companions to our annual Community Dog Show at the... - [Equestrian Success for Year 3 Margo](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/equestrian-success-for-margot/): Laxton Junior School is delighted to celebrate the impressive achievement of pre-Prep pupil Margo in Year 3, who recently represented... - [Friends of LJS: Supporting Play, Wellbeing and Imagination](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/friends-of-ljs-supporting-play-wellbeing-and-imagination/): We are delighted to share some fantastic news about the generous support from Friends of LJS, who have successfully raised... - [A Golden First Gala: Harrison’s Remarkable 50m Success](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-golden-first-gala-harrisons-remarkable-50m-success/): We are incredibly proud of Harrison, who enjoyed a fantastic weekend of swimming success at the West Norfolk Swimming Club... - [Celebrating Musical Excellence: Emy Returns to Inspire](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebrating-musical-excellence-emy-returns-to-inspire/): This week, a group of our Year 5 and 6 singers enjoyed a very special musical experience with a visit... - [Continuing our partnership with Muddy Stilettos](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/continuing-our-partnership-with-muddy-stilettos/): We’re delighted to share that Laxton Junior School will be continuing our partnership with Muddy Stilettos for another year. This... - [Live Q&A with Britain's First Astronaut, Helen Sharman](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/live-qa-with-britains-first-astronaut-helen-sharman/): To round off an exciting British Science Week, some of our Year 4 pupils were incredibly lucky to take part... - [Year 6 Win the King Charles Cup at the Peterborough Drama Festival](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-win-the-king-charles-cup-at-the-peterborough-drama-festival/): We are thrilled to announce that our Year 6 pupils have achieved an outstanding victory at the Peterborough Drama Festival,... - [LJS Easter Egg Trail Brings Spring Fun to Oundle](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-easter-egg-trail-brings-spring-fun-to-oundle/): We are delighted to launch our brand‑new LJS Easter Egg Trail 2026, welcoming all families with young children to enjoy... - [British Science Week: Could Our Year 6 Pupils Help Discover the Next Antibiotic?](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/british-science-week-could-our-year-6-pupils-help-discover-the-next-antibiotic/): Laxton Junior School Takes Part in the National Swab and Send Programme As part of British Science Week, our Year... - [Exceptional Trinity Music Exam Success for LJS Pupils](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/exceptional-trinity-music-exam-success-for-ljs-pupils/): We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of our pupils in the most recent Trinity College London Music Examinations.... - [Laxton Junior School Goes “All In” for a Week of Reading Celebration](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-goes-all-in-for-a-week-of-reading-celebration/): Laxton Junior School has enjoyed a vibrant and inspiring week dedicated to celebrating the joy of reading, fully embracing the... - [Laxton Junior School Celebrates a Spectacular House Music Competition](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-celebrates-a-spectacular-house-music-competition/): The Great Hall was alive with rhythm, harmony and house spirit last week as pupils from across the school took... - [Around the World with Art: LJS Exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/around-the-world-with-art-ljs-exhibition-at-the-yarrow-gallery/): Laxton Junior School proudly celebrated a remarkable moment in its creative calendar as every pupil from ages 4 to 11... - [Every LJS Child to Exhibit Artwork at Yarrow Gallery](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/every-ljs-child-to-exhibit-artwork-at-yarrow-gallery/): In February 2026, every child from Laxton Junior School, from the ages of 4 to 11 will have their artwork... - [Oxbridge Offers for former LJS Pupils](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/oxbridge-offers-for-former-ljs-pupils/): Congratulations to former Laxton Junior School pupils Rachel and Eliza, who both received Oxbridge offers last week. Alongside ten other... - [Rising Star: Bertie Leads Great Britain’s Under‑12 Recurve Rankings](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/rising-star-bertie-leads-great-britains-under-12-recurve-rankings/): Archery GB has released the 2025 Junior Rankings, and we’re thrilled to share that Bertie, in Year 6, has been... - [LJS Pupils Rank Among UK’s Top 10% in National Computing Challenge](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-pupils-rank-among-uks-top-10-in-national-computing-challenge/): During the Michaelmas term, our pupils participated in the BEBRAS Challenge, organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a national competition... - [Winning Words: Lara Takes Top Prize in Partnership Competition](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/winning-words-lara-takes-top-prize-in-partnership-competition/): A huge well done to Year 5 pupil Lara, who impressed the judges with her winning entry in the Open... - [Year 5 Grow Confidence Through Real‑World Challenge](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-5-grow-confidence-through-real%e2%80%91world-challenge/): Last term, our Year 5 children took on an exciting fundraising challenge in support of our whole‑school charity, Tasaaga Primary... - [A Trinity Champion Centre for Music 2025-2026](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-trinity-champion-centre-for-music-2025-2026/): We are thrilled to announce that Laxton Junior School has been named a Trinity Champion Centre for 2025–2026 for our... - [LJS Feature in Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Guide](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-feature-in-muddy-stilettos-best-schools-guide/): Laxton Junior School has been featured in the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Guide. This publication provides independent insights into schools... - [Over £650 Raised For The Johnny Reynolds Foundation](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/over-650-raised-for-the-johnny-reynolds-foundation/): Johnny Reynolds, an extraordinary young athlete and LJS alumnus, was known for his infectious smile and zest for life. Tragically,... - [Michaelmas Term 2024 Reflections](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/michaelmas-term-2024-reflections/): As the year draws to a close, so does our first term of the 2024-2025 academic year. Needless to say,... - [LJS is Awarded the Eco-Schools' Green Flag with Distinction!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-is-awarded-the-eco-schools-green-flag-with-distinction/): This academic year, Laxton Junior School (LJS) have once again received international accreditation for our exceptional work in promoting sustainability... - [Year 6 Percy Excels in Half Term Swimming Gala!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/percy_swimming/): Over the Half Term break, Percy in Year 6 attended a big weekend-long swimming gala at Sheffield International Pool against... - [£80,000 raised at Oundle Schools Triathlon](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/80000-raised-at-oundle-schools-triathlon/): A remarkable feat of community spirit and athleticism unfolded at Oundle School Sports Centre on Sunday 12 May as over... - [Celebrating 50 Years of LJS](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebrating-50-years-of-ljs/): Many will already be aware that this academic year marks a significant milestone in the history of our school. This... - [LJS Hosts Its First Community Dog Show!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-hosts-first-community-dog-show-on-cheatle-field/): On Saturday 20th April, LJS opened its gates to our community and some of its four-legged furry friends as we hosted our first ever dog show on Cheatle Field! - [Burghley House Bleep Test Results](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/burghley-house-raised-over-600-in-support-of-oundle-mencap-holidays/): Last term, our pupils completed their sponsored bleep tests in PE lessons, as part of their fundraising efforts for Burghley House’s charity; Oundle Mencap Holidays. - [Laxton Junior School ISI Report 2022](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-isi-report-2022/): We at Laxton Junior School are delighted to have been awarded the highest possible rating in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). - [Flight Centre Schools Triathlon](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/flight-centre-schools-triathlon/): On Sunday 15th May, children from Year 3 to 6 at LJS joined a total of 877 school children to... - [Project 24: Investing in our Future](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/project-24-investing-in-our-future/): We are proud to announce two exciting strategic developments that will greatly benefit our LJS community from September 2022. They... - [What did you do today?](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/what-did-you-do-today/): It’s great to be back! There was joy, laughter and learning in every corner of LJS as we began our... - [End of Term Roundup](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/end-of-term-roundup/): Just like that the Lent Term has come to an end and what a busy week it has been! The... - [Ukraine](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ukraine-statement/): A Statement on behalf of the Schools of Oundle Town In the days since the invasion of Ukraine we have... - [Take a Bow!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/take-a-bow/): It felt very special to have a full audience back for the Speech and Drama Competition this year. This annual... - [Thank you for the music!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/thank-you-for-the-music/): One of the many things that we have missed during the pandemic is collaborative music-making, and we have been delighted... - [Congratulations…](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/congratulations/): Why are we celebrating? Not only is it Friday and therefore the weekend is in sight – can we hear... - [Speak Out, Stay Safe!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/speak-out-stay-safe/): Our pupils know that they should always ‘speak out, stay safe’ and this week that message has been strengthened further... - [Let’s go Eco!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/lets-go-eco/): This time last year, LJS looked very different, as learning had moved online once more and we worked hard to... - [It’s a Sign!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/its-a-sign/): Today, LJS has been quieter than usual as the entire school, children and adults alike, attempted to remain as silent... - [Trips, Visits and Visitors](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/trips-visits-and-visitors/): As well as the learning that takes place on site, we love getting out and about to enhance and further... - [Maths Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/maths-day/): Children throughout the school have had a day filled to bursting with Maths, not just in Maths lessons but in... - [Woodland Garden Grand Opening](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/woodland-garden-grand-opening/): On Monday 6th December Laxton Junior School (LJS) officially opened its Woodland Garden. Staff, pupils and parents all gathered in... - [Where shall we go today?](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/where-shall-we-go-today/): Trips and visitors are a very important part of life here at LJS. We have seen every year group head... - [Celebration Assembly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebration-assembly/): Our monthly Celebration Assembly saw children from across the school being awarded with certificates, trophies, badges and medals for a... - [Anti Bullying Week](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/anti-bullying-week-2/): Anti Bullying Week was kicked off with the much anticipated Odd Socks Day, with children and adults around the school... - [What makes you happy?](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/what-makes-you-happy/): This week’s assembly themes have been relating to Care which is one of our Values. Mr Robertson, Ms Crump, Mrs... - [Music for All!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/music-for-all/): We love music at LJS and curriculum music and instrumental lessons all began last week for children from Reception up... - [We're back!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/were-back/): It has been a fabulous week back at school with the joyous sound of chatter, music, laughter and singing filling... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-2/): Sports and Celebrations Our final Celebration Assembly was held on Friday afternoon and, after a busy fortnight of House events,... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweekly15/): House Charities We often talk about being a part of the LJS family – it’s a big one but within... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-13/): Year 6 Activity Week Although they were understandably disappointed not to be able to head to France for their residential... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-12/): A Pirate Invasion! Ahoy there, me hearties! On Wednesday morning, something strange happened... None of our Reception children came to... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-11/): There was a tremendous sense of anticipation and excitement on Tuesday morning, as Year 1 prepared to set off on... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-10/): Mental Health Awareness Week This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme has been ‘Connect with Nature’. Our... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-9/): Let’s Assemble! Every week at LJS we have a range of assemblies where we gather together. These are, of course,... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-8/): Let’s Celebrate! Our first Celebration Assembly of the Summer Term took place this morning and as a community we congratulated... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly/): The Summer Term resumed on Tuesday and we have been blessed with weather from every season! Frosty mornings have given... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweeklysix/): The Great Green Wall House Challenge was immortalised today when the House Captains from Burghley, Lilford, Whitmore and Gloucester planted... - [Red Nose Day 2021](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/red-nose-day-2021/): LJS was filled with superheroes today as we raised money for Comic Relief by dressing up. There was a wide... - [Eco-Schools Silver Award](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/eco-schools-silver-award/): We are incredibly excited and proud to announce that Laxton Junior School has been awarded an Eco-Schools Silver Award for... - [The Final Countdown...](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/the-final-countdown/): Well, we can’t quite believe it but we’ve made it to the end of eight weeks of remote teaching and... - [February Celebration Assembly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/february-celebration-assembly/): Our monthly celebration assemblies are always exactly as the title suggests – a celebration from start to finish. This month... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-five/): Issue Five The final news piece of this half term is dedicated to the Great Green Wall House Challenge, an... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweekly-four/): ISSUE FOUR What a way to start Friday! This morning the ‘Great Green Wall House Challenge’ was launched and the... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-three/): ISSUE THREE The LJS Community is ‘Walking on Sunshine’ today after motivating themselves by dancing along with Miss Danby to... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-two/): ISSUE TWO Just like that it’s Friday again! The saying goes that ‘time flies when you’re having fun’, so maybe... - [LJS Weekly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-one/): Issue One We’re at the end of the second week of remote learning – what a lot we have to... - [We are LJS - apart but together](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/we-are-ljs/): Our first few days of remote learning have flown by and there has been a whirlwind of activity across the... - [LJS Remembrance Assembly](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-remembrance-assembly/): Led by our Year Six pupils, our Remembrance Assembly was shared with the school this morning and we are delighted... - [LJS Sports Report](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-sports-report/): Over the last few weeks, we have been treated to some fantastic competition between the Houses within Sport. Staying within... - [Outdoor Learning Days for Year Three and Year Five](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/outdoor-learning-days-for-year-three-and-year-five/): This week has seen Years Three and Five kick off the half termly Outdoor Learning sessions in our Woodland Garden.... - [After School Activities](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/after-school-activities/): We have thoroughly enjoyed our first week of clubs, which the children have attended within their year group bubbles –... - [Year 2 Strings](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-2-strings/): All our pupils learn either the violin, viola or cello from Year 2, with the Year 2 strings performance being... - [Stunning creativity in Oundle’s Yarrow Gallery](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/stunning-creativity-in-oundles-yarrow-gallery/): Since September, every child aged 4 to 11 at Laxton Junior School has contributed to the most extraordinary, vibrant and... - [House Speech and Drama](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/house-speech-and-drama/): The House Speech and Drama Competition is one of the highlights of the LJS calendar, as we all know that... - [World Maths Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/world-maths-day-2/): To embrace World Maths Day, the whole school enjoyed Maths in a variety of contexts on Wednesday, 4th March. The... - [Year 6 Visit Oundle’s Chemistry Labs](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-visit-oundles-chemistry-labs/): We are very fortunate, at LJS, to have the impressive facilities of Oundle School on our doorstep, as well as... - [LJS Football and Netball Festivals](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-football-and-netball-festivals/): Casper writes: on Wednesday 12th February, we played in the annual Laxton Junior School Football Festival. The competing teams were... - [Safer Internet Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/safer-internet-day/): It was Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, 11th of February and, to mark the occasion, Laxton Junior School had a... - [Percussionists at LJS and Oundle Combine in Concert](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/percussionists-at-ljs-and-oundle-combine-in-concert/): The LJS hall was buzzing in the evening of Monday, 27th January, as parents, staff and children of Laxton Junior... - [Art Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/art-day/): Every child in the school was fortunate enough to experience an amazing Art Day on Tuesday, 21st January. The children... - [Beware: Dinosaurs on the loose at LJS!](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beware-dinosaurs-on-the-loose-at-ljs/): Reception had a very exciting afternoon when Dino Girl from the Travelling History Museum visited us. The children looked the... - [Parents in Partnership](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/parents-in-partnership/): What is the most accurate predictor of a child’s success at school? You might be surprised to hear that it... ## Publications ## Whats On Listings ## Houses ## Vacancies ## Blogs & Podcasts ## Buildings ## Oundelian articles - [INSET](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/inset-2/) - [Parents Evening](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/parents-evening/) - [Parent Opening Evening](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/parent-opening-evening/) - [Reception Parent Coffee Morning-Woodland Garden](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/reception-parent-coffee-morning-woodland-garden/) - [Year 1 and 2 Parent Coffee Morning-Woodland Garden](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/year-1-and-2-parent-coffee-morning-woodland-garden/) - [INSET](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/inset/) - [Reception form Commences](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/reception-form-commences/) - [National Teaching Assistants Day](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/national-teaching-assistants-day/) - [Gillman & Soames, Portrait (pupils & staff) photos](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/gillman-soames-portrait-pupils-staff-photos/) - [U11, U10, U9 Swimming v Kimbolton @ Kimbolton](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/u11-u10-u9-swimming-v-kimbolton-kimbolton/) - [Michaelmas Term commences](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/michaelmas-term-commences/) - [U11 Boys IAPS Football @ Fairfield Prep](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/u11-boys-iaps-football-fairfield-prep/) - [Flu Immunisation](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/flu-immunisation/) - [U11 Swim Gala v Bishop Stortford College @ Oundle](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/u11-swim-gala-v-bishop-stortford-college-oundle/) - [U11 IAPS Girls Hockey @ Oundle School](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/u11-iaps-girls-hockey-oundle-school/) - [Long Exeat Commences](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/long-exeat-commences/) - [October Half Term](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/october-half-term/) - [Michaelmas Term Re-commences](https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/event/michaelmas-term-re-commences/) # # Detailed Content ## Pages - Published: 2019-11-05 - Modified: 2026-06-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beyond-the-classroom/wrap-around-care/ Wrap - around care. Discover Laxton Junior School’s wrap-around care, offering safe, engaging before and after school provision from 7.30am–6pm. - Published: 2019-06-21 - Modified: 2026-06-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/our-community/charities/ We support others in a variety of ways, from our local community through to national and international charitable causes. - Published: 2019-06-21 - Modified: 2025-09-18 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ Independent day school | Laxton Junior School, Oundle Oundle School Contact Admissions Back to home Who we are Who we are ## Posts - Published: 2026-07-23 - Modified: 2026-07-23 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/big-adventures-ahead-churchill-camps-coming-to-ljs/ - Categories: Community We are delighted to announce that Laxton Junior School has officially partnered with Churchill Camps to provide holiday club provision for our families from the next academic year. Churchill Camps have an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality, well-organised holiday programmes, offering children a wide range of engaging activities, including sports, outdoor adventure, creative pursuits and enrichment experiences. Their values align closely with those of Laxton Junior School, with a strong emphasis on care, inclusivity and ensuring that every child feels supported, engaged and inspired. We are confident that this partnership will provide our pupils with enjoyable and rewarding experiences during the school holidays, while offering parents and carers access to a trusted and experienced holiday club provider. To find out more about Churchill Camps and the activities available, please visit their website: Churchill Summer Camps where you will be able to book on to October half term holiday camps. We look forward to welcoming Churchill Camps to the LJS community. - Published: 2026-07-20 - Modified: 2026-07-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/100-distinction-in-lamda-exams/ - Categories: Achievements We were delighted to receive the news that all of our children who took LAMDA examinations this year received a DISTINCTION grade. This achievement is thanks to our amazing Drama department, who provide ample opportunities for our children to improve in their theatrical skills. From Reception stage, children at LJS start to perform to family and friends during their Summer Play - this year was the fantastic 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. Children can attend Drama club and once they reach Prep stage in Year 4, children are performing at our very own Stahl Theatre in front of a wider audience. With performances, regular competitions, skills workshops and timetabled Drama lessons, children are given the opportunity to excel in Drama. Well done to all our children receiving their grades this month! We are all very proud of you. - Published: 2026-06-25 - Modified: 2026-06-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/entrance-exhibition-success/ - Categories: Academic We are delighted to congratulate Quentin, Sebastian, Imogen and Evelyn on receiving Entrance Exhibitions to Oundle School, an outstanding achievement of which they should be very proud. To mark this special milestone, the pupils enjoyed a delightful visit to Oundle Book Shop accompanied by Mrs Waller and Mrs Waterhouse. There, they were warmly welcomed by the new owners, Sam Draper and Amy Leonard, who introduced the children to a wide range of book genres and helped inspire their reading choices. Each pupil carefully selected a book to receive at Speech Day. With such a wonderful collection to choose from, deciding on just one proved to be no easy task. The visit also included a valuable opportunity to meet Mr Dominic Oliver, Head of Oundle School. Mr Oliver took a keen interest in hearing about the pupils’ chosen books and expressed how much he is looking forward to welcoming the new joiners to Oundle in September. A sincere thank you goes to Oundle Bookshop for providing delicious treats and helping to make the visit such an enjoyable and memorable experience. We are incredibly proud of the pupils’ achievements and wish them every success as they prepare for their next exciting chapter. - Published: 2026-06-18 - Modified: 2026-06-18 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/on-your-marks-set-shine-a-record-breaking-sports-day/ - Categories: Achievements Our annual Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of teamwork, determination and fun, with all pupils from Reception through to Year 6 taking part in a full day of athletics activities at our full-size athletics track, giving children the exciting opportunity to experience a professional-style competition environment. Throughout the day, pupils enthusiastically competed in high jump, long jump, sprints, hurdles, long-distance races, throwing events and relays. It was wonderful to see the effort and perseverance shown by all participants, whether they were racing for the finish line, aiming for a personal best, or cheering on their Houses. We were especially proud to celebrate some outstanding individual achievements: Summer in Year 4 broke the school record in the high jump with an impressive performance. Ciana in Year 5 set new records in both the hurdles and the 75m sprint, showcasing exceptional speed and agility. George in Year 5 achieved a new record in the long jump, demonstrating remarkable power and technique. A special mention goes to Felicity in Year 5, who equalled the existing high jump record, a fantastic accomplishment. Although there had been a spell of rainy weather leading up to the event, we were fortunate that conditions on the day were kind, creating a perfect atmosphere for a memorable Sports Day. - Published: 2026-06-10 - Modified: 2026-06-16 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/oustanding-results-at-the-east-anglia-athletics-competition/ - Categories: Achievements Twenty pupils from Years 4 and 5 proudly represented our Prep School at the East Anglia Southern Area Athletics Competition, held at the prestigious Cambridge Athletics Stadium. The children demonstrated fantastic enthusiasm, determination and team spirit as they competed against schools from across the region. Taking part in a wide range of track and field events, including sprints, relays, long jump, and throwing disciplines, our pupils rose to the occasion and delivered some outstanding performances. For many of the children, this was their first experience of competing in such a large-scale athletics event. They showed great courage and resilience, embracing the challenge of performing in a competitive environment while supporting and encouraging one another throughout the day. The atmosphere at the stadium was inspiring, with pupils cheering on their teammates and celebrating each other’s efforts and achievements. Their behaviour, sportsmanship and positivity were exemplary and reflected the values we are proud to promote within our school community. Well done to everyone who took par, you did yourselves and the school proud! Individual Placings: 1st Place and new record holder - 75m Sprint - George K 2nd Place - Hurdles - Ciana J 3rd Place - 150m Sprint - Ciana J 3rd Place - 600m Finalist - Felicity L 3rd Place - 4 x 100m Relay (U10s) - Will B, Guy E, Seb M, George K 4th Place - 600 m - Nell H 4th place - Cricket Ball throw - Fergus E 5th place - Long Jump - George K... - Published: 2026-06-09 - Modified: 2026-06-10 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-study-of-contemporary-and-classical-works/ - Categories: Visits Some of our Year 6s enjoyed a fantastic trip to London on Saturday, making the most of a day filled with art, culture and exploration. The visit began with a scenic walk through the city, taking in some of London’s most iconic landmarks along the way. A particular highlight was spotting the impressive rehearsal for the Trooping of the Colour, which added an extra sense of excitement to the day. Despite a little rain, spirits remained high. The refreshing showers didn’t dampen enthusiasm, especially as the beautiful London plane trees provided welcome shelter as the group continued their journey. The class visited the Serpentine North in Hyde Park, where they explored David Hockney’s recent iPad drawings and paintings. This contemporary exhibition sparked creativity and curiosity among the pupils. From there, the group stepped back in time with a visit to the National Gallery. Each pupil had selected a painting in advance to research, and they confidently presented their findings to their peer: an impressive showcase of both knowledge and communication skills. Overall, it was a brilliant day of discovery, inspiration and fabulous art that will be remembered by all. - Published: 2026-06-05 - Modified: 2026-06-05 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-3-4-house-swimming-gala-makes-a-splash/ - Categories: Performances, Uncategorised Our Year 3 and 4 pupils made a fantastic splash at this term’s House Swimming Gala, held in our impressive 50m pool. The event was a wonderful showcase of teamwork, determination, and swimming talent, with all houses competing in a friendly but energetic atmosphere. The gala began with a series of heats, where swimmers competed for a coveted place in the finals. The fastest swimmers progressed to the finals, where the excitement really built. Spectators enthusiastically cheered on their houses, creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere poolside. The finalists rose to the occasion, delivering some outstanding performances and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship. Swimmers competed across three strokes: freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke. Each race highlighted the skills and progress pupils have developed through their weekly lessons at school, and it was fantastic to see such confidence and determination on display. A special mention goes to Harrison, who delivered an exceptional performance by breaking the existing school records from 2022 across all three strokes: a truly remarkable achievement. Above all, the gala was a celebration of participation, house spirit and encouragement. Well done to all pupils who took part and contributed to such a successful and memorable event. - Published: 2026-06-01 - Modified: 2026-06-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/29647-2/ - Categories: Achievements We are delighted to share that Laxton Junior School has once again been recognised as a Trinity Champion Centre for 2026–2027, for our successful delivery of Trinity qualifications in music, marking our second consecutive year receiving this prestigious accolade from Trinity College London. This recognition celebrates our continued commitment to delivering high-quality music education through Trinity’s qualifications. It reflects not only the strength of our music provision, but also the enthusiasm, dedication and creativity of our pupils and staff and especially our Head of Music. Miss Nina Haynes. Trinity Champion Centres are selected for their excellent delivery of Trinity qualifications and their role in inspiring other schools and organisations to embrace music education. Champion Centres demonstrate innovation in teaching, strong outcomes and a meaningful impact on learners. At Laxton Junior School, we firmly believe in the power of music to build confidence, communication skills and creativity. This award recognises: Our successful delivery of Trinity qualifications The engaging and inclusive opportunities we provide for performance The positive impact music has on our pupils’ development We are especially proud that over 90% of our children learn a musical instrument, beginning their musical journey from Reception. Pupils regularly showcase their talents through our community lunchtime concerts, end-of-term music concerts, House Music and a wide range of ensembles. Our commitment to high standards is reflected in our exceptional exam outcomes, with a 100% pass rate in Trinity music exams 2026, including 40% achieving Distinction and 42% achieving Merit. From performances to assessments, our children... - Published: 2026-05-21 - Modified: 2026-05-22 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-pupils-to-access-world-class-design-technology-facilities/ - Categories: Academic We are delighted to announce an exciting development for our Year 6 pupils from September 2026, as they will begin timetabled Design Engineering and Technology lessons at Oundle School’s outstanding Patrick Engineering Centre. This state-of-the-art facility is widely recognised for its excellence in design, engineering and technology education. Within the centre, pupils have access to a remarkable range of specialist resources and spaces, including dedicated design studios, open-plan workshop bays, and advanced manufacturing facilities. Here, learners can explore cutting-edge skills such as robotics, programming, product development, and computer-aided design and manufacture. https://vimeo. com/1125923811? fl=pl&fe=sh The building is also equipped with industry-level technology, including the capability to 3D print in a wide variety of materials (from plastics to metals such as titanium) making it one of the most advanced school facilities of its kind in the country. Pupils benefit from an environment that feels more like a professional engineering workspace than a traditional classroom, encouraging independence, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Additionally, the centre features extensive workshop areas for working with both wood and metal, alongside large project spaces where ambitious builds such as vehicles and engineering prototypes can take shape. This dynamic setting will allow our Year 6 pupils to experience hands-on learning at the highest level. This opportunity further strengthens our valued partnership with Oundle School and adds to the wide range of exceptional facilities our pupils already benefit from, including: Extensive sports pitches, netball courts, athletics track, grass wicket cricket pitches and hockey astros A state-of-the-art swimming pool and... - Published: 2026-05-18 - Modified: 2026-05-19 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/29525-2/ - Categories: Performances Our talented Year 6 pupils wowed audiences with their spectacular production of Matilda Junior the Musical, performed in the beautiful setting of our own performing arts centre, The Stahl Theatre. Across three performances, the children brought Roald Dahl’s much-loved story to life with energy and confidence leaving audiences thoroughly entertained and immensely proud. From the moment the curtain rose, it was clear just how much dedication and hard work had gone into the production. The cast delivered fantastic acting, singing and choreography, capturing the humour and heart of the story. Each child embraced their role with enthusiasm, whether taking centre stage or supporting from the ensemble, showcasing the wonderful teamwork that underpinned the entire show. We would also like to acknowledge the dedication of our teaching staff, Mrs Rachel Hamilton-Charlton, Miss Nina Haynes and Mrs Tessa Humprhrey, whose commitment and passion guided the children every step of the way. From rehearsals to the final performance, their hard work ensured that every detail was thoughtfully prepared, enabling the children to shine with confidence on stage. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our parents and carers who generously contributed their time to support in preparing the props at one of our Parent in Partnership events. Performing in the Stahl Theatre provided a truly special experience for our pupils. The professional setting added to the excitement and gave the children a memorable opportunity to perform in a real theatre environment, helping to boost their confidence and create lasting memories.... - Published: 2026-05-04 - Modified: 2026-05-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/under-11-boys-crowned-iaps-cricket-champions-at-oundle-school/ - Categories: Achievements A huge congratulations to our Under 11 Boys Cricket team, who were crowned champions at the IAPS U11 Cricket Tournament hosted at Oundle School, after going unbeaten throughout an outstanding day of cricket. The boys had been eagerly anticipating the tournament, and it proved to be a perfect finale for those in Year 6 during their final term at Laxton Junior School, creating memories that will last a lifetime. What a fantastic day for Quentin (captain), Seth, Seb M, Seb B, Will, Momo, Henry, Joshua and Elias. We are all very proud of you! The team has benefitted greatly from regular winter training sessions at Oundle School and has been fortunate to work with a range of high‑quality coaches from both Laxton Junior School and Oundle School. The side was led and supported on the day by Mr Larkin, whose guidance proved invaluable. Reflecting on the achievement, Mr Larkin said: “I couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them. The day started brilliantly and just got better and better, with the boys taking every piece of advice and executing it so well. They were a real credit to the school, their behaviour was impeccable, they listened carefully and kept improving throughout the day. Their performance was simply outstanding. There have been many great days at Laxton Junior School, but this has to be right up there. ” Laxton Junior began the tournament in emphatic fashion, recording convincing pool‑stage victories over Ratcliffe, Beachborough Prep and Wolverhampton. These impressive performances secured... - Published: 2026-05-04 - Modified: 2026-05-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/school-council-thank-foljs-for-amazing-equipment/ - Categories: Community We were delighted to welcome Friends of LJS into school to view our fantastic new playground equipment, which they had raised funds for over the course of several months. Our School Council proudly showed them around the new additions, including the construction blocks, stage, chin‑up bars, traversing wall and wellbeing hut, explaining how pupils are enjoying using them at playtimes. We shared some lovely refreshments together, and it was wonderful to see just how much excitement the new equipment has brought, with some of the adults even having a go on the traversing wall themselves! A huge thank you to Friends of LJS for their continued support and dedication to improving play opportunities for our children. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do. - Published: 2026-04-30 - Modified: 2026-04-30 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/even-if-youre-little-you-can-do-a-lot-year-6-shine-in-matilda-jnr-workshop/ - Categories: Performances Our Year 6 children were treated to an incredible experience yesterday as we welcomed acclaimed theatre professional Claire Cassidy to lead a special character workshop as part of our Matilda Jnr rehearsals. Claire Cassidy has directed and choreographed productions across the UK and continues to work as a casting associate for major West End shows. During the workshop, she shared her expertise and industry knowledge with our young performers, helping them to develop their characters, stage presence and confidence. The children gained so much from the session and are excited to bring these new skills into the next stage of rehearsals. Next week, rehearsals move into our very own historic Stahl Theatre as preparations continue for opening night on Friday 15th May. The Stahl Theatre has been at the heart of performance and the arts within our school community for many years. Originally opened in 1980 following the generous support of the Stahl family, the theatre has become a much-loved venue for school productions, concerts and community events. Generations of pupils have performed on its stage, making it a very special place for young performers to grow in confidence and creativity. A huge thank you goes to Mrs Hamilton-Charlton, our Head of Drama, and Miss Haynes, our Head of Music, who are working tirelessly with our Year 6 children to make this another outstanding production from LJS. We cannot wait to see the cast take to the stage for their performances in May. - Published: 2026-04-30 - Modified: 2026-04-30 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/feefifofun/ - Categories: Performances Our Reception children delighted parents today with an amazing all-singing, all-dancing performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. The children performed brilliantly, confidently taking to the stage to tell the much-loved story through songs, dancing and acting. From the towering beanstalk to the fearsome giant, every moment was filled with enthusiasm, energy and smiles. Drama at LJS develops year on year, giving children the opportunity to grow in confidence, creativity and performance skills throughout their school journey. These first experiences on stage are just the beginning, with all of our pupils eventually going on to perform in the Stahl Theatre, our very own theatre space. Parents were incredibly proud as the children showcased their confidence, teamwork and enthusiasm. The performance was the result of lots of hard work and practice, and the children rose to the occasion wonderfully. A huge well done to all of our Reception stars for putting on such a memorable show, and special thanks to the Reception team of staff for all their hard work, support and dedication in helping the children shine on stage. - Published: 2026-04-29 - Modified: 2026-04-29 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/building-future-skills-through-science/ - Categories: Academic British Science Week provided a fantastic opportunity for Year 6 pupils at Laxton Junior School and Beachborough School to experience what real scientific collaboration looks like. Despite being 50 miles apart, Year 6 pupils worked together on a shared investigation exploring which natural substance is the clearest and most reliable indicator for distinguishing acids from alkalis. What made this project particularly valuable was not simply the science itself, but the future-focused skills pupils developed throughout the process. Using Microsoft 365 Teams, pupils collaborated with peers they had never met before to discuss methods, agree testing criteria and ensure fair comparisons. In doing so, they experienced the importance of communication, teamwork and compromise, all essential life skills in an increasingly connected world. Before practical work began, pupils carried out preliminary research into natural pH indicators, exploring plant pigments and compounds such as anthocyanins. This stage encouraged critical thinking and helped pupils understand how scientists use existing knowledge to make informed predictions and design investigations. Across several lessons, pupils tested a wide range of natural materials including blackberries, blueberries, beetroot, rhubarb, red cabbage, hibiscus and butterfly pea petals. Following their investigations, both schools reconvened online to compare findings, discuss reliability and evaluate unexpected results. Interestingly, both schools identified rose petals as one of the most effective indicators, particularly in dried form. Beachborough School also ranked rhubarb highly, while Laxton Junior School found red cabbage to be equally successful. Most importantly, pupils demonstrated excellent scientific enquiry skills throughout the project: questioning results, reflecting... - Published: 2026-04-27 - Modified: 2026-04-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/from-oundle-to-uganda-a-dog-show-with-global-impact/ - Categories: Community Laxton Junior School was delighted to welcome families, friends and four‑legged companions to our annual Community Dog Show at the weekend, a joyful event that brought our school community together while making a meaningful global difference. Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of everyone who attended, we are proud to share that over £500 was raised for Tasaaga Primary School in Uganda, our long‑standing partner school. Every entry, donation and slice of cake contributed towards supporting pupils at Tasaaga with access to education, resources and opportunities that can transform lives. The school grounds were alive with energy as dogs of all shapes and sizes took centre stage in a wide range of fun classes, from Waggiest Tail and Dog Most Like Its Owner to the ever‑popular Fancy Dress and Best in Show. Children loved taking part as handlers, cheering on their favourites and enjoying the dog agility activiy, while families gathered to soak up the atmosphere. Thank you to Oundle Vets, whose stall proved a real highlight, offering children the chance to learn more about animal care in such an engaging way. We are also hugely grateful to everyone who volunteered their time, baked, donated, entered a class or simply came along to support the event. Events like this perfectly reflect the ethos of Laxton Junior School: valuing community, kindness and connection beyond our own gates. Supporting Tasaaga Primary School enables our pupils to understand that even small actions, when taken together, can have a powerful impact across the world.... - Published: 2026-04-27 - Modified: 2026-04-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/equestrian-success-for-margot/ - Categories: Achievements Laxton Junior School is delighted to celebrate the impressive achievement of pre-Prep pupil Margo in Year 3, who recently represented the school at the Spratton Hall Equestrian Competition, finishing in a commendable 5th place. Taking part in the event as one of the youngest competitors, Margo showed tremendous confidence, focus and determination in a highly competitive field. The competition was open to children up to Year 8, making her result particularly impressive given her age. Riding with calm control and clear enjoyment, she demonstrated strong riding skills and a level of dedication that comes from both hard work and a genuine passion for equestrian sport. Competing while proudly representing Laxton Junior School, Margo embraced the challenge with maturity beyond her years. Her performance reflected not only her personal commitment to riding but also the values of perseverance, sportsmanship and courage that are encouraged throughout our Pre‑Prep community. Events such as the Spratton Hall Equestrian Competition provide pupils with valuable opportunities to develop confidence, resilience and independence beyond the classroom, as well as the chance to represent their school in a supportive yet competitive environment. We are incredibly proud of Margo’s achievement and the positive way she represented Laxton Junior School. We hope this experience marks the first of many enjoyable and successful competitions for her in the years ahead. Well done, Margo! - Published: 2026-04-21 - Modified: 2026-04-21 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/friends-of-ljs-supporting-play-wellbeing-and-imagination/ - Categories: Community We are delighted to share some fantastic news about the generous support from Friends of LJS, who have successfully raised funds to provide exciting new equipment for our pupils. Thanks to their hard work and fundraising efforts, we now have a new wellbeing hut designed to support calm, comfort and connection. This quiet, cosy space offers children a place for peaceful reading, relaxed conversations with friends, and moments of calm when they need time to recharge. Alongside this, new physical activity equipment has been installed, including chin‑up bars and a traversing wall, encouraging pupils to stay active, build strength and enjoy movement in a fun and engaging way. For our budding performers and creatives, a stage with a blackboard backdrop has also been added, providing an inspiring space for imaginative play, storytelling, drama and artistic expression. Our construction zone now includes some large wooden blocks and dowels, to support the children's learning through play. These wonderful additions complement our existing equipment beautifully and help us continue to support pupils’ wellbeing, creativity and physical development. A huge thank you to Friends of LJS and everyone who contributed, your support makes a real difference to our school community. - Published: 2026-04-20 - Modified: 2026-04-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-golden-first-gala-harrisons-remarkable-50m-success/ - Categories: Achievements We are incredibly proud of Harrison, who enjoyed a fantastic weekend of swimming success at the West Norfolk Swimming Club Gala in King’s Lynn. Competing in his first licensed swimming gala, Harrison rose to the challenge superbly, winning an outstanding four Gold Medals across the 50m events. This marked an exciting milestone for him, as it was his first opportunity to race at the longer 50m distance in a competitive setting. Alongside his medal success, Harrison achieved four personal best times and broke three club records for his age category, a remarkable achievement. He was particularly pleased to reach two personal goals on the night: breaking the one‑minute barrier in breaststroke and the forty‑second mark in freestyle. Beyond his own races, Harrison showed great sportsmanship throughout the evening, enthusiastically cheering on his teammates from poolside and supporting them between events. Thanks to his impressive performances, Harrison’s results now place him among the top 25 swimmers nationally for his age this season on the Swim England rankings. We are delighted to celebrate Harrison’s dedication, determination and success. Well done, Harrison, a fantastic achievement and one the whole school is very proud of. - Published: 2026-04-20 - Modified: 2026-04-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebrating-musical-excellence-emy-returns-to-inspire/ - Categories: Performances This week, a group of our Year 5 and 6 singers enjoyed a very special musical experience with a visit to St Peter’s Church, where they had the opportunity to hear former Laxton Junior School pupil Emy perform repertoire from her Musical Theatre Diploma. The children were captivated by Emy’s confident and expressive performance and thoroughly enjoyed hearing such a wide range of musical theatre pieces performed to an exceptionally high standard. We are incredibly proud of Emy, who achieved an outstanding full‑marks result in her diploma, a tremendous achievement and a true testament to her talent and hard work. Our fantastic singing teacher, Mr Slane, accompanied the children on the visit. Mr Slane taught Emy during her time at LJS and has continued to support her musical journey for the past three years at Oundle School. This enduring connection is a wonderful example of how strong musical foundations can support long‑term success. The visit was an inspiring experience for our pupils and a powerful reminder of where a passion for music can lead. At Laxton Junior School, singing lessons begin in Year 1 when children are just five years old, giving them the opportunity to build confidence, develop skills and nurture a lifelong love of music, helping them to truly reach their full potential. We are delighted that our pupils were able to witness such a fantastic example of musical excellence and aspiration. - Published: 2026-04-16 - Modified: 2026-04-16 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/continuing-our-partnership-with-muddy-stilettos/ - Categories: Community We’re delighted to share that Laxton Junior School will be continuing our partnership with Muddy Stilettos for another year. This ongoing collaboration helps us celebrate and promote the wonderful things happening across our school, while strengthening our connections with the local region. Muddy Stilettos’ support gives us a fantastic platform to showcase school life, events and achievements, and we’re excited to build on the success of the past year together. We’re looking forward to another year of sharing stories, celebrating our pupils, and highlighting everything that makes Laxton such a special place to learn. Thank you to Muddy Stilettos for your continued support. You can read our review from Muddy Stilettos here: Laxton Junior School, Oundle - Published: 2026-03-20 - Modified: 2026-03-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/live-qa-with-britains-first-astronaut-helen-sharman/ - Categories: Academic To round off an exciting British Science Week, some of our Year 4 pupils were incredibly lucky to take part in a live session with Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, through the Expert Ed programme. With schools from all over the country involved, we were thrilled that one of our children’s questions was selected to be answered live during the event. Our chosen question asked Helen what worried her most about travelling into space and how she managed those fears. She explained that although space missions can feel daunting, astronauts undergo extensive training to prepare for every scenario. Helen shared that her biggest worry was making a mistake. Over time, however, she gained confidence by learning the detailed plans eventually trusting the systems, procedures and training that keep astronauts safe. The children were captivated by Helen’s descriptions of everyday life in space. They discovered that simple tasks like eating, washing and sleeping look very different in zero gravity. Meals are often dehydrated and stored in pouches, with water added before eating. Washing involves small pouches of soapy water, and even the moisture that evaporates from drying hair is collected and recycled by the spacecraft’s air system. Sleeping also requires some clever adjustments, as astronauts strap themselves into sleeping bags to stop them floating around! One of the most surprising facts for the class was how little goes to waste in space. Helen explained that almost all water is recycled, including urine, an eyebrow‑raising detail that certainly made the children... - Published: 2026-03-19 - Modified: 2026-03-19 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-win-the-king-charles-cup-at-the-peterborough-drama-festival/ - Categories: Achievements We are thrilled to announce that our Year 6 pupils have achieved an outstanding victory at the Peterborough Drama Festival, proudly bringing home the King Charles Cup for Choral Speaking. The Peterborough Drama Festival returned earlier this month to showcase an exceptional range of talent through choral speaking performances, acting, prose reading, verse speaking, duo acting, group acting and Shakespeare. Held over two days, the event saw more than 90 performers take part in individual syllabus classes covering a wide range of dramatic arts and disciplines, alongside school groups who participated in both prose reading and choral speaking showcases. This long‑established festival has been running in the city for over 70 years, and continues to promote confidence, creativity and performance skills for children and young people across Peterborough and the wider region. It features a diverse programme including choral speaking, drama, storytelling and verse speaking welcoming entries from schools, theatre groups and individual performers. Professional adjudicators, affiliated with the British and International Federation of Festivals, praised the high standard of performances across the weekend, noting pupils’ strong expression, clarity and imaginative presentation skills. Against this vibrant and competitive backdrop, our Year 6 pupils delivered an exceptional choral speaking performance. Their confidence, expressive delivery and teamwork truly shone, earning them the King Charles Cup: a prestigious award presented to the top-performing Year 6 group in the choral speaking category. Head of Drama, Rachel Hamilton-Charlton has praised the pupils not only for their success on stage, but for the hard work, cooperation... - Published: 2026-03-18 - Modified: 2026-03-18 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-easter-egg-trail-brings-spring-fun-to-oundle/ - Categories: Community - Tags: Easter, Egg, Oundle, Trail We are delighted to launch our brand‑new LJS Easter Egg Trail 2026, welcoming all families with young children to enjoy a fun and free activity around the beautiful Georgian streets of Oundle. Running from Saturday 21st March to Sunday 12th April, the trail offers the perfect Easter holiday adventure for families looking to get out and explore the town. This is the first year we have run an Easter Egg Trail for our LJS community and we are thrilled to see it come to life. Families are invited to follow the downloadable map and set off in search of our colourful Easter Egg posters displayed at various numbered points around Oundle. Each poster contains a hidden letter- simply jot these down as you go. Once all the letters have been found, families can rearrange them to reveal a well‑known Oundle landmark, where an Easter activity pack (designed for children aged 3 to 11) will be waiting to collect. All of the Easter Eggs featured on the trail have been beautifully designed by children in our wrap‑around care, Griffin Club, making the event even more special and personal to our school community. We hope everyone taking part enjoys exploring the trail, solving the puzzle and celebrating the season together. Good luck and Happy Easter from all the staff and children at LJS! LJS Easter Egg Trail MAP - Published: 2026-03-11 - Modified: 2026-03-11 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/british-science-week-could-our-year-6-pupils-help-discover-the-next-antibiotic/ - Categories: Academic Laxton Junior School Takes Part in the National Swab and Send Programme As part of British Science Week, our Year 6 pupils at Laxton Junior School had the extraordinary opportunity to contribute to real, impactful scientific research through the Swab and Send project, led by Professor Roberts and the team at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). This isn’t a classroom simulation. Swab and Send exists for one powerful purpose: to help scientists discover the next generation of antibiotics, before the medicines we rely on stop working. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health emergency. When antibiotics fail, common infections become dangerous; routine surgery becomes high‑risk; and illnesses we take for granted could once again become life‑threatening. The search for new antimicrobial compounds is urgent and surprisingly, promising candidates can sometimes be found in the most everyday places. Our Year 6 pupils have played a small but meaningful part in that search. What Did Year 6 Do? Pupils collected swab samples from locations across school, everything from door handles, lockers and sports equipment to soil, moss, plants and musical instruments. These were sent to LSTM, where scientists cultivated the microbes on agar plates selected unusual or interesting colonies preserved them in 96 well plates at –80°C and screened them against five indicator species LSTM looked for “zones of inhibition”: clear areas where a microbe successfully killed or stopped the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. These zones indicate microbes that may be producing antimicrobial compounds. Exactly the type of... - Published: 2026-03-11 - Modified: 2026-03-11 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/exceptional-trinity-music-exam-success-for-ljs-pupils/ - Categories: Achievements We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of our pupils in the most recent Trinity College London Music Examinations. This year, our young musicians have once again shown remarkable dedication, talent and resilience and their results are something to be truly proud of. 100% Pass Rate 40% Distinction 42% Merit These exceptional outcomes reflect not only the musical ability of our pupils but also their commitment to regular practice, focus and a genuine love of performing. Our pupils were examined across a wide range of instruments, showcasing the breadth of musical opportunity at Laxton Junior School. Performances included singing, cello, French horn, saxophone, violin and piano, with children demonstrating confidence, musicality and impressive technical skill. We are also delighted to announce that our Trinity Champion Centre accreditation has been extended, recognising the consistent quality of our music provision, the strength of our teaching and the vibrant culture of music that thrives within our school community. A huge thank you goes to Miss Haynes, Head of Music, for her exceptional leadership, passion and encouragement. Her ability to inspire and nurture our musicians each day plays a significant role in their success. We also extend our gratitude to all our dedicated visiting music teachers, whose guidance and expertise support our pupils to achieve at the highest level. Most importantly, congratulations to every pupil who took part in the exams. Your hard work, courage and enthusiasm shine through in everything you do, and we are incredibly proud of your accomplishments. Well done,... - Published: 2026-03-06 - Modified: 2026-03-06 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-goes-all-in-for-a-week-of-reading-celebration/ - Categories: Academic Laxton Junior School has enjoyed a vibrant and inspiring week dedicated to celebrating the joy of reading, fully embracing the National Year of Reading 2026 call to “GO ALL IN! ” The week-long programme was thoughtfully organised by Mrs Kerrie Houghton, Mrs Elme Marais and Ms Andrea Fryatt, whose planning and enthusiasm helped bring an exciting range of activities to life. Throughout the week, pupils were treated to visits from a different children’s author each day as part of the Oundle Festival of Literature. Hannah Peck, Ross Welford, Steven Vinacour, Teresa Heapy and Jordan Glover all gave up their time to lead engaging workshops with every year group, offering pupils the chance to explore storytelling, ask questions and discover more about the craft of writing. Creativity continued back in the classroom, where every class took on the challenge of writing and producing their own mathematical storybooks. These imaginative books will soon be shared with parents, showcasing the children's storytelling skills and cross-curricular learning. The school’s Charity Committee also played a meaningful part in the celebrations with a successful second‑hand book sale in support of the Whole School Charity, Tasaaga School in Uganda. Families donated generously, helping to raise funds while promoting the importance of re‑using and sharing books. It was lovely to see the happiness on the children's faces when they found a book which excited them. Adding a wellbeing focus to the week, the school’s Wellbeing Ambassadors transformed our recently installed Wellbeing Hut into a peaceful ‘Read Only Zone’,... - Published: 2026-03-04 - Modified: 2026-03-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-celebrates-a-spectacular-house-music-competition/ - Categories: Achievements, Performances The Great Hall was alive with rhythm, harmony and house spirit last week as pupils from across the school took to the stage for the much‑anticipated House Music Competition. The annual event, a favourite in the school calendar, once again showcased the remarkable musical talent, teamwork and confidence of LJS pupils. In front of friends and family, the competition brought together children from Year 4 to Year 6 who had passed the first stage of auditions earlier in the month. In fact our Head of Music, Miss Nina Haynes listened to 128 auditions with over 90% of children from these year groups. From impressive vocal performances to lively instrumentals, the standard this year was exceptionally high. Pupils demonstrated not only their developing musicianship but also their dedication, creativity and courage. Family and friends were treated to a diverse programme of music. Children performed everything from classical pieces and folk tunes to upbeat contemporary favourites. The atmosphere was warm and encouraging, with pupils enthusiastically supporting their peers and celebrating every performance. Our official adjudicator, the Director of Music from Oundle School, Mr Richard Dawson, praised the pupils for their musicality, stage presence and commitment. He also highlighted the evident hard work that had taken place during rehearsals 'Events like this are a celebration of music making' the children were complimented on their sense of professionalism. Head of Music, Miss Haynes, commented: “The House Music Competition is such a special event for our school. It gives every child the opportunity to shine,... - Published: 2026-03-04 - Modified: 2026-03-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/around-the-world-with-art-ljs-exhibition-at-the-yarrow-gallery/ - Categories: Community - Tags: art, creativity, inclusion Laxton Junior School proudly celebrated a remarkable moment in its creative calendar as every pupil from ages 4 to 11 showcased their artwork in a special whole‑school exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery, located within the grounds of Oundle School. The exhibition, which ran from Tuesday 24 February to Sunday 1 March 2026, welcomed families, friends and the wider community to experience the imagination and talent of the school’s young artists. The Yarrow Gallery, a contemporary space first opened in 1918 and funded by Sir Arthur Yarrow in memory of his son, has long been recognised as a creative hub for pupils across both Oundle School and Laxton Junior School. Its exhibitions, workshops and events are designed to inspire and engage, offering students invaluable insight into curation, presentation and the wider artistic world. This year’s exhibition, titled Around the World with 18 Artists, invited visitors on a rich and colourful journey across global artistic traditions. Inspired by influential figures such as Wassily Kandinsky, Feliciano Centurión, Yayoi Kusama, Vincent van Gogh, Pacita Abad and Emily Kam Kngwarray, pupils explored a diverse mix of styles, mediums and cultural influences. The gallery was filled with an impressive variety of work, from vibrant paintings and intricate textiles to mixed‑media pieces and an ambitious whole‑school installation created collaboratively across year groups. Each artwork offered a personal interpretation of the global themes studied, reflecting not only the children’s technical development but also their curiosity, empathy and creative voice. Visitors praised the exhibition for its joyful energy, thoughtful... - Published: 2026-02-06 - Modified: 2026-02-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/every-ljs-child-to-exhibit-artwork-at-yarrow-gallery/ - Categories: Achievements In February 2026, every child from Laxton Junior School, from the ages of 4 to 11 will have their artwork proudly displayed in the beautiful Yarrow Art Gallery as part of a whole school exhibition celebrating creativity and inclusion. The exhibition will run from Tuesday 24th February 2026 to Sunday 1st March at Oundle School's Yarrow Gallery. The Yarrow Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located within the grounds of Oundle School, accessible also to pupils from Laxton Junior School and the general public. The gallery prides itself on being an excellent resource for our pupils and a creative learning space and venue for all, through its exhibitions, talks, workshops and events. The Yarrow Gallery first opened in 1918 and was funded by Sir Arthur Yarrow in memory of his son, Eric F Yarrow (G 1913), who was killed at Ypres in 1915. Originally, it served as a museum but now allows pupils to gain valuable insight into how a gallery is run, how to curate an exhibition, as well as offering the exciting opportunity of collaboration for public view. Drawing inspiration from influential artists from around the world—past and present—such as Wassily Kandinsky, Feliciano Centurión, Yayoi Kusama, Vincent van Gogh, Pacita Abad and Emily Kam Kngwarray, the children’s artwork explores global themes through a rich variety of creative approaches. Alongside individual pieces, visitors will discover collaborative projects spanning multiple year groups, including textiles, mixed‑media works and an ambitious whole‑school installation. The exhibition showcases a wide range of artistic techniques... - Published: 2026-02-03 - Modified: 2026-02-03 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/oxbridge-offers-for-former-ljs-pupils/ - Categories: Academic Congratulations to former Laxton Junior School pupils Rachel and Eliza, who both received Oxbridge offers last week. Alongside ten other students from Oundle School, they are celebrating months of dedication and hard work that have led to these outstanding achievements. Rachel, who served as Laxton Junior School Head Girl in 2018/19, has received an offer to study Classics at Oxford University. Eliza has been offered a place to study Linguistics at Trinity College, Cambridge. Everyone at Laxton Junior School is incredibly proud of both girls and wishes them every success as they approach their A-Level examinations and continue their journey into further education. - Published: 2026-01-29 - Modified: 2026-02-09 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/rising-star-bertie-leads-great-britains-under-12-recurve-rankings/ - Categories: Achievements Archery GB has released the 2025 Junior Rankings, and we’re thrilled to share that Bertie, in Year 6, has been ranked Number 1 in the Under‑12 Men’s Recurve category. This is an outstanding accomplishment, especially given that he had to submit three qualifying scores from just six competitions. Even more impressively, Bertie placed 54th in Great Britain across all male archers under 21, a remarkable achievement for someone his age. These rankings cap off an exceptional year for Bertie. Over the summer of 2025, he earned his Outdoor Grand Master Bowman c lassification and was subsequently selected to represent the East Midlands region. We’re incredibly proud of everything Bertie has achieved so far and can’t wait to see how his archery journey continues to develop in the years ahead. - Published: 2026-01-27 - Modified: 2026-01-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-pupils-rank-among-uks-top-10-in-national-computing-challenge/ - Categories: Academic During the Michaelmas term, our pupils participated in the BEBRAS Challenge, organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a national competition aimed at developing computational thinking skills. Each participant has 45 minutes to tackle a series of interactive tasks, designed to encourage logical thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate for their age group. The challenge is conducted online, and tasks are marked automatically by a competition system. The tasks are designed to allow every student the opportunity to showcase their potential, whether they excel in maths or computing or just enjoy the challenge. Children at Laxton Junior School have timetabled Computing lessons every week from Reception all the way through to Year 6, with LJS's very own Head of Computing, Mr Fraser Harper. Mr Harper was very proud of how our children performed this year: "Every year group achieved scores above the national average and several pupils earned gold certificates, placing them in the top 10% nationally. A particular congratulations goes to our Year 6 pupils, who scored an impressive 13 points above the national average, with six pupils achieving gold certificates—an exceptional achievement given they were competing against both Year 6 and Year 7 pupils. " Gold Certificate winners Year 3: Ursula , Albie , Daisy , Arthur , Florrie . Year 4: Aleesha, Edmund, Effie . Year 5: Guy, Olivia,, Maison. Year 6: Joshua, Seth, Evelyn, Elias, Bertie, Leah. - Published: 2026-01-14 - Modified: 2026-01-14 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/winning-words-lara-takes-top-prize-in-partnership-competition/ - Categories: Academic A huge well done to Year 5 pupil Lara, who impressed the judges with her winning entry in the Open Learning Partnership Creative Writing Competition. Competing against pupils from other schools in the partnership, all of our Year 5 children rose to the challenge with enthusiasm and creativity. Children were tasked with producing a piece of writing inspired by the short film The Wish Granter . Lara chose to explore the wide range of emotions experienced by the film’s protagonist, crafting a thoughtful and expressive response that truly stood out. Congratulations also to Guy, Thea, James, Imogen and Felicity, who all reached the final six and a special mention goes to Felicity and Imogen, who were awarded ‘Best in School’ for their entries. A fantastic achievement from everyone involved, Laxton Junior School were proud to see such talent and imagination on display. What is joy? The Wish Granter spiralled into thought. He wondered if he had ever felt it. His parents leaving him the burden of wish granting was all he had ever known. The more he contemplated, the more he realised what he was missing out on. Imagine a life without the feeling of a warm bubble bath filling up the tub or the soft white snow squishing under your feet or the sweet scent of flowers blooming when spring comes. He thought about his empty world without any human relationships - no love, no laughter, no friends, no joy. Lara, aged 10 - Published: 2026-01-13 - Modified: 2026-01-13 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-5-grow-confidence-through-real%e2%80%91world-challenge/ - Categories: Community Last term, our Year 5 children took on an exciting fundraising challenge in support of our whole‑school charity, Tasaaga Primary School in Uganda. Working in small groups, they were responsible for planning and running their own stall at our Winter Fete. From developing original ideas to creating the resources they needed, the children collaborated brilliantly. They applied entrepreneurial thinking to design profit‑making activities and, on the day of the event, confidently promoted their fundraising enterprises to our Fete visitors. Creativity really was on show with face painting, sporty challenges, homemade items and lucky dips all contributing to the £445 total funds raised for the charity. What was even more significant though, was seeing the children grow in confidence over the course of the challenge as they collaborated to effectively problem solve. We're excited to see them progress even further in their next Infinitas challenge! According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of children entering primary school today will work in jobs that don't yet exist. By 2030, 85% of job success will depend on soft skills like creativity, teamwork and resilience and no longer on technical knowledge. Employers rank collaboration and communication in the top three most demanded skills. Children who practise collaboration and teamwork become confident, effective problem solvers. Creativity is now listed by the World Economic Forum as a top future skill across all professions. Project based, hands on experiential opportunities prepare children to apply what they know beyond the classroom. This is why, at Laxton Junior School,... - Published: 2025-05-21 - Modified: 2026-01-13 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/a-trinity-champion-centre-for-music-2025-2026/ - Categories: Achievements We are thrilled to announce that Laxton Junior School has been named a Trinity Champion Centre for 2025–2026 for our fantastic music provision. This recognition by Trinity College London celebrates our school’s excellence in teaching and delivering our music programme. It underlines LJS’ commitment to a warm, inclusive, child-centred approach where every pupil has the opportunity to explore creative expression through music. As a Champion Centre, we join a select group of schools recognised for their outstanding performing arts programmes and their impact on learners. We look forward to a year of creative showcases and collaboration, inspiring all our pupils to shine on stage and beyond. Our specialist music curriculum delivery provides the foundation for this recognition. Every child at LJS learns an instrument from Year 2 (and 80% of pupils take extra lessons) and all our children have the opportunity to participate in our extra-curricular choirs, orchestras and ensembles. This past academic year, we have had 194 instrumental lessons delivered per week, in addition to our core music lessons. We also have a very active performance calendar: from our weekly singing assemblies that bring the school community together through song, to our seasonal Summer and Winter concerts at the Great Hall. We are all especially proud that music at LJS helps to nurture each child’s confidence and creativity. Nina Haynes, Head of Music, says: "Being named a Trinity Champion Centre validates the excellence of our teaching, opportunities, facilities, and our broad extra-curricular programme. " We look forward to seeing... - Published: 2025-03-17 - Modified: 2025-03-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-feature-in-muddy-stilettos-best-schools-guide/ - Categories: Achievements Laxton Junior School has been featured in the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Guide. This publication provides independent insights into schools across the UK from a parent’s perspective. It highlights the nurturing environment, strong sense of belonging, and exceptional opportunities that help every child flourish at LJS and is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the passion, dedication and unwavering support of our staff, families and wider community. Lydia Waller said: “We are proud to be featured in the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Guide. This review reflects the dedication of our staff, the strength of our community, and the exceptional opportunities our children experience every day. At Laxton Junior School, we are committed to nurturing a love of learning, fostering confidence, and providing an environment where every child can thrive. It’s wonderful to see this recognised, and I am grateful to everyone who makes LJS such a special place. " Read the article here: https://northantsleicsrutland. muddystilettos. co. uk/national-school-reviews-2/laxton-junior-school-oundle/ - Published: 2025-01-27 - Modified: 2025-01-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/over-650-raised-for-the-johnny-reynolds-foundation/ - Categories: Community Johnny Reynolds, an extraordinary young athlete and LJS alumnus, was known for his infectious smile and zest for life. Tragically, he passed away in December 2023 at just 19 years old. To honour his memory, Johnny’s family founded the Johnny Reynolds Foundation, dedicated to giving local children and young adults the opportunity to realise their dreams and ambitions in their chosen sporting fields. This year, we are proud to uphold Johnny's legacy and support the Foundation. Following an inspiring assembly delivered by Kate Reynolds, Johnny's mother, our fundraising efforts began this term with a special day encouraging staff and pupils to wear their favourite sports tops to school and donate to the charity in celebration of Johnny’s passion for sport. Johnny Reynolds attended Laxton Junior School from Reception through to Year 6, where he became House Captain and Rugby Captain. On Friday, 17th January, staff and children donned a colourful array of sports kits in place of their uniforms. From popular football and rugby shirts to more unique representations, such as water polo, darts, and taekwondo, the day buzzed with excitement as pupils shared their passions with one another. This was a particularly special event for the school, as it formed part of LJS’s fundraising efforts in support of the Johnny Reynolds Foundation, resulting in £655. 19 being raised for the charity. Johnny was a valued member of LJS' vibrant community during his time as a pupil. Not only was he a gifted sportsman, but he also embodied our School’s... - Published: 2024-12-30 - Modified: 2024-12-30 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/michaelmas-term-2024-reflections/ - Categories: Community, Newsletters As the year draws to a close, so does our first term of the 2024-2025 academic year. Needless to say, it has been a jam-packed Michaelmas term and we wanted to share our reflections on just a few highlights from the past few months. The Lord Mayor's Show This November, our Heads of House, Head Boy and Girl and some members of staff had the unique opportunity of joining the parade at the Lord Mayor's Show in London, along with Oundle School after an invitation from the Mayor of London himself who is now the fifth Old Oundelian to hold this office. Check out some of the pupils' reflections on the day in this video. Paralympian Danielle Brown In October, double gold Paralympian Danielle Brown visited our School and inspired the children with the power of self belief. After an inspiring assembly she ran some exciting archery workshops, giving the children the opportunity to have a go themselves. Tessa and Archie row 200km Over the month of September, our Head of MFL Tessa Humphrey and her son Archie accumulatively rowed 100km each in a bid to fundraise for Bone Cancer research. This was an amazing undertaking, involving many early morning starts and late night sessions to get the job done. Between them they have now raised over £1000! James Brunt Artist Landscape artist James Brunt paid a visit to our Woodland Garden for the day and guided our children through the process of creating their very own beautiful land art... - Published: 2024-09-11 - Modified: 2024-09-11 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-is-awarded-the-eco-schools-green-flag-with-distinction/ - Categories: Achievements This academic year, Laxton Junior School (LJS) have once again received international accreditation for our exceptional work in promoting sustainability and raising environmental awareness amongst the community. The Eco-Schools programme, established in 1994, is now implemented in over 70 countries worldwide. In 2023-24, more than 1. 4 million pupils attended an Eco-School in England. The programme follows a tried-and-trusted seven-step framework, that encourages young people to explore a variety of environmental issues before spearheading environmental action in their school and local community. Since we have first engaged with the Eco-Schools’ programme in 2022, accomplishments have included implementing an ‘Eco Team’ of pupils who acted as ambassadors for the School, enforcing environmentally aware actions from turning unused lights off, to sowing wildflower seeds along the school borders. This year, our children impressively built on these achievements by focusing on 3 key issues: energy, healthy living and water. The Eco Team then successfully delivered a diverse range of activities and projects which included: leading the way in the Great House Litter Pick Challenge, cleaning up the School’s bike shed, designing and planning a new vegetable garden for the School grounds, and hosting an energy-free school day on Earth Day, resulting in £30 of electricity being saved! Pupils also took part in Walk to School Week and Sustainability has been woven throughout the learning curriculum and is always included in our Outdoor Learning Days. Speaking about their achievements Head of Sustainability at LJS, Mr Simon Marsden, said: "Achieving this award is a testament... - Published: 2024-06-05 - Modified: 2024-06-05 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/percy_swimming/ - Categories: Achievements, Community Over the Half Term break, Percy in Year 6 attended a big weekend-long swimming gala at Sheffield International Pool against a total of 160 swimmers per stroke, some of whom were top regional swimmers in his age group. This was the biggest gala Percy had ever been to, in a huge 50m pool with seating like an amphitheatre; during the first day warm up, the Team GB Diving Team were practicing! After a 4:30am start, the day after getting home from the French Residential, Percy set a fastest time for Under 12s in the county for 100m Breaststroke earning a Silver medal on the Saturday morning. This was followed by achieving two Personal Bests: 50m Freestyle, earning Bronze and 50m Backstroke, earning Gold. He set the fastest time for Under 11s in the county for both! Sunday afternoon saw even more fantastic results for Percy. He won Gold for the 100m Backstroke and 50m Breaststroke races, gaining a Personal Best time in each and once again setting the fastest times in the county for his age group. We couldn't be more proud of Percy and the way he applies himself to his swimming. He is a generous team player and fearsome competitor. We look forward to hearing about his future achievements both in and out of the pool. Well done, Percy! - Published: 2024-05-22 - Modified: 2024-05-22 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/80000-raised-at-oundle-schools-triathlon/ - Categories: Achievements, Community A remarkable feat of community spirit and athleticism unfolded at Oundle School Sports Centre on Sunday 12 May as over 130 LJS pupils took part in the Knight Frank Schools Triathlon, the UK’s largest fundraising event for children. In teams of four, a total of 1000 children from across the region participated in swimming, cycling and running – covering a combined distance equivalent to the journey from Oundle to Barcelona. In total Oundle’s event raised over £80,000 for Restless Development and numerous other charities chosen by the participating schools. This was the third year that Oundle School has hosted and LJS has participated in this event. It is truly a community centred day, with local businesses and over 2,000 attendees coming together for the feel-good event. Generous volunteers and Oundle pupils kindly gave up their Sunday to ensure the event ran smoothly. Nick Beasant, Director of Sport at Oundle School said, “We are delighted to host the Knight Frank Schools Triathlon at Oundle for the third year running. It’s always a fantastic event and it’s inspiring to see so many young people come together, not just for the love of sport, but to make a real difference with their fundraising for Restless Development and their chosen school charities – well done to them all. A huge thank you must go to the 100+ Oundle School pupils who volunteered their time – the event would simply not have been possible without their support and efforts throughout. We look forward to continuing... - Published: 2024-05-10 - Modified: 2024-05-10 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebrating-50-years-of-ljs/ - Categories: Community Many will already be aware that this academic year marks a significant milestone in the history of our school. This Early May Bank Holiday, we celebrated with a vibrant gathering of the school community to celebrate LJS' 50th anniversary. The event saw past and present pupils, parents and staff, including former Headteachers Mr Mark Potter and Mr Sam Robertson, come together to reminisce, share stories, and see how LJS has flourished over the past half-century. Founded in September 1973 as an integral part of Oundle School, LJS has educated children aged 4-11 for over fifty years. Mrs. Rachel Waterhouse, who has taught at the school for over 20 years, recognised many of the faces returning with fond memories of where their school lives began, “It was quite emotional seeing so many familiar faces altogether! We have a number of parents with children at the school now who were once pupils here – it's reflective of the happy, close-knit community we are. " The celebration began with a lively event on the school fields. Everyone gathered for a picnic, and guests were treated to musical performances from current LJS pupils and alumni who now attend Oundle School. In addition to the outdoor fun, the Yarrow Gallery at Oundle School is hosting/hosted a unique 50th anniversary portrait exhibition throughout the week featuring artwork by all current pupils, as well as updates from now adult alumni; a visual celebration of the school’s diverse and vibrant community. A highlight for many was the much-anticipated... > On Saturday 20th April, LJS opened its gates to our community and some of its four-legged furry friends as we hosted our first ever dog show on Cheatle Field! - Published: 2024-04-24 - Modified: 2024-04-24 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-hosts-first-community-dog-show-on-cheatle-field/ - Categories: Community On Saturday 20th April, LJS opened its gates to our community and some of its four-legged furry friends as we hosted our first ever dog show on Cheatle Field! Fluffy, who won 'Dog the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home' also came away as 'Champion of the Show'! We had happy hounds running, jumping, weaving and crawling through the agility and steeplechase courses whilst others competed in the main ring for Best Puppy, Best Child Handler, Most Handsome Dog, Dog Most Like Its Owner, Veteran Dog, Prettiest Bitch, Best Sporting Dog, Best Cross Breed, Dog The Judge Would Most Like To Take Home, and Champion Of The Show! The event was supported by professional trainers and dog show experts Sally Parkins, Hilary Mears and Angie Douglas-Hamilton as well as Oundle Veterinary Surgery who provided workshops on how to bandage sore paws and even let us listen to our pup’s heartbeats! Staff also enjoyed the opportunity to share their furry friends with the community; Mrs Waller brought her gorgeous pup, Clover to the show! The key purpose of the Dog Show was to support our local community and we are incredibly proud to share that a total of £703 was raised. All money raised at this event went to the Stamford and Oundle Foodbank – a crucial charity that provides three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to those in crisis. The Community Kids did a superb job running stalls and entertaining the guests The event was... > Last term, our pupils completed their sponsored bleep tests in PE lessons, as part of their fundraising efforts for Burghley House’s charity; Oundle Mencap Holidays. - Published: 2024-03-21 - Modified: 2024-03-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/burghley-house-raised-over-600-in-support-of-oundle-mencap-holidays/ - Categories: Achievements, Community Last term, our pupils completed their sponsored bleep tests in PE lessons, as part of their fundraising efforts for Burghley House’s charity; Oundle Mencap Holidays. Each year group was challenged at a level appropriate for their age and ability and they participated enthusiastically and competitively. The year group results are as follows. Reception - 11490m Year 1 - 2953m Year 2 - 24405m Year 3 - 12105m Year 4 - 17185m Year 5 - 16470m Year 6 - 20870m In total, the children managed to cover an amazing 132,060m. This is the equivalent of 20 laps of the outskirts of Oundle, or just 4 miles short of the journey from Oundle to Sheringham that Year 6 made for their Sports Tour two weeks ago! Oundle Mencap Holidays is a charity that Burghley has supported for about 5 years and many former LJS pupils volunteer there every year. The organisation runs a residential summer holiday and a long weekend camping trip for children and young adults with learning disabilities. Every year, 40 children and 25 young adults have the opportunity to try new activities, make new friends, enjoy their independence and, most importantly, have lots of FUN! In turn, this gives their families and carers a chance to relax and recharge. Oundle Mencap Holidays is run and staffed entirely by volunteers and relies on donations to continue to run each year. Burghley’s Head Girl and Boy, Jessica and Teddy said: “We’re super proud of everybody's hard work in raising money for... > We at Laxton Junior School are delighted to have been awarded the highest possible rating in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). - Published: 2022-07-21 - Modified: 2024-03-22 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/laxton-junior-school-isi-report-2022/ - Categories: Newsletters We are delighted to have been awarded the highest possible rating in all areas by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) following our recent routine inspection. Inspectors visited LJS over a four-day period in June, during which they observed lessons, conducted interviews with staff and children and examined samples of our children’s work. The educational quality inspection found LJS to be excellent across both key outcomes; 1) the achievement of pupils, including their academic development and 2) the personal development of pupils. The regulatory compliance inspection found all outcomes to be met, with no recommendations made. Some highlights of the report include that ‘Pupils of all ages and abilities demonstrate outstanding knowledge and skills across all areas of the curriculum’ and that this ‘confirms the school’s successful fulfilment of its aim to provide a high quality and inclusive education with children’s happiness at the heart of its approach. ’ The report also recognised that ‘Pupils’ highly developed social skills are underpinned by the fact that they feel school is a safe and welcoming environment, where they can have fun learning together in their supportive community’ as well as observing that ‘Pupils are proud of their school and want to do well and play an active part in it. ’ The pastoral provision and development of children as individuals was a key focus of the Inspection, with the report finding that children are ‘given very many opportunities to build confidence and resilience, and in doing so meet the school’s aim to develop... - Published: 2022-05-25 - Modified: 2022-05-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/flight-centre-schools-triathlon/ - Categories: Community On Sunday 15th May, children from Year 3 to 6 at LJS joined a total of 877 school children to take part in the first Flight Centre Schools Triathlon hosted by Oundle School. The children swam, cycled and ran to jointly raise an incredible £3,384. 38 (which is being doubled by the UK Government) for Restless Development to support young women and girls to access education in Sierra Leone and around the world. In addition to this, a further £724. 58 will be split equally between this year’s four chosen House charities: Sense (Gloucester) Oundle Community First Responders (Lilford) Oundle Mencap Holidays (Burghley) Wood Green, The Animal Charity (Whitmore) Despite the forecast looking rather gloomy, the sun made an appearance as the children arrived, got labelled up and stored their bikes before heading to Oundle School Sports Centre for the swim leg. They all worked together brilliantly in their teams and were cheered on by their wonderfully supportive families as they progressed to the bike leg and then finally the run. A number of LJS staff joined pupil and staff volunteers from Oundle School to help direct families, help children onto bikes, direct traffic and generally be a welcoming face and helping hand. This was a truly community centred day, with support from local businesses and over 2,000 attendees coming together for the feel-good event. To get a flavour of the event (and to see if you can spot some familiar faces! ) please take a look at this video... - Published: 2022-05-13 - Modified: 2022-05-13 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/project-24-investing-in-our-future/ - Categories: Newsletters We are proud to announce two exciting strategic developments that will greatly benefit our LJS community from September 2022. They form a significant part of the publication Project 24: Investing in our Future, the vision for securing the long-term security and success of our School for all our pupils, from the four-year-old joining us at Reception to the eighteen-year-old preparing for life beyond Oundle School. A new Reception space which places play at its heart The first development is the creation of a new, state-of-the-art Reception space that is bespoke to the play-centred approach of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The power of play is at the heart of our philosophy and this is at its most important in the first year of school. In Reception, children play, interact and learn in a constant flow, moving from one activity to another, sometimes of their own will and sometimes guided by a teacher. The design and use of space is therefore fundamental to a child’s development and we are hugely excited about this project which will transform the current dual classrooms into a dynamic and zoned indoor learning space, flowing seamlessly into an enlarged outdoor area. A significant part of the outdoor area will be sheltered to ensure the continuation of outdoor provision come rain or shine. Sustainability is high on our agenda, with the space making use of natural eco-friendly materials, connecting with nature and the environment. Upgrades to Science and Art facilities to support innovative STEAM education The second... - Published: 2022-04-23 - Modified: 2022-04-23 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/what-did-you-do-today/ - Categories: Achievements It’s great to be back! There was joy, laughter and learning in every corner of LJS as we began our Summer Term with a splash of sunshine. There has been much chat of Easter trips, activities and, of course, the inevitable consumption of chocolate! As well as that we have some wonderful achievements to share. The combined LJS equestrian team took part in the NSEA competition at Epworth in North Lincolnshire over the Easter break. We had representatives from Reception, Year 5 and Year 6 competing in a variety of individual and team combinations and they all represented LJS superbly. Nell competed individually and came 7th in the 40cm. Eliza, Fritha and Jack came 4th in their event - the 50cm. Jemima, Jack, Flora and Fritha came 3rd in the 60cm and Fritha came 2nd individually in the 70cm, while the team in the 70cm weren't successful on this occasion but collaborated brilliantly. It was a fabulous day and lots of LJS team spirit was on show. Thank you to the families who supported and transported their children to the event. Imogen in Year 4 completed the Three Peaks Challenge with her dad over the break and has now raised over £2000 for The Sick Children’s Trust. We are all tremendously proud of this incredible achievement. As well as climbing all three peaks in all kinds of weathers, she spoke live on the radio no less than three times before and after the event. She was also invited to send... - Published: 2022-03-28 - Modified: 2022-03-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/end-of-term-roundup/ - Categories: Newsletters Just like that the Lent Term has come to an end and what a busy week it has been! The weather has been simply glorious during this last week of Term and we have taken many lessons outside to make the most of the Spring sunshine. Our Reception families were invited to a Play Partners Parents in Partnership session on Monday, where our staff shared some of their expertise and the adults then joined their children in their play, putting the theory into practice. A large number of our children have taken music exams with the Rockschool and Trinity exam boards, having prepared carefully with the support of Miss Haynes and the individual instrument teachers. Year 1 performed ‘Eddie the Penguin Saves the World’ not once but twice – once to the school and once to their families. You will be most relieved to hear that Eddie was successful in his quest and the children shared lots of hints and tips as to how we can all do our bit to look after our environment. Year 4 have been sharing photos on Twitter and Instagram of their residential trip to York and it looks as if they had a wonderful time. Year 5 took part in some fabulous art activities at Peterborough Cathedral and reflected on their hopes and dreams. Year 3 have been to Flag Fen in Peterborough, as well as competing in Netball House Matches, their brightly coloured House t-shirts singing in the sun. The PFA have been... - Published: 2022-03-21 - Modified: 2022-03-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ukraine-statement/ - Categories: Community A Statement on behalf of the Schools of Oundle Town In the days since the invasion of Ukraine we have all watched with horror and sadness at what is unfolding in that country. In these difficult times, the schools of Oundle town stand with many in our community in offering support for the Ukrainian people affected by this conflict and those Russians, including our own students and their families, who are not responsible for this action and speak out against it. The schools of Oundle are collectively preparing to support any children displaced by these events who may arrive in our community over the coming weeks and months. We will work together to offer them welcome, school places for continuity of their education and support with their transition to the UK, drawing upon the expertise and experience available in our schools. Mrs E Dormor Headteacher, Prince William School Mrs S Kerr-Dineen Head, Oundle School Mrs J Griffin Headteacher, Oundle CE Primary School Mr S Robertson Head, Laxton Junior School Monday 21 March 2022 - Published: 2022-03-18 - Modified: 2022-03-22 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/take-a-bow/ - Categories: Performances It felt very special to have a full audience back for the Speech and Drama Competition this year. This annual event is a calendar highlight and the finalists of 2022 more than held their own against previous performances. Whether you have just watched your first, or simply your most recent of many, the afternoon never fails to deliver with the breadth of material, the range of the performers, and the sheer delight in being entertained. Every child from Year 1 through to Year 6 participated in the heats, where they performed set pieces in front of their own year groups. Six children from each year group progressed to the finals to perform pieces of their choice in front of an audience of children, staff and families. It was an absolute pleasure to be whisked away to the shoreline, to be amused by animals and to hear the myriad of excuses offered up in poetry and prose for not having done homework or tidied bedrooms. Comic timing was demonstrated with aplomb and even the youngest performers rose to the occasion and entertained an engaged and enthusiastic audience. Our children never fail to impress us, but it was lovely to hear our judge, Niki Marks, stating how amazed she was to see the confidence and self-awareness demonstrated on stage. Niki is Head of Performing Arts at Prince William School, and she definitely had the hardest job of the afternoon. Without exception the performances were lively and confident - the pupils spoke clearly,... - Published: 2022-03-11 - Modified: 2022-03-11 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/thank-you-for-the-music/ - Categories: Achievements, Performances One of the many things that we have missed during the pandemic is collaborative music-making, and we have been delighted to be able to start to provide these opportunities again. On Friday 11th February, Mrs Adele Hudson arranged a brass afternoon where our Year 4, 5 and 6 brass players combined with brass players from Elton Primary School. They learned two brand new songs all together, supported by Mrs Hudson, Mr Hudson and other staff. The afternoon was finished off with a small concert to parents where we heard not only the combined pieces, but also showcased pieces that smaller ensembles from both schools had learned. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, and we look forward to further occasions where we can come together with other schools to provide collaborative music opportunities all together. The House Music Competition has been an annual event at LJS for many years. The format, venue and timing of the competition has evolved since its inception and this year was an opportunity to reset under the leadership of our new Head of Music, Miss Nina Haynes. This year there would be four finalists from each house for the Junior competition (for Years 3 and 4) and four finalists from each house for the Senior competition (for Years 5 and 6). The first round of the competition was held virtually, and any children who wanted to take part could record themselves playing a piece on their instrument and send it in. We had a total of... - Published: 2022-02-25 - Modified: 2022-02-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/congratulations/ - Categories: Achievements Why are we celebrating? Not only is it Friday and therefore the weekend is in sight – can we hear a cheer? – but we started our Friday with a fabulous Celebration Assembly! After we all joined in with a rousing chorus of ‘Come on and Celebrate’, Mr Robertson had lots of exciting achievements to share with us. He started with Grace, who held a bake sale outside her house and raised a brilliant £150 for Target Ovarian Cancer - superb! Georgie, one of our keen horse riders, has had great success in her recent show jumping competitions, finishing 2nd in the 6- to 65cm category and a very creditable 4th in the 70 to 75cm section – well done! Imogen has begun fundraising for her forthcoming Three Peaks Challenge at the end of March. So far, the total raised is £1234 (what a great number! ) and this looks set to rise over the next 5 weeks before the challenge itself. Hugo has completed an impressive 11 park runs which has earned him his Half Marathon certificate – congratulations! The LJS Equestrian Team has been busy once again. Fritha, Jossie and Flora finished 1st and Albie, Jossie and Flora finished 6th in their respective classes – excellent work by our riders and their steeds. The Swimming Team has been busy breaking no fewer than 8 LJS swimming records in recent galas and one of our swimming captains, Lleyton, was on hand to present the certificates to our super swimmers.... - Published: 2022-02-11 - Modified: 2022-02-14 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/speak-out-stay-safe/ - Categories: Academic Our pupils know that they should always ‘speak out, stay safe’ and this week that message has been strengthened further through lessons, assemblies and more relating to Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day was officially on Tuesday, but there have been a wide range of activities happening this week that have further strengthened these messages and rules. We started the week with Ms Crump’s assembly, where we shared ideas about how we can have fun online. There are lots of ways that we can stay safe online too and we learned that there would be lots of opportunities to explore this further during the week. Mr Harper introduced internet safety stories in Tuesday’s Infant assembly and heard about Digiduck who shared his password with friends. We all know that it’s really important to keep our passwords safe to keep our information safe. Thursday’s Key Stage 2 assembly was led by the team of Digital Leaders from Years 4, 5 and 6. They had created a series of online safety scenarios that they shared with Years 3 to 6 and they made us all think hard about what we might do in the various situations. The quiz that they had prepared for us was great fun and we learned lots too. Digital Ambassadors from Oundle School also visited Year 6 to talk to them about their digital footprint and the how they should consider this when making decisions about their activity online. It was very thought-provoking and made us all think... - Published: 2022-02-04 - Modified: 2022-02-04 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/lets-go-eco/ - Categories: Community This time last year, LJS looked very different, as learning had moved online once more and we worked hard to keep our community connected through our LJS Community team on the Microsoft Teams platform. Every child and staff member was a part of the team and this time last year, a very exciting whole community house challenge was launched. The Great Green Wall House Challenge ran for 6 weeks and was the most incredible community effort. Children and adults completed numerous challenges to earn kilometres for their house, many of them being eco-friendly, such as litter picking, using sustainable transport modes and recycling. Mr Marsden, our Sustainability Lead and our pupil-based Eco-Team were thrilled with the response and it led to LJS being reaching Eco Schools Silver status. The Eco Team has continued to work hard with the aim of achieving the coveted Green Flag status, encouraging us all to consider our actions and practices. Each year group has Eco Team representatives and each form has designated eco monitors; between them, they encourage us to switch off lights and devices, save water, recycle and look after our environment. Our new school newspaper even features a piece by Eco Correspondents Fritha and Cecily. Here’s what they have written, launching the LJS Eco Code that is now proudly displayed around the school. The eco team are seeing how environmentally friendly our wonderful school is. The Eco Team from 2020/21 as a team created the LJS Eco Code by which we try to... - Published: 2022-01-28 - Modified: 2022-01-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/its-a-sign/ - Categories: Community, Visits Today, LJS has been quieter than usual as the entire school, children and adults alike, attempted to remain as silent as possible for the whole day. ‘Why? we hear you ask (or mouth silently in our case! )! Well, last week, Gloucester House led an assembly and introduced us to Helen from the charity Sense. Helen told us all about the work that the charity does to support those who are deafblind or who live with other complex disabilities. Helen also taught us how to offer or ask for help using British Sign Language or BSL. The Gloucester House Captains then told us that we were going to hold a whole school sponsored silence event to raise money for Sense, which is Gloucester’s chosen charity of the year. Ms Crump’s assembly was a super start to the day and Mr Smith began by playing an intricate (but silent! ) piano piece by John Cage. We all watched carefully as she communicated with us using pictures, gesture and signs. She taught us all how to sign ‘Good morning’ and we all joined in with a signed song, which two of our Year 6 boys led brilliantly. It was great fun and everyone concentrated really hard, as we followed the people on the video and the boys in the hall. The adults had been asked to bring a whiteboard and pen with them and Ms Crump challenged them to draw a picture by following her verbal instructions, which, it has to be... - Published: 2022-01-21 - Modified: 2022-01-21 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/trips-visits-and-visitors/ - Categories: Visits As well as the learning that takes place on site, we love getting out and about to enhance and further our learning. This week, five classes have been on trips, travelling to Rutland, Peterborough and the heady heights of the centre of Oundle. On Monday, Year 1 eagerly boarded the LJS minibuses and headed to Rutland Water Nature Reserve at Egleton for the second time this year. They were met by Anglian Water Rangers Luke and Eileen, who outlined the plan for the Seasons Day. When they visited back in November, there were lots of fallen leaves and plenty of berries and seeds in the trees and bushes, otherwise known as nature’s supermarket. The children noticed that this time, now that winter is here, there are not very many seeds and berries left as the wildlife that lives on the reserve has been busy eating them. As they set off on a winter walk, they ticked off a variety of features including log piles and types of tree. They visited two different bird hides – one in the morning and one in the afternoon – where they used binoculars to watch woodland and wetland birds. One of the highlights of the day, however, was meeting Joe, who found the now legendary Rutland Sea Dinosaur that has been in the news recently. Joe told us all about his amazing discovery and the children (and adults) asked lots of questions. He told us that the ichthyosaur that he found was 10 metres... - Published: 2022-01-14 - Modified: 2022-01-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/maths-day/ - Categories: Academic Children throughout the school have had a day filled to bursting with Maths, not just in Maths lessons but in other subjects too. It turns out that Maths really is everywhere! Through explorations of tessellation in Year 4 and perspective drawings in Year 1, the children learnt about the unexpected connections between Art and Maths. Creativity also featured within the Year 6 classrooms, with the children collaborating to create some amazing board games, incorporating their maths learning within the design of their games. Strategy games were the cause of great excitement in Year 4. The aim of the game was to score the most number of points and those that employed the most savvy strategy took the win! Reception put into practice their counting skills within their PE lesson, playing lots of different games, all involving the number 5. The children in Years 2 and were challenged to use maths vocabulary in dialogue in order to solve tricky problems during their problem solving workshops. Year 5 found themselves turning numbers into fractions in the changing rooms, to work out how many people were changed and ready! Every child had the opportunity to work with the team from The Problem Solving Company where they were set a variety of problems to solve. They worked together to find the solutions and used their existing knowledge, as well as acquiring some more skills too. When you are out and about over the weekend, how much Maths can you see? - Published: 2021-12-16 - Modified: 2021-12-16 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/woodland-garden-grand-opening/ - Categories: Community On Monday 6th December Laxton Junior School (LJS) officially opened its Woodland Garden. Staff, pupils and parents all gathered in the playground to celebrate the unveiling of the plaque, which was designed and created in Oundle School’s Patrick Engineering Centre. The ceremony was performed by the Head, Mr Sam Robertson and Mr Timothy Coleridge, Governor at the School and Master of the Worshipful Company of the Grocers. The design and creation of the Woodland Garden is the product of an exceptional effort across the whole School community including grounds staff, the PFA and every single child at LJS who contributed by planting saplings donated by the Woodland Trust. Pupils at LJS, along with children from local nurseries who are being invited to make use of the space, all benefit from regular time in the garden, developing a range of outdoor learning skills as well as simply taking everyday lessons outdoors. Just recently, Year 1 enjoyed a Christmas-themed outdoor session, making nature-based decorations, whilst Key Stage 2 children whittled elder beads and braided cord to make their own bracelets. Other regular activities include den building, learning about firecraft in the Fire Garden, practising letters or mathematical concepts in chalk on the wooden Art Wall and performing concerts and plays in the structured Bandstand or inside the Tepee. Being pirates and ‘capturing the flag’ in the Fort has proved a particular hit with the younger members of the School! Mr Sam Robertson, Head of Laxton Junior School said; “With the constant lure... - Published: 2021-12-03 - Modified: 2021-12-03 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/where-shall-we-go-today/ - Categories: Visits Trips and visitors are a very important part of life here at LJS. We have seen every year group head out on trips of all kinds during the Michaelmas Term, to support the learning done in the classroom, as well as welcoming visiting speakers into school. Trips and visitors are a fundamental element of our co-curricular programme and these experiences complement the academic curriculum, providing our children with opportunities to consolidate, extend and challenge their thinking and knowledge. Our Reception children have had visits from the Fire Service, a paramedic and a PCSO, as part of their learning on people who help us. They have also been on a trip to West Lodge Farm Park at Desborough. They have got used to travelling on our school minibuses to go to the swimming pool every week and were incredibly excited to be going on a longer journey! Year 1 have visited Egleton Nature Reserve at Rutland Water for their first Seasons Day of the academic year. They had a wonderful time learning about woodland and water birds, as well as searching for signs of autumn and winter on an unseasonably warm November day. They have also visited Bharat Hindu Temple in Peterborough as part of their learning in RE. Year 2 have had not one but two Victorian Days! The first saw them travelling, in full Victorian attire, to Holdenby House at in Northamptonshire, where they took on the roles of servants for the day and worked very hard indeed, cleaning,... - Published: 2021-11-26 - Modified: 2021-11-26 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/celebration-assembly/ - Categories: Achievements Our monthly Celebration Assembly saw children from across the school being awarded with certificates, trophies, badges and medals for a variety of reasons. Values certificates were awarded in each Form and the overall Values Award winner received a Values pin and the coveted trophy that will be on display in their classroom for the next month. Jack and Isabella, our Head Boy and Girl, presented the Cup of Kindness to a very worthy winner, who they said stood out for her kindness, manners and good will. The Values Award winners and Cup of Kindness winner were invited to a special Celebration lunch, complete with the most amazing chocolate cake which they declared to be delicious! Lots of Colours awards were presented for representing LJS at the highest level, with certificates being given out, as well as bronze and silver Griffin badges. Our Chess players are taking part in the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge and are currently holding 46th position out of 500 schools in the UK and are 1st in our region – well done to you all! Outside of school, there have been yet more achievements. Georgie in Year 6 has been busy competing on her pony and we saw a lovely photograph of her jumping over what looked to be a sizeable jump! Sofia in Year 6 has raised hundreds of pounds in sponsorship money for Kettering General Hospital by having her long hair cut into a very stylish bob. Lucien in Year 4 has been competing... - Published: 2021-11-19 - Modified: 2021-11-26 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/anti-bullying-week-2/ - Categories: Community Anti Bullying Week was kicked off with the much anticipated Odd Socks Day, with children and adults around the school sporting a wide range of odd socks. Some chose subtle odd-ness and others went all out in a blaze of colour and pattern. Others chose to have odd socks by wearing their usual school socks and being the odd one out. No matter what, we showed that we are all different and all equal – after all, a sock is a sock, no matter what colour, length or pattern! One of the highlights of Anti Bullying Week was the official song by Andy and the Odd Socks – One Kind Word. LJS were one of a handful of schools nationwide to contribute to the accompanying video. Ms Crump, Mrs Waterhouse, Year 5 and Year 6 had a brilliant time filming in the Woodland Garden before half term and submitted some carefully chosen clips. It was very exciting to watch the video for the first time and, a minute or so in, some very familiar faces popped onto the screen! Needless to say, the video has been played many times in the past few weeks by members of our community and we are proud to think that it has been viewed countless times across the country, helping to spread the message of kindness. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a look! Anti-Bullying Week 2021: One Kind Word (celebration video) - YouTube Every child in school has created a kindness rock,... - Published: 2021-09-26 - Modified: 2021-10-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/what-makes-you-happy/ - Categories: Community This week’s assembly themes have been relating to Care which is one of our Values. Mr Robertson, Ms Crump, Mrs Humphrey and Mrs Waterhouse have all delivered assemblies to various elements of the school community relating to this theme, with messages to support how we care for ourselves and for others. Mr Robertson spoke about the Random Acts of... board, currently relating to Care, situated outside his office. The board invites us to choose a card and read it (or ask someone to help us to read it) and then complete the random act of care. There are a wide variety of tasks and acts such as asking someone if you can help them. Mrs Humphrey spoke to the Infants about giving and generosity. The children agreed that generosity is not just about money; it is perfectly possible to be generous with your time or actions. Helping other people is a wonderful way to show generosity! Mrs Waterhouse shared one of her favourite books - 'The Shape Game' by Anthony Browne. In the book, the family go to an art gallery for mum's birthday treat and she gives them the gift of happiness, as she shares her love of art. The clever illustrations show how the family become bright and colourful as their enjoyment increases and their happiness levels rise. We talked about what makes us feel happy and met the challenge of thinking of 10 things. Ms Crump's message was to pass on happiness and positivity and we all... - Published: 2021-09-17 - Modified: 2021-09-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/music-for-all/ - Categories: Uncategorised We love music at LJS and curriculum music and instrumental lessons all began last week for children from Reception up to Year 6. A brand new, and rather exciting, addition to the Music Room is a class set of bright and colourful ukuleles, displayed for all to see on the wall. They look stunning and we can’t wait to get started. Miss Haynes, our new Director of Music, has thoroughly enjoyed hearing the incredible music that drifts around the school and getting to know our staff and children during her first fortnight. This week, our ensembles and choirs have resumed, this time unrestricted by bubbles. Children who engage with individual instrument lessons are invited to join ensembles relating to their instrument and we also have various singing groups on offer to any enthusiastic singers. As well as the choirs, the Glee Club, which was set up last year at the request of one of our Year 6 pupils, is starting its second year. The lyrics to Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ have been distributed at today’s session and auditions are being set up to decide who will perform the rap section. We hope to be able to share a sneak preview very soon. Our Junior Strings ensemble enabled Year 3 and 4 strings players to collaborate, as they begin to learn new pieces to perform in the future. The Year 5 and 6 String Orchestra, made up of violins, violas, cellos, double bass and a harp, have also begun work on their... - Published: 2021-09-10 - Modified: 2021-09-10 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/were-back/ - Categories: Community It has been a fabulous week back at school with the joyous sound of chatter, music, laughter and singing filling the air. We have welcomed no fewer than 53 new children (including 33 Reception children) and 3 new staff to our school this week, as well as over 240 existing children and staff and it has been wonderful seeing children and adults alike making new connections and catching up with each other. Our new Head Boy and Head Girl, Jack and Isabella, have thoroughly enjoyed their first week in their roles. They say that their highlights have been helping the new Reception children at lunchtimes and getting to know their new classes and teachers. Whilst we are all looking forwards to the new year ahead but are also excited to share The LJS Review 2020-2021 which is a fabulous summary of the last academic year at LJS. The LJS Review 2020 - 2021 We hope you enjoy it! - Published: 2021-06-25 - Modified: 2021-09-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-2/ - Categories: Achievements Sports and Celebrations Our final Celebration Assembly was held on Friday afternoon and, after a busy fortnight of House events, it was wonderful to share the successes and efforts of children across the school. Achievements outside of school are always celebrated at LJS and Mr Robertson shared news of Lila from Year 3 who has been playing with the National Youth Orchestra. From Year 5, we heard about Lleyton’s incredible prowess in the pool, as well as Jack’s place on the Royal Ballet School Junior Associate programme from September. Mrs Hamilton-Charlton congratulated all of the children from Years 1 to 6 who had competed in the Speech and Drama heats. The bar was set high for the final last week and the finalists did their Houses proud as they performed poetry and prose of their choice. The overall results were announced to the school, with Burghley emerging as the victors, followed by Gloucester, Whitmore and Lilford. Miss Danby reported that a hard fought House Tennis tournament across Years 5 and 6 resulted in Whitmore taking the top spot and therefore winning the Rothnie Cup for House Tennis The Rothnie Cup was donated by long-term Whitmore House teacher Mrs Kay Rothnie on her retirement – she will be most proud of her Whitmore Wasps! Gloucester, Burghley and Lilford took up the remaining positions in that order and Miss Danby was impressed by the standard of the tennis that was played across the tournament. Instead of a whole school sports day, we... - Published: 2021-06-18 - Modified: 2021-06-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweekly15/ - Categories: Achievements, Uncategorised House Charities We often talk about being a part of the LJS family – it’s a big one but within the big family, there are smaller and different types of family. There are year group families, form families and also House families. Every child is a proud member of one of the four LJS Houses, with siblings being in the same House to avoid difficult situations for families at competitive events. Each year, under the guidance of their House Captains and House staff, the Houses nominate charities that they will support during the course of the academic year. This has been traditionally in the form of cake stalls and these events are always keenly anticipated and result in large tables full of delicious looking treats that have been provided by the children of the House in question and sold to all members of the LJS community. Covid has meant, as with so many aspects of life, a rethink for this academic year and each House has come up with a different way to support their chosen charity. Burghley (blue) Burghley decided to raise money for Oundle Mencap Holidays, a charity that happens right on our doorstep. For over 35 years, Oundle School Community Action pupils and staff work together to offer a week-long residential summer holiday for children and young people (aged between 8 and 18) with learning disabilities. They provide a wide range of activities, including arts and crafts, days out and team games and it really is the... - Published: 2021-06-11 - Modified: 2021-06-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-13/ - Categories: Achievements Year 6 Activity Week Although they were understandably disappointed not to be able to head to France for their residential trip this year, Year 6 have done their best to make up for it as they abandoned their usual timetable this week and enjoyed an action-packed week of activities. In true LJS style, the children have thrown themselves in to every activity, with determination, positivity and many, many smiles! The week started with two day trips to the Frontier Centre at Irthlingborough. Having spent a night there back in Year 3, the children were looking forward to repeating some of the activities they took part in 3 years ago, as well as trying some new ones. The King Swing is always a highlight of the Year 3 residential at the Frontier Centre and there was a collective grin as they swung to new heights. More heights were experienced as they scaled the climbing wall before coming back to earth to walk the plank and solve the puzzle of the maze. Their team work skills came into play here, as indeed they did for the Bushcraft activities. Kayaking took them out on the water and a huge amount of fun was had as they battled with their balance and their paddles to stay afloat and stay dry! A steady hand and keen eye were required for archery and there was a tremendous feeling of satisfaction and success when the arrows hit the board, let alone the bullseye! After two long but... - Published: 2021-05-28 - Modified: 2021-05-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-12/ - Categories: Academic A Pirate Invasion! Ahoy there, me hearties! On Wednesday morning, something strange happened... None of our Reception children came to school but we did have replacements in the form of pirates! The Reception staff had been replaced by pirates too – what a mystery! The pirates decided that a health check should be carried out before they tackled the day’s tasks and a pop-up pirate surgery appeared where the pirate crew members were examined and passed with a clean bill of health ready to set off on their adventures. They decided to set about preparing a delicious lunch – they were obviously feeling very hungry. They busily buttered bread and chose their sandwich fillings – ham, cheese or jam – before cutting their sandwich in half. Now, we all know that pirates love drinking grog and our visiting pirates were no different... They worked in groups to make their very own fruit grog recipes, made with yoghurt and berries. They decided in their groups which of the berries they should put in, negotiating and talking through their choices before mixing it all up ready to drink. When lunchtime came, they tucked into their homemade lunches with tremendous enthusiasm – it’s particularly hungry work making sandwiches and grog – and declared the feast to have been delicious! After they had polished off all of the food, or pirates headed for the Woodland Garden, where they found a message. ‘The island is full of magic, there’s hidden treasures needing to be free.... - Published: 2021-05-21 - Modified: 2021-05-21 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-11/ - Categories: Visits There was a tremendous sense of anticipation and excitement on Tuesday morning, as Year 1 prepared to set off on what was, incredibly, the very first school trip of 2021. Indeed, it was the first trip since early October 2020! As part of their work on Seasons, Year 1 have termly visits planned to Rutland Water Nature Reserve at Egleton. Of course, the Lent Term visit was cancelled as we were in lockdown, but the October and May visits have been able to go ahead – phew! With the minibuses loaded with children, adults and the most important thing of all – the packed lunches – we set off for Rutland Water under slightly grey skies but the sun was shining in the minibuses as the sound of excited chatter filled the air. We had a little hiccup on the way when we came across an unexpected road closure, resulting in a slight detour which turned out to be picturesque as we drove all the way around Rutland Water itself. In true Year 1 style, we had barely left Oundle before the first questions were being asked and they were questions that will be familiar to any adult who has travelled with children – ‘Are we nearly there yet? ’ and ‘Is it lunchtime yet? ’ – the latter was asked repeatedly until lunchtime, of course! On arrival, we were met by familiar faces in the form of our Anglian Water Education Rangers Luke and Eileen. This was Laxton Junior... - Published: 2021-05-14 - Modified: 2021-05-14 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-10/ - Categories: Community Mental Health Awareness Week This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme has been ‘Connect with Nature’. Our assemblies have all been based around this theme this week and Ms Crump gave us all an overview of how everyone at LJS has been connecting with nature during this week alone. Every child has participated in sporting activities in the great outdoors this week, whether that be in PE or Games lessons, fixtures or after school activities. We were thrilled that our Year 5 children had the honour of competing in our first fixtures against other schools since March 2020 and they did us proud! Monday saw our Under 10 Tennis squad take on Stamford Junior School; they were just pipped at the post but were impressive in their determination and resilience. On Wednesday, we fielded (pun intended) a large squad of Under 10 cricketers, again against Stamford Junior School. The results were mixed with one match being lost by a single run but the children returned with broad smiles on their faces, which was wonderful to see. Our Year 4 children have become captivated by the Rutland Osprey Project. Staff and children were treated to a brilliant presentation by William from 4M who is an official Osprey Ambassador. We have all been following the webcam with grea interest as there have been three eggs in the nest. The children (and staff) have been guessing when each of the eggs will hatch and there was excitement as eggs 1... - Published: 2021-05-07 - Modified: 2021-05-07 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-9/ - Categories: Achievements Let’s Assemble! Every week at LJS we have a range of assemblies where we gather together. These are, of course, virtual at the moment but they are still moments of togetherness that are valued enormously amongst our community. Linked to the Summer Term theme of Health and Wellbeing, this week’s main assembly theme has been ‘The Great Outdoors’. On Monday, Mr Robertson invited the staff to share their experiences of adventures in the great outdoors, all linked to looking after our own wellbeing. There were many volunteers! Mrs Perkins told us of her experiences teaching English in Nepal. One of the highlights she spoke of was when she went trekking through the Himalayas, including Everest. Mrs Pick spoke of her experiences in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Her visit was inspirational and she told us that she hopes to return with her family to share the wonders. Mr Larkin’s outdoor adventure was on British soil and we heard how the Peak District provided exhilaration and challenge for Mr Larkin and his group of friends, as they battled against inclement weather and in particular dense fog which severely limited the visibility. Mr Marsden is a keen rock climber and had the incredible opportunity to climb with a group of friends in Yosemite National Park in the USA. He told us how connected to nature he felt and how that made him feel. Every year, Miss Marais embarks upon a cycling holiday with a group of friends, something that has... - Published: 2021-04-30 - Modified: 2021-04-30 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-8/ - Categories: Achievements, Community Let’s Celebrate! Our first Celebration Assembly of the Summer Term took place this morning and as a community we congratulated the worthy winners of the Values certificates that were awarded for each form. Our five Values are not only on display on posters but they are also on display in the actions of the children (and adults) and it is just wonderful to see! This month’s Values Award was presented to Pip in Year 2. Mr Robertson told us how Pip demonstrates each of the Values – Care, Community, Quality, Love of Learning and Opportunity and Pip was thrilled to receive the coveted trophy to display in her classroom for the month, as well as the ‘V’ badge that she will wear on her blazer with pride. Congratulations, Pip! Our Head Boy and Head Girl have the tricky task of awarding the Cup of Kindness each month and work hard as a team to decide who should be the recipient. This month’s winner is Isabella in Year 5; Jack and Naomi described how Isabella’s kindness has been noted as she moves around the school, as well as being visible for us all to see during the Great Green Wall House Challenge on Teams when she was positive and encouraging towards children from all four Houses, congratulating them and being a wonderful role model. Well done, Isabella! Colours certificates and badges were awarded to numerous children, who have represented the school at the highest level in a variety of musical and... - Published: 2021-04-24 - Modified: 2021-04-24 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly/ - Categories: Academic, Newsletters The Summer Term resumed on Tuesday and we have been blessed with weather from every season! Frosty mornings have given way to sunny afternoons, with some wonderful weather for sports, playtimes and outdoor learning. Reception were amazed on Tuesday morning to find a message in a bottle that turned out to be from Captain Blackbeard the Pirate. They’ve been busy writing messages and drawing pictures for him. Today they had a wonderful time making shields, swords, dragons and helmets for their ‘Land of St. George’ play project – perfect for St. George’s Day! Spring is definitely in the air in Year One! They have been writing some fabulous spring poems and have also been planting seeds for their new Science topic. They also investigated animal sounds in music, thinking about high and low pitched sounds. Year Two are learning about the seaside, both in the past and the present, in Humanities. They too have been planting flower and vegetable seeds in Science. Year Three have been exploring why the Romans invaded Britain and have begun making some super videos to explain their thinking. We are looking forward to seeing them when they are finished. Year Four have started working on the classic C. S. Lewis novel ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ in their English lessons. We won’t say too much about it yet – no spoilers here! They have also been working hard on decimal places in Maths. Year Five were delighted to be able to finish off... - Published: 2021-03-26 - Modified: 2021-03-26 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweeklysix/ - Categories: Academic The Great Green Wall House Challenge was immortalised today when the House Captains from Burghley, Lilford, Whitmore and Gloucester planted their own ornamental cherry and plum trees at the front of LJS. These represent the 7,750km travelled by each of the four Houses. It was the most incredible Community effort and was a wonderful way of connecting us when we were working remotely, with heart-warming acts of encouragement and support on display on the Great Green Wall channel on Teams. Once the first two Houses had crossed the virtual finish line, the children selflessly continued to earn kilometres and gifted them to Gloucester, who had found themselves slightly further back. It demonstrated perfectly the LJS Values of Care and Community, as well as several elements of our Mission, in particular resilience, collaboration, respect, kindness and well-roundedness. As well as four trees, we have been planting lots of hedge saplings in our Woodland Garden, thanks to Tree Appeal, who provide schools and other organisations throughout the British Isles with trees to create wildlife habitats and combat climate change. Today is the last day of the Lent Term and Mrs Maslen has presented our Easter Service with Rev Maria Coulter from Oundle School. Mrs Maslen has distributed eggs to all children and staff to represent new life this Easter and our PFA hav provided every child with an Easter treat too. Thank you! It's been a varied and very different term to any that any of us have ever experienced before. We... - Published: 2021-03-19 - Modified: 2021-03-19 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/red-nose-day-2021/ - Categories: Community LJS was filled with superheroes today as we raised money for Comic Relief by dressing up. There was a wide range of inspiration on display and it was fabulous to see children and adults alike getting into the spirit of things. Ms Crump’s assembly was a superb way to start the day and the joke-a-thon that unfolded before our very eyes on Teams resulted in groans and laughter in equal amounts – they do say that laughter is the best medicine and we would have to agree! The Great Green Wall House Challenge has clearly been influential and we saw several Sir David Attenboroughs and Greta Thunberg, all advocating that we should care for our environment – the Eco Committee were delighted! Lots of Covid superheroes were acknowledged too, with doctors, nurses and the incredible Captain Sir Tom Moore all represented. Edith Cavell, who was educated in Peterborough, made an appearance too; she selflessly saved the lives of German and British soldiers during the First World War, before helping 200 Allied soldiers to escape from Belgium. Suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst was also at LJS today – we wonder what these women would have made of a 21st century school! Artists Frida Kahlo and JMW Turner showed how inspirational creativity can be too. There were also a number of fictional, but equally important, superheroes. Wonder Woman seemed to be everywhere, as did a plethora of Marvel and Lego characters! Harry Potter and Hermione Grainger must have secured special permission to leave Hogwarts... - Published: 2021-03-12 - Modified: 2021-03-12 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/eco-schools-silver-award/ - Categories: Achievements We are incredibly excited and proud to announce that Laxton Junior School has been awarded an Eco-Schools Silver Award for all the amazing work we have been doing as a school. The Great Green Wall House Challenge has enabled our entire community to contribute towards this and the now expanded Eco Committee have been working hard too. Next step – the coveted Green Award. The Eco Committee already have plans in place to help us to achieve this and are looking forward to sharing them with us. - Published: 2021-03-05 - Modified: 2021-03-05 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/the-final-countdown/ - Categories: Academic Well, we can’t quite believe it but we’ve made it to the end of eight weeks of remote teaching and learning! This week has been just as jam packed as the previous seven, possibly even more so, as it included World Book Week, Oundle Festival of Literature Kid Lit events, World Book Day on Thursday and the start of British Science Week. Mr Robertson set the scene for the week ahead in Monday’s assembly and we all thoroughly enjoyed the official World Book Day rap by MC Grammar! At the end of the Rap, MC Grammar asked, ‘Where’s Wally? ’ and he appeared in our library! Mr Robertson gave us all an insight into what World Book Week had in store and it was certainly action packed. Miss Farquhar and Mrs Fryatt launched the ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? ’ House Challenge on Monday and there has been a different scene uploaded every day this week to guess. Some were trickier than others but all were linked to nursery rhymes or traditional tales. The results will be announced last week – which House will be victorious? Daily activities have been available too - book making, book reviews, quizzes and World Book Day bingo have all been popular and it has been wonderful to see the children’s photos popping up on the World Book Day Teams channel, as well as on Form Teams. It was also interesting to see the comfortable and more unusual choices of reading locations! Where would you... - Published: 2021-02-27 - Modified: 2021-02-27 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/february-celebration-assembly/ - Categories: Achievements Our monthly celebration assemblies are always exactly as the title suggests – a celebration from start to finish. This month was no exception and Ms Crump started it off with a song, ‘Come On and Celebrate’. We always sing it in our Celebration Assemblies and it was wonderful to think that it was being sung across Oundle, Northamptonshire, Peterborough, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Rutland by our Community! No fewer than 8 Blue Peter badges have dropped through LJS Community letter boxes in the last few weeks! George, Imogen and Jasper all earned Blue Peter badges after they sent off letters, poems and artwork. Annabel, Jack, Archie, Lucy and Lila all received their Music Blue Peter badges for showing off their passion for music. We think that many of our children will be eligible for Green badges after all of the amazing things they have been doing as part of the Great Green Wall Challenge! Fourteen Values certificates were awarded across the school - 4 Quality, 7 Love of Learning, 2 Opportunity, 1 Care. A huge well done to Elias, Ella, George, Harry, Henry, Imogen, Isla, Jasper, Jossie, Lily, Nicholas, Olivia and Rion! The overall Values Award was presented to Zara, who has demonstrated that she has achieved in all five of our Values over the last month. She has shown Care by always looking out for members of their form, including their Form Teacher. She has demonstrated Quality by listening carefully to feedback on her work and using it to... - Published: 2021-02-12 - Modified: 2021-04-24 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-five/ - Categories: Academic Issue Five The final news piece of this half term is dedicated to the Great Green Wall House Challenge, an initiative that was launched just a week ago and has seen our community come together in an incredible way. The Great Green Wall is an initiative that aims to grow an 8,000km ‘green wall’ from Senegal in the west, to Djibouti in the east that will, in turn, transform the lives of millions of people. Our children (and staff! ) have been earning kilometres towards that total by completing a range of tasks, from walking and running 5km to cycling 10km. Recycling, litter picking, making bird feeders, tidying bedrooms, cooking family meals, doing the washing, building a den and designing and building a futuristic eco Lego house all count towards the total and we have been blown away by the efforts that are being made – our GGWC channel on Teams is full of positivity and community spirit. The biggest earner is planting a tree which is worth 15km and several have been planted already. The daily total post from Mr Marsden is eagerly anticipated and we have seen the lead change several times already. Fact files and activities are being posted about each of the countries that we are passing through as we reach them. The four Houses, Burghley, Gloucester, Lilford and Whitmore are showing terrific team spirit and there is a healthy sense of competition, with lots of supportive and appreciative comments being posted. Keep an eye on... - Published: 2021-02-05 - Modified: 2021-02-05 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljsweekly-four/ - Categories: Academic ISSUE FOUR What a way to start Friday! This morning the ‘Great Green Wall House Challenge’ was launched and the children have immediately begun completing tasks to earn kilometres for their House. We are aiming to clock up 8,000 kilometres which is the length of the Great Green Wall in Africa. So far, we have seen children completing 5km walks and runs, 10km bike rides, litter picking, making bird feeders, recycling, helping around the house and we can’t wait to see what else they do. Each task earns them a set amount of kilometres and the Houses are having a virtual race across the continent of Africa, taking them from Senegal in the west, to Ethiopia in the east. The theme of ‘Musicals’ for Miss Danby’s Daily Wake Ups has been uplifting and has featured some popular choices from The Lion King, The Greatest Showman, Mamma Mia, Matilda and Wicked to name a few. We also had some exciting news this week – the first was that we have been chosen by Andy and the Odd Socks to be one of 21 schools in the UK who will perform on this year’s antibullying week theme song! The second piece of exciting news was that one of our Year 2 pupils was thrilled to receive a Blue Peter badge in the post today! He had written a letter and sent a photograph to tell them about his efforts to learn to skateboard – well done! It’s been another busy week on... - Published: 2021-01-29 - Modified: 2021-01-29 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-three/ - Categories: Academic ISSUE THREE The LJS Community is ‘Walking on Sunshine’ today after motivating themselves by dancing along with Miss Danby to Katrina and the Waves’ classic 80s hit. The suggestions have been flooding in and we have been treated to ‘9 to 5’, ‘Saturday Night’, ‘Waterloo’ and ‘Moana’ this week, with the theme being ‘Musicals’ next week! Several Lion King and The Greatest Showman titles have been mentioned, so we are looking forward to next week already! We’ve enjoyed an eclectic mix of After School Activities this week, with Gruffalo and Mouse drawing tutorials, jelly making with Mr Smith, a whole host of bird related activities from the RSPB and, without doubt the most popular activity of the week, snow play! We had photographs and videos flooding in on Teams, with sledging, sledge-boarding, snowmen/women/children/animals, igloos and all sorts of snowy fun all featuring – it was a wonderful sight. Now, onto our featured year groups of the week – Years 1 and 2... Year One’s learning has been based around a number of different traditional tales this month. The children have really enjoyed changing the ending to the story of The Gingerbread Man in English. They have been practising weighing in Maths and have made some delicious looking gingerbread people to use their new skills. In PSHE, they have discussing jobs they do to help around the home. They proudly shared all the things they do – tidying toys, making beds, taking the dog for a walk, washing dishes, clearing the... - Published: 2021-01-22 - Modified: 2021-01-22 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-two/ - Categories: Academic ISSUE TWO Just like that it’s Friday again! The saying goes that ‘time flies when you’re having fun’, so maybe that’s why the week has zipped by? More and more of our community are joining in with Miss Danby’s Daily Wake Up dance sessions, first thing in the morning or part way through the day to energise themselves. It’s difficult to choose a favourite but this week has included ‘Can’t stop the beat’, ‘Boom, Boom, Shake the Room,’ and ‘Under the Sea’ – we can’t wait to see what next week will bring! This week Years Three and Four are the focus and both year groups have welcomed new members of LJS to their forms. Year Three have exploring the world in Humanities, as part of their learning on maps and settlements. Their art and drama learning is based around the same topic and they have been very busy working through the activities. In MFL, they have been learning how to ask if someone is OK and then replying to tell them how they themselves are feeling. We are hoping they might get to go to France to practise in the not too distant future... The children have been working hard on their recorder playing skills, playing London’s Burning and proudly submitting recordings of themselves via Teams. The topic of ‘Materials and their Properties’ has led to the children identifying objects that are translucent, transparent and opaque. In PSHE, the children have been considering what it means to behave responsibly.... - Published: 2021-01-15 - Modified: 2021-01-15 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-weekly-one/ - Categories: Academic, Community Issue One We’re at the end of the second week of remote learning – what a lot we have to report! Miss Danby’s Daily Wake Up dance sessions have proved themselves to be very popular; she has even inspired some of the Year Six children to make their own Just Dance videos for their friends – these have been so popular that some of these have now been shared with the whole school on the LJS Community Team – thank you, boys for sharing your efforts with us all. Our Co-Curricular programme continues to offer breadth and range to our learning, through individual instrument lessons and our After School Activities programme which has been revised to feature a range of activities to appeal to a wide cross-section of ages. There was great excitement across the school, no matter where they were, when snow began to fall yesterday afternoon. It didn’t settle at all in Oundle but some of our children reported that there was enough of a covering to make snowballs at their homes in South Lincolnshire and Rutland! Our live morning and afternoon sessions have been well received and we have now launched a whole class live element to our delivery of English and Maths across Key Stage 2. Children in Reception, Year One and Year Two are continuing to join their teachers for live small group sessions twice per week. This week we are putting the spotlight on what Years Five and Six have been up to over... - Published: 2021-01-08 - Modified: 2021-01-08 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/we-are-ljs/ - Categories: Academic, Community Our first few days of remote learning have flown by and there has been a whirlwind of activity across the Laxton Junior School community. Whether they are accessing the remote learning at home or in school as part of our critical worker provision, our pupils and staff have been busy learning and teaching together just like they usually do, with a few key differences, of course! Every form has been getting together every morning at 8. 30am to start the day as they would if they were in school; Form Time at 3. 30pm is a chance to catch up and maybe have a story, again, much like they do normally. Our Reception children have thrown themselves into their learning – they have followed the trail of Jack Frost, searched for ‘magic’ in the environment (they were thrilled to have found signs of spring all over the place! ), as well as doing gymnastics in their homes and re-enacting the tale of the Three Little Pigs. The Year One children used their five senses on a wintry walk and then used adjectives to describe what they had seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelled; they have also been discussing their feelings and emotions, as well as building up their core strength in a PE lesson. Year Two have been sharing messages through Teams, sharing their thoughts and feelings about each other; they have also thoroughly enjoyed a dance session with Miss Danby! Year Three have been drawing maps and reflecting on... - Published: 2020-11-11 - Modified: 2021-01-07 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-remembrance-assembly/ - Categories: Community, Uncategorised Led by our Year Six pupils, our Remembrance Assembly was shared with the school this morning and we are delighted to be able to share with our wider community. https://vimeo. com/477974904 - Published: 2020-10-16 - Modified: 2020-10-16 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-sports-report/ - Categories: Academic, Achievements Over the last few weeks, we have been treated to some fantastic competition between the Houses within Sport. Staying within their bubbles, all junior year groups have competed in House Cricket, House Rounders and House Cross Country, with Year 2 also running in their own House Cross Country race. Year 5 Cricket proved a very tight affair, with three of the four games played coming down to the final over to decide the winner. In the semi-finals, Whitmore narrowly overcame Gloucester, by means of taking more wickets, as both teams drew on 245 runs. In the other semi, Burghley held off a Lilford fightback to win by 8 runs. The final was again close, with the game taking many twists and turns before Burghley were crowned the Year 5 House Cricket Champions, winning by 6 runs. Lilford beat Gloucester in the third and fourth place play-off. In the Year 5 Rounders competition, Lilford made a cracking, beating Whitmore in a very close match by 8 rounders to 6. 5. Burghley vs Gloucester was very tight, with Burghley taking the win by half a rounder (5. 5 to 5). Gloucester and Lilford were outstanding in their next match, being tight in their fielding and drawing the match 4-4. Burghley stormed to victory, with great batting, beating Whitmore 9 rounders to 5. In the final round of matches Burghley continued their winning ways scoring 7 rounders to Lilford’s 5. Gloucester snatched victory from Whitmore in their final few hits, beating Gloucester by... - Published: 2020-10-02 - Modified: 2020-10-02 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/outdoor-learning-days-for-year-three-and-year-five/ - Categories: Academic This week has seen Years Three and Five kick off the half termly Outdoor Learning sessions in our Woodland Garden. The children and staff have loved immersing themselves in the environment, playing fun games, taking part in ‘WILD skills’ and a range of cross-curricular activities. The children were introduced to four different tools which they all used very competently to make elder beads for their friendship bracelets. Loppers were used to cut strips of elder, peelers to peel their elder, secateurs to cut their elder into beads and the ‘pokey out stick’ to take out the elder pith. Working together they knotted brightly coloured para cord together to make their bracelets. The children were thrilled with the results! Keeping warm around the lit fire helped keep spirits high too, as did sipping a warm chocolate drink with marshmallows at breaktime. Year Three’s cross-curricular session linked up with their Humanities topic, ‘The Romans’. They dramatised the story of the Trojan Horse, using props to bring it to life. Following their performance, they made a cartoon strip on the Art Wall - brilliant fun! Year Five had a super English session outdoors. Their focus was the ‘some; others’ sentence construction. Using the natural environment around them they wrote some amazing poems. Both year groups are looking forward to their next Outdoor Learning sessions in early November. Well done Years Three and Five! Mrs Emma Perkins and Mrs Heather Poole – Outdoor Learning Leads - Published: 2020-09-18 - Modified: 2020-09-18 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/after-school-activities/ - Categories: Community We have thoroughly enjoyed our first week of clubs, which the children have attended within their year group bubbles - the range has been impressive. Lots of languages have been explored, including German and Mandarin, delivered by staff from Oundle School. Our newly revamped Woodland Garden has been put to good use with children from Reception, Year One and Year Two all exploring opportunities within this wonderful space. Mr Crook, from his new house in Scotland, expertly delivered his chess clubs to Years Four, Five and Six, ably assisted by LJS staff and technical wizardry. Our range of sports activities have been very popular across the school, with netball, cross country, hockey and multisports being well attended. Creativity was flowing in woodwork, cross stitch and other crafty clubs. We’re all looking forward to doing it all again next week! By Mrs Claire Henderson , Assistant Head Co-Curricular - Published: 2020-03-30 - Modified: 2020-03-30 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-2-strings/ - Categories: Performances All our pupils learn either the violin, viola or cello from Year 2, with the Year 2 strings performance being one of the highlights of the musical year. We hope their performance makes you smile - especially their enthusiastic rendition of the 'Hokey Cokey'. https://player. vimeo. com/video/401585281 Music should involve regular collaboration and celebration, we strive to develop a life-long love of music for all our pupils and we are immensely proud of our representation in the National Children’s Orchestra and of all the Music Exhibitions and Scholarships our pupils gain to both Oundle and other Senior Schools. - Published: 2020-03-17 - Modified: 2020-03-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/stunning-creativity-in-oundles-yarrow-gallery/ - Categories: Achievements, Community Since September, every child aged 4 to 11 at Laxton Junior School has contributed to the most extraordinary, vibrant and creative exhibition of art on the theme of animals. Using a multitude of media, styles, techniques and skills, not to mention an impressive mix of independent work and collaborative efforts, pupils have created an incredibly powerful and enjoyable exhibition for all to experience. Sarah Ashby, Art Lead at Laxton Junior School commented “The children were really lucky to have creative input from experienced artists, including Sue Kirk, Sam Purcell and Ellie Sandall. The vast array of techniques used is impressive whilst the prevalent use of recycled materials throughout the exhibition sends a message to us all. We warmly welcome all visitors to the exhibition and look forward to sharing this fantastic celebration of art. ” Below is a short video of the exhibition and our pupils at the Yarrow Gallery: https://vimeo. com/397371394 - Published: 2020-03-13 - Modified: 2020-03-13 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/house-speech-and-drama/ - Categories: Performances The House Speech and Drama Competition is one of the highlights of the LJS calendar, as we all know that we will be entertained and amused by a spectacular selection of prose and poetry performed by a fantastic set of finalists. As always, the selected pieces recited on the afternoon were varied and well-chosen, and we all laughed, gasped and drooled as we heard about cats, dogs, turkeys and pigs, football, ballet and aerobics classes, magic, ghosts, car trips and ice cream. The spectre of homework was featured more than once and television was put firmly back in its box. Without exception the performances were lively and confident with lots of lovely clear voices, additional gestures and movements. The finalists had a great understanding of the poems that they were performing and the space that they were inhabiting, and the whole afternoon was a masterclass in stage performance. We were delighted to welcome Mr Probert, a Drama Teacher at Oundle School, as our adjudicator this year; he had studied Drama at Exeter University, UEA and The Central School of Speech and Drama. Prior to becoming a teacher, he worked for touring companies and the RSC. Mr Probert was hugely impressed with the performers and their performances – there were many chuckles and gasps of appreciation as he watched children from Years 1 to 6 bravely mount the steps to the stage and deliver their poem with clarity and style. His feedback was incredibly positive and complimentary; he clearly enjoyed the... - Published: 2020-03-11 - Modified: 2020-03-11 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/world-maths-day-2/ - Categories: Academic To embrace World Maths Day, the whole school enjoyed Maths in a variety of contexts on Wednesday, 4th March. The classrooms, hall, outdoor areas and even the swimming pool were buzzing with mathematical games and challenges. Throughout the day, The Problem Solving Company provided fun workshops, working with each class, from Reception to Year 6. The children worked in small groups to solve a range of mathematical puzzles with many of the problems involving the children manipulating shapes and large practical resources to give a fabulous hands-on experience. The Reception children absolutely loved the different shape puzzles that they were given and the staff were really impressed with how well they worked together to solve them. We enjoyed a visit from Ally Strachan and a number of Sixth Form students from Oundle School, who challenged the Year 4 children to use their mathematical knowledge and understanding to solve many conundrums. We really enjoy collaborating with the Senior School, the older pupils set such a good example: being kind, discussing misconceptions, offering practical guidance and motivating our children to succeed. Maths treasure hunts outside were thoroughly enjoyed by Year 3 and Year 5. The children followed the questions, found numbers in the school environment, answered a maths problem and this then gave them a letter. To find the hidden treasure the children needed to answer all of the questions to be able to identify its location. The children said that, ‘they enjoyed doing Maths in different locations’, ‘it tested our minds... - Published: 2020-03-02 - Modified: 2020-03-02 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/year-6-visit-oundles-chemistry-labs/ - Categories: Academic, Visits We are very fortunate, at LJS, to have the impressive facilities of Oundle School on our doorstep, as well as the expertise of the staff who enjoy hosting us on a regular basis. As they start their latest Science topic on reversible and irreversible reactions, Year 6 visited Oundle’s Chemistry department, where they performed their own iodine clock experiment. This involved multiple steps, whereby the children had to follow a set of instructions very carefully. They showed off their practical skills by making sure that their measurements of liquid volumes were as accurate as they could possibly make them, and by observing closely to measure the exact time for the colour change to occur. As they repeated the experiment using different concentrations of reactants, it was a pleasure to see their confidence increase, with partners working together to make the whole process as efficient as possible. Mr Peverley, Head of Chemistry at Oundle School, also treated the children to a demonstration of some exciting reactions, involving loud bangs and bright flashes. Oohs and aahs abounded as some clever colour changes took place, cans exploded and bubbles of gas caught fire. The final demonstration of a jet engine in a bottle was both beautiful and awe-inspiring, leaving the children with a little taste of the wonder and ‘magic’ of Science. We are very grateful to Mr Peverley and the Oundle School staff for giving our children such a wonderful opportunity, and for sharing their expertise and passion for their subject –... - Published: 2020-02-25 - Modified: 2020-02-25 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/ljs-football-and-netball-festivals/ - Categories: Academic Casper writes: on Wednesday 12th February, we played in the annual Laxton Junior School Football Festival. The competing teams were Kings Ely, Witham hall, The Peterborough School, Wellingborough and Laxton Junior. The first match was against a strong Witham Hall team. We started off a bit nervously but we soon got into stride, zipping the ball around the pitch and it wasn't long before we broke the deadlock. After a flowing move starting from Seb, the ball slipped through to Josh who found the top corner. The second goal quickly followed after another impressive passing move finished off neatly by Billy. The second match was a tense affair. In the first half defences were definitely on top with some superb tackles by Angus and Ollie. The game was heading for a goalless draw but with resilience and determination, Milo twisted and turned in the box and slammed the ball into the bottom corner with almost the last kick. A tricky game against Kings Ely led to our first loss of the day and we kicked off our final match, against Wellingborough, knowing nothing less than a victory would do. We started strong, full of confidence and playing as a team. After some Barcelona style passing moves we made the breakthrough with Josh finishing nicely. A lapse in defence saw Wellingborough get back into the game but our resilience showed again and the lively Josh was fouled in the box and Billy dispatched the penalty superbly. We had done all we... - Published: 2020-02-17 - Modified: 2020-02-17 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/safer-internet-day/ - Categories: Academic It was Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, 11th of February and, to mark the occasion, Laxton Junior School had a week of focus on online safety. Safer Internet Day is an annual event that is designed to empower young people to take control of their digital lives. This year, the focus was on online identity and asking young people to consider whether they and their peers are truly free to be themselves online. During the Infant and Junior assemblies, the children focused on the information you should and should not share about yourself online. We also discussed the importance of making sure the internet feels safe for everyone. In their Computing lessons, the infants went into more detail about this and we read a wonderful story about online identity called 'Digiduck's Famous Friend'. If you would like to read the story again, the link is here. In Years 3 to 6, the focus in Computing lessons was the new LJS Pupil Online Safety Agreement. The children were shown a list of online safety rules that had been created by our Digital Leaders. We then discussed them as a class and decided if they were fair and reasonable. Now that we have agreed on them as a school, they will go home to be signed by pupils after half-term. We also had an Online Safety ‘Parents in Partnership’ session led by Kathryn Brown from the NSPCC. This was a fantastic session and was very informative, focusing on many areas in which... - Published: 2020-01-28 - Modified: 2020-01-28 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/percussionists-at-ljs-and-oundle-combine-in-concert/ - Categories: Community, Performances The LJS hall was buzzing in the evening of Monday, 27th January, as parents, staff and children of Laxton Junior and Oundle School converged for the annual Percussion Concert. Led by our extraordinary and inspiring Percussion Teacher, Mr Rhys Matthews, children from Year 1 to the 6th Form performed a range of individual and ensemble pieces that had a packed hall smiling and seat-dancing throughout! Evenings such as this are not just a display of the phenomenal musical talent that exists across both schools, it is an opportunity for the entire community to observe and listen to the progression of knowledge and skill from its origins, in Year 1 and Year 2 at LJS, all the way up to those working on Grade 8 and Diploma pieces at the top end of Oundle School. It is an incredible journey and one that involves exceptional levels of dedication and, importantly, passion; to see this evolution, then, so exquisitely portrayed before the audience’s eyes was an absolute joy to behold. There were many highlights of the evening: the confident first public performances by LJS’s Junior and Intermediate Ensembles; the remarkably choreographed ‘body beats’ by the senior school’s percussionists; and the hugely entertaining ‘beats and brooms’ by Laxton’s Senior Ensemble. A favourite moment of so many of the audience, though, was watching the LJS children listen to the fantastic individual performances by Oundle School’s percussionists; they were utterly spellbound by these, and got a real-life taste of what they could become if they... - Published: 2020-01-24 - Modified: 2020-01-24 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/art-day/ - Categories: Academic Every child in the school was fortunate enough to experience an amazing Art Day on Tuesday, 21st January. The children were engaged in a rich variety of artistic skills linked to the theme of ‘Animals’. This day was to help us prepare for our exhibition at the Yarrow Gallery (Friday, 6th March to Saturday, 21stMarch). Art underpins our values in the school. The children are given so many opportunities and can respond in a way that suits them. Being creative shows resilience, and encouraging the children to work collaboratively helps them listen, show empathy and even strengthen their ideas. The day involved problem solving, understanding that small changes can make a large effect, releasing their feelings through their work and allowing the children to make careful judgements. Inspiration was enhanced by the support of visiting artists. Sam Purcell, a local artist and designer, who creates the beautiful ‘Hare in the Sweater’ designs worked with Year 4 and they produced their own personal sweater motifs for the hares. These designs included flowers, dragons, emojis, and dogs. The children put in so much effort into their creations and had a super day. William Ashley-Norman taught the Year 6 children to make chicken wire animals. Matthew (Year 6) commented, “Art Day was a good experience because I modelled chicken wire, which I had never done before. ” Sienna (Year 6) added, “it was a great opportunity to try something new. ” Ellie Sandall, a local author and illustrator worked with Reception and Year... - Published: 2020-01-20 - Modified: 2020-01-20 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/beware-dinosaurs-on-the-loose-at-ljs/ - Categories: Academic Reception had a very exciting afternoon when Dino Girl from the Travelling History Museum visited us. The children looked the part for our afternoon of dinosaur fun and facts in their fantastic dinosaur costumes and their roars and stomps could be heard throughout the school! The interactive workshop started with the Diplodocus, focusing on its features and diet, and the ‘stinky belly’ experiment highlighted how the Diplodocus ate stones to aid digestion. Throughout the session, the children learnt about dinosaur defence and they were fascinated by the 1 metre long platelets, that filled with blood to change colour, and tail spikes, the thagomizer, on a Stegosaurus. Collaboration was key when they all had to work in sync to fly the largest Pterodactyl, the Quetzalcoatlus, with its 12m wing span in our hall. When getting into role as a Tyrannosaurus-Rex, the children could not believe how difficult it was to get up from the floor without the use of their long arms. Dino Girl did not visit us alone, she brought many model dinosaurs with her for the children to discuss, touch and even ride on. She entertained the children brilliantly by using these to bring her facts to life. She also brought various fossils for us to touch and, unsurprisingly, the Velociraptor claw and the fossilised dinosaur ‘poop’ were the favourites! To end our wonderful fact-filled afternoon, it was only fitting to think about the end of the dinosaurs. Using a large stone and a big box of flour, Dino... - Published: 2020-01-15 - Modified: 2020-01-15 - URL: https://www.laxtonjunior.org.uk/parents-in-partnership/ - Categories: Community What is the most accurate predictor of a child’s success at school? You might be surprised to hear that it isn’t socioeconomic status, the number of books read or the amount of homework completed, but it is the extent to which families encourage learning and involve themselves in their child’s education. When families are engaged in their children’s school lives, pupils have the home support, knowledge and confidence that they can develop a lifelong love of learning. That is why our Laxton Junior School value of ‘Community’ is so dear to us. This term sees us launch our ‘Parents in Partnership’ initiative, where we aim to bring school and families even closer together to ensure academic, social and emotional success for all. On Friday, 10th January we welcomed over 35 family members into school, who joined together to explore how to build resilience in their children. Led by our Mental Health Lead, Natalie Jarvis, families discussed Dr Ginsburg’s (a Professor of Paediatrics and a paediatrician specialising in Adolescent Medicine, author of ‘Building Resilience in Children and Teens – Giving Kids Roots and Wings’ and ‘Raising Kids to Thrive’) 7 essential building blocks of resilience: competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control. The overriding message shared with our community being that children need to be surrounded by adults who believe in them unconditionally and hold them to high expectations of being generous, compassionate and creative. It was also reiterated that, above all, what we do to model healthy strategies for... ## Publications ## Whats On Listings ## Houses ## Vacancies ## Blogs & Podcasts ## Buildings ## Oundelian articles