On Wednesday 16^th July, a group of Purbeck School Criminology students paid a visit to Poole Magistrates Court. Despite terrible traffic, Mrs Scott got us there with time to spare.

So we have reached the end of our final term of the academic year and what an amazing year it has been. So many opportunities have been taken up and enjoyed by many pupils of our primary school partnership. Activities range from activity days at Buddens farm and Carey Camp through to Ks1 1 multi-skills festivals and Yr 5&6 Football competitions for both boys' and girls.

This term we have delivered a cricket festival to both yr 3&4 and Yr 5&6. Both festivals involved the introduction of the game and gave all students an opportunity to have a bowl, bat and field. We were fortunate with the weather and the sun shone throughout. The pupils learnt a lot throughout the afternoon. Besides the skills, they learnt a lot about communication and teamwork.

Yr 5&6 were fortunate enough to be able to compete in an athletics meet. Again the sun was shining, and it was definitely a warm and competitive afternoon. Pupils competed in sprints, distance events and field events, including long jump and vortex throwing. There were some outstanding individual performances and there were placings from across all schools.

The Yr 3&4 Quad kids event was very similar, again supported by the roaring sunshine. It is great to see so many children competing in a variety of different athletics events and Quad Kids is a great event to showcase the all-round athletics performer as each individual needs to perform in all disciplines, throwing, jumping distance and sprint. Again, there were some outstanding performances from all schools. A fantastic event.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the tri-golf event due to the one morning of rain that we have had all summer, but we did manage to put together an afternoon of new games, including Quidditch, Disc Golf and Ultimate Frisbee. The children really enjoyed the experience with lots of new games being played.

We culminated the year with a fabulous awards evening where we were delighted to welcome Aaron Phipps MBE. He gave a truly inspirational talk about his journey through sport and his fantastic achievements as a wheelchair rugby player where Aaron and his team were victorious in achieving the gold medal in the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020. It was at this awards evening that we presented numerous awards to our primary school children, recognising their outstanding achievements in sport. We also took this opportunity to thank the Purbeck school leaders, and thank them for everything they do within the partnership to make it a true success.

To finish this year, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all the staff at the primary schools for their continued support to make this partnership the huge success it has become over the past 10 years. It is also really important to say a massive thank you to all those busy parents out there that are ferrying their children around to enable them to be a part of these opportunities. They won’t appreciate it at present, but one day they will. And it's due to you that, again, these opportunities are able to go ahead and sports stars of the future are made.

Thanks for another fantastic year and here is to 2025-26.

Shelley & Dan

This morning, Year 12 student Finlay Bennett bravely had his head shaved to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity, supported by members of his Purbeck sixth form year group and members of staff. Over £200 has already been raised. Finlay shaved his head in support of his mum who was diagnosed with thirteen brain tumours last December – mum is also cutting off her hair and donating it to charity. If you are able to support them, please scan the QR code below. The Purbeck family is proud of Finlay and send every best wish to the Bennetts.

After the Dorset wide Wessex Amazing Book Award, pupils wanted to carry on with their book groups, so in response, the Wessex MAT GenreSlam was born. Librarians from several schools within the MAT took 7 genres, with a classic example of each chosen to create a shortlist. Over the spring and summer terms, children read each of the books, discussing them in their book groups within their schools, then coming together at Thomas Hardye School for a ‘super book group’ meeting.

Pupils were mixed up into teams, and discussed various categories – for example, which book had the best plot twist? The best visual imagery?

The best moral theme? The most unusual style? They then had to work with their new colleagues to create and deliver a short presentation, and persuade others to vote for their choices. Every book on the shortlist received at least one vote in a category, with ‘One’ by Sarah Crossan receiving several of the awards. Pupils also enjoyed a Book Dingbat quiz, as well as copious amounts of cake – always a vital part of any book group.

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