In the Year 5 assembly, pupils thought about their future learning journey, including the different pathways available after primary school, such as secondary school, college, university and apprenticeships. They were encouraged to think about their aspirations, recognise the importance of skills such as curiosity, teamwork and resilience, and understand how science links to a wide range of exciting careers.

In the Year 6 assembly, pupils focused on how science supports learning, particularly how the brain works and the importance of keeping it healthy. They learnt about the role of nutrition, hydration and sleep in helping them to focus, remember and succeed. The session also highlighted key skills such as concentration, problem-solving and resilience, and how these are important for both their SATs and their future pathways.

Both assemblies encouraged pupils to stay curious, believe in themselves and recognise that their future is full of possibilities.

The workshop focused on the UK education system and the different pathways available to pupils as they progress through school and beyond. Parents learnt that there are many routes children can take—including academic and vocational options—and that each child’s journey will be unique.

The session also highlighted the importance of nurturing a love of learning, confidence and curiosity in children so they are able to make the most of future opportunities. A range of science-related careers were also shared, helping parents to understand the wide possibilities available to their children.

We greatly appreciate the continued support from our school community in working together to inspire and guide our pupils.

The session brought science to life through a range of engaging demonstrations. Pupils explored key scientific concepts including vibrations and air pressure, seeing first-hand why a balloon moves in the opposite direction when released. They were fascinated by experiments involving bubbles, learning how different sizes and shapes can be created.

The assembly also introduced pupils to elements of chemistry, including how flames can be produced using different chemicals and the science behind how they work.

The session was highly engaging, with pupils eagerly participating, asking questions and showing great enthusiasm for science. It provided a memorable experience that helped deepen their understanding of scientific concepts in a fun and practical way.

Each speaker shared their career journey and explained how they use science, maths and technology in their work—from supporting children’s movement and understanding G-forces, to working with radar systems and powerful supercomputers.

The session helped pupils see the real-world applications of their learning and inspired them to consider future careers in STEM.

On the same day, we also became Eco Warriors as part of a project led by our Eco Committee. Children took part in a sponsored run, completing laps of the playground over a fifteen-minute period to raise money for WaterAid. The energy and enthusiasm shown were incredible, and it was wonderful to see everyone getting involved for such a meaningful cause. Thanks to the generosity of our children and their sponsors, we were able to donate £153.80 to WaterAid.

Following the sessions children, had the opportunity to purchase one of Chitra’s books and have it signed and dedicated by the author. It was a wonderful experience for pupils to meet a real author and learn more about the journey from imagination to a published book!

Throughout the day, children shared their books and discussed their favourite stories. Each class also held a costume competition, with winners receiving a book written by our visiting World Book Day author. We saw a wonderful range of characters across the school, including: Matilda, Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka and Harry Potter and friends. The children looked fantastic and many members of staff joined in the celebrations by dressing up too!

After all their hard work, on Tuesday 24^th February, the children attended their graduation at SOAS (School of Oriental and Asian Studies), University of London.

Having a slice of university life, our year 6 children were given a full campus tour of the university, spoke to student ambassadors, explored different university societies and ultimately, celebrated their success! Well done, year 6, you are now alumni of the scholar’s programme 2026!

The school is good. I don’t have any problems with the school.

My son is very happy at school. He likes to come to school every day. His learning is much improved.

All I can say is everything is spot on. I really appreciate it. Thank you

I am happy that my son is studying here.

Thank you for your daily guidance and support to my child. We parents truly appreciate everything you are doing for our kids to build her future.

Thank you for your support.

I am happy my son has made good progress.

My child is happy with school. Everything is good in this school.

My child feels very safe and all the teachers ae very nice.

Thank you for everything you do.

Thank you to all the staff at Minet Junior.

Thank you for your hard work in helping my child in his school year.

As parents, we are happy with the management of Minet School and the teachers.

The school environment and teachers are very nice, and my children are happy at school.

Overall, my daughter is happy and making progress.

I’m happy with how my child has settled into year 3… and how the school is run.

Very happy with my child in this school. He is very happy and is learning so much.

Throughout the event, the children demonstrated determination, resilience and improving technique. They supported one another, celebrated good shots and stayed positive even when the games were close.

Anshjot said, “It was a really good day. I enjoyed learning new skills and it was fun to be on a winning team.”

Hana said, “It was a really nice day. I enjoyed working as part of a team.”

Mr Vijay wanted to give a special mention to Hana, who was our star player on the day. She showed fantastic accuracy, particularly when aiming at the opposition stones and successfully knocking them out of the target area. Her controlled and precise throwing made a big difference in several matches. Well done to everyone who took part!

Across the curriculum, the children demonstrated great curiosity:

• Geography: We explored the concept of "Global Citizenship" by comparing life in the UK to different African regions. 
• Creative Arts: Our classrooms were transformed by vibrant animal silhouette paintings and intricate Somali-inspired designs.
• Computing: Using digital research skills, pupils celebrated the achievements of famous African pioneers.

The atmosphere at the stadium was electric, and both the children and teachers had a wonderful time. The match was closely contested, with Corinthians securing a 1–0 victory after scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute.

It was an amazing experience for everyone involved and a great opportunity to celebrate and be inspired by women’s football. The children were well-behaved, enthusiastic, and thoroughly enjoyed the day, making it a memorable trip for all.

Out of six teams competing, Minet finished an impressive third overall and successfully reached the quarter-finals. Although they were unfortunately knocked out after two tough matches, the team showed a huge improvement compared to their last competition.

Most importantly, the boys were absolutely fantastic in the way they played together, supporting one another and maintaining a really positive attitude throughout the tournament. Their teamwork, effort, and sportsmanship were a credit to the school, and they should all be very proud of their performance.

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

As we approach the Easter break, we would like to wish all those celebrating a joyful and peaceful Easter.

On graduation day, they were given a full campus tour of the university, spoke to student ambassadors, explore different university societies and ultimately, celebrate their success! Well done, year 6, you are now alumni of the scholar’s programme 20205!

This week each year 6 class had a virtual workshop delivered by the Natural History Museum. A representative from the museum led a 50-minute interactive workshop all about evolution. The children looked at what is evolution? Why does evolution and how does evolution happen?

They very much enjoyed the workshop and the children had to look at different time periods and look at adaptation of the foot and hooves of a horse.

To celebrate this incredible achievement, and as it is also Children’s Mental Health Week, we will be holding a Golden Day in school on Friday 7 February, 2025. Children are encouraged to wear yellow clothing (no jewellery, please) as we come together to recognise the importance of children’s rights and well-being. Throughout the day, pupils will take part in activities focused on mental health and well-being, a key area of strength highlighted in our Gold Award assessment.

Achieving this award is a huge accomplishment for our school. The assessment recognised:

• Our articulate pupils, who have a deep understanding of children’s rights and confidently apply key rights-respecting concepts.
• How children’s rights are embedded across the school, visible in displays, linked across the curriculum, and highlighted on our website and communications.
• The way our pupils connect their rights to safety both in and out of school, and their trust in our school systems to support them.
• Our strong culture of inclusivity and respect, which is embraced and understood by the whole school community.
• Our focus on health and well-being, ensuring that children and families feel supported to thrive.

Earning the Gold Award means that our pupils see themselves as global citizens, advocating for social justice, fairness, and children’s rights both at home and around the world. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and look forward to celebrating it together on Golden Day!

Thank you for your continued support in making our school a truly rights-respecting community.

Last week, our year 6 children completed The Hillingdon safer cycling course, also known as Bikeability. Throughout the week, the children learnt how to be safe on the roads and were able to have a guided experience. Many have now completed their level 1 and 2 and are now have a good understanding of what it means to be cycling safely on the road.

During Culture Week, Year 4 explored the rich and diverse continent of Africa, immersing ourselves in its vibrant cultures and traditions. One of the highlights was our traditional African drumming workshop, where we learned rhythmic patterns and sang traditional African songs. We were also fortunate to welcome parent helpers, who shared fascinating insights into African culture, including Somali clothing and traditional food. They even led a fantastic performance of dance and music, which we were excited to join in with. Throughout the week, we got creative and engaged in a range of activities: we painted stunning African animal silhouettes and decorated traditional Somali attire. In computing, we researched famous African figures and created informative fact sheets. In geography, we explored the similarities and differences between children’s lives in Africa and our own lives.

Last week, our school celebrated cultural week and our focus culture was ‘The Countries from the Commonwealth.’ During our guided reading lessons, we looked at the 2023 Commonwealth short story winner and Jamaican born writer, Kwame Mcpherson’s, ‘Occee’ – a story about racism and discrimination as an immigrant.
In addition, the children also participated in a carnival dance workshop where they were able to explore the dance style of a carnival. They were remarkable! Keeping with the active theme, as a year group, we played a traditional commonwealth game from India called ‘Kabaddi’ – despite the windy weather, the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
We were also very fortunate to have a parent come and share about the culture in Uganda. Children had a chance to learn about the food, fashion and famous sights as well as a time for questions. It was such a personal experience for the children!
To finish off our celebration of culture, the children created beautiful art pieces from different countries around the commonwealth, ranging from Aborigini art to national flowers and flags of the commonwealth.