Our children and young people live in a diverse society in 21st century Cornwall. Penponds Primary School is committed to creating an environment for the whole school community that demonstrates shared values of inclusion, equality, fairness and respect. Our school recognises and celebrates difference within a culture of respect and fairness, and aims to meet the needs and rights of every child as detailed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We support all children and staff through our vision of 'Aiming High and Achieving Our Best' to ensure all can flourish during their time at Penponds.
This year we are focusing on our school specific objective – Each curriculum subject or area is planned to maximise opportunities to represent diversity, challenge stereotypes, raise aspirations, promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and foster good relations.
Why we have chosen this objective:
To ensure children’s curriculum experience is strategically broadened and diversity regularly celebrated (or normalised). So that all children see themselves/their heritage reflected positively and to confirm our curriculum’s unconscious bias is challenged.
To achieve this objective, we plan to:
Review Reading Spine across the school to ensure diversity is reflected positively and key people of study throughout topic learning reflects diversity.
Highlight and mark national events such as Black History Month, LGBT history month, religious celebrations, Windrush.
Support and become part of Black Voices Cornwall to develop the curriculum across Cornwall.
Maintain teaching of Children’s Rights as detailed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
PSHE curriculum to be continually reviewed and ensure all are reflected in our teaching.
We will update below throughout the year with celebrations of our achievements towards this.
What's been going on at Penponds?
Black Voice Cornwall Training
Abi and Helen from Black Voices Cornwall delivered some incredibly moving and pertinent training to our staff. This content will help us shape our curriculum and ensure all are represented in our quest for equity and diversity. We are so proud to be working as a co-creator, working with Black Voices Cornwall, to develop a Cornish Black History Curriculum for Primary schools.
Windrush Day – 75th anniversary - 22nd June 2023
Penponds marked Windrush Day with a variety of activities across the school. Children learnt, that today marks 75 years since the Empire Windrush ship docked at Tilbury bringing the first of the Windrush Generation to the UK, and the many more ways that people travelled to Britain until 1971. We learnt that the national day is about more than just one moment in history. It’s about communities coming together to reminisce and celebrate the immense contributions that people from the Caribbean have made to Britain and will continue to make. It’s also about celebrating the national status given to the ongoing legacy of the Windrush Generation, through a day that’s observed not only by Caribbean communities but by all people up and down the country stopping to remember and saying thanks. It is also a time to remember and remind ourselves about the discrimination and racism experienced then and for some still even now and we hope this ends through kindness and accepting all for who they are.
To support our learning today we were supported by our friends from Black Voices Cornwall, who we are working with to develop a diverse curriculum for all in Cornwall.
Abi and Helen delivered a talk, followed by question and answer session with the children. The children were amazed that the people from the video that we used to support our learning from Black Voices Cornwall, were actually here in the flesh in Penponds!
The children shared what they had learnt with Abi and Helen and then asked some insightful questions.
Abi explained that she is 3rd generation Windrush and explained what this meant. She explained that her Nanny Del had travelled as part of the Windrush generation on a boat to Britain. Nanny Del had left Jamaica, leaving her baby son (Abi’s father) and daughter behind to be looked after by their grandmother. They did not come out to be with their parents until Abi’s father was 12 years old! Abi expressed that had it not been for her Nanny Del coming to England, she would not be here today.
The children asked some excellent questions:
- What did your family do when they arrived in the UK?
They helped build houses after the war and worked in the NHS. My family continue to do jobs that help, such as being lifeguards.
- Do you like living in England?
Yes, I love it. I love what it has done for my family.
- Did you come over on the Windrush boat?
No, I am third generation. So my Nanny came here on a boat. My Dad stayed in Jamaica and came over when he was 12 in 1972 and I was born here in England. I am only 24!
- Have you been to Jamaica?
Yes. It is lovely there. It is very hot, much hotter than here.
- Is the Windrush boat still around to see?
There was more than one Windrush boat, it wasn’t just one boat that came once. There were lots of boats and some people came by air too. People travelled between 1948 and 1971. I don’t know if the first boat is still around. Maybe you could find out for me?
- What did your Nanny Del eat on the ship?
I imagine she packed enough for everyone! She loves salt fish, plantain, curried goat and of course rice and peas. She is 85 now and still makes the best jerk chicken.
- Would you identify as British?
I have struggled with this question in the past. I’d say, yes I am British but I am also West African and Jamaican. I am multi-heritage.
- Have you experienced racism?
Yes I have and it hurts me. I can’t change my skin colour to try and fit in, and I wouldn’t want to or shouldn’t have to. When people are mean to me because they don’t like my skin colour, I just say that’s your problem, not mine. I love being me.
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Pride Month - June
To celebrate and mark Pride Month, we welcomed Matthew Kenworthy Gomes, CEO of Cornwall Pride, into school to talk to us about everything PRIDE.
Matthew delivered a very informative assembly to the children, discussed the history of Pride and how they work to support all people to 'Love who they want to love and be who they want to be'. Matthew shared the meaning behind the colours of the infamous Pride flag and shred his own experience of being an openly gay married, happily married to his husband.
The children asked some fantastic questions and Matthew was very impressed!
Matthew was quite overwhelmed after the assembly, commenting to Mrs Bailey that if he had, had this type of experience in school as a youngster he would have found life a lot easier.
He sent this email to her the day after:
It has personally been the most amazing single moment I have had within Pride, I got back in the car and I wept. Spending time in your school delivering a small but meaningful account of what Pride is, and sharing that being a gay man is valid. This created the simple thought that, if I had this talk when I was at primary school I would have not needed to lie, hide or question my existence for years until I came out. Thank you from this older me to know that this could support some of your younger people be who they want to be.
Deaf Blind Awareness Week
We marked Deaf Blind Awareness Week in school by inviting Teacher of the Deaf, Luke Wilkes, into school to deliver an assembly to promote awareness and to educate on how best all people can support others with these challenges in life.
Children asked excellent questions and many misconceptions were addressed during the session. Many children believed that having a hearing or sight impairment meant they could not hear anything, Luke showed a very informative clip to explain this to the children using The Flinstones! Luke also gave the children ideas of how they could experience having a hearing impairment or sight impairment and how they could reflect and appreciate those challenges as well as try out the strategies shared in the assembly to make those experiences easier.
Thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us at Penponds.
Norway National Day
Thank you so much to Nina for coming into school to talk to us all about Norway's National Day - 17th May.
Elijah, Mie, Zaci and Aurora came to school, proudly dressed in their national dress. We enjoyed some delicious, traditional cinnamon buns to mark the occasion kindly baked by Nina. Thank you for getting up super early to bake over 100 of these Nina! They were certainly much appreciated - so were the staff ones!
It was also fascinating to hear the family story of fighting for freedom and Norway's resistance during WWII and the direct impact and involvement the Dahl family had during this time. You could hear a pin drop as the children sat wide mouthed listening to the story.
Children's Rights - Article 8 - Right to own identity, language, culture and nationality
Equality for ALL - Special Visitor - Jessica Roper
We were very excited to welcome top athlete Jessica Roper, GB Kickboxing Champion to Penponds School on Wednesday, 15 March 2023.
Jessica led a sponsored fitness circuit with all pupils and followed-up with an inspirational assembly, and question and answer session. The aim of the event was to inspire the children to be more physically active, but just as importantly, encourage them to discover and pursue their passion in life. Jess discussed the challenges of being a woman in the field of kickboxing - but nothing stopped her!
The event both connected the children to an extraordinary athlete role model and raised money to improve physical activity in the school, while also supporting both athletes and para-athletes, so that they can continue to inspire the next generation.
Thank you to all the families who sponsored the children in the worthwhile event.
Pull up your Odd Socks for World Down Syndrome Awareness Day!
On Tuesday 21st March we wore odd socks to school with our uniforms to raise awareness for Down Syndrome. Odd socks were chosen as a symbol by World Down Syndrome Day, because chromosomes are shaped like socks, and those with Down Syndrome have an extra one.
We 'Rocked our Socks!'
This day holds a very special place for Penponds and our families.
LGBT History Month
February is LGBT History month and we marked this in Penponds through a collective piece of work across the school.
All classes studied the story 'And Tango Makes Three' and responded to their learning in their own way to create collaborative display in the hall.
Carn Brea class created family portraits within an egg to link to the story, Godolphin class designed a new family that looks different to their own family, Trencrom class innovated the story of And Tango Makes Three and created zig-zag books and Tregonning class looked into the controversy surrounding this book when it was first published in the USA.
Once the display is complete we will share it below- so watch this space!
Black Voices Cornwall
Exciting News! Mrs Richards, our wonderful RE Lead, had had her first working session to support the curriculum development in Cornwall with Black Voices Cornwall!
This is a three year project to ensure equality and diversity is positively represented throughout the taught curriculum in Cornwall. We are so proud that Mrs Richards is supporting this and we cannot wait to see what work we can begin as as school!
All Children have the Right to Rights!
February 2023 - Trencrom Class - Fundraiser for Shelter Box - Turkey & Syria Appeal
After the recent tragic events in Eastern Turkey and Northern Syria, Trencrom Class decided to organise a school fundraiser. The children have been moved by this tragic event and as they are currently studying about natural disasters and have also had a recent visit from Shelter Box, they felt empowered to do something to help.
Trencrom have truly lived out their right to a voice (which is one of our school focused rights) and approached Mrs Bailey to organise an event. They want to ensure that other children across the world are receiving their rights, who after a tragic event such as this, are probably not receiving all of their rights, such as the right to nutritious food, clean water, healthcare, shelter even the right to relax and play.
Therefore, they planned a day of fundraising activities which was held on Wednesday 22nd February.
On this day, all children across the school were asked to bring in some loose change to spend on games and stalls organised by Trencrom. Games cost between 20p-50p per go.
All children across the school were invited to wear green non-uniform on this day too. This could be from head to toe in green or just an item of green. Those wishing to take part in 'wear green' donated £1.
All money raised has gone towards the Shelter Box Appeal for Turkey and Syria. The grand total will be announced shortly.
After school, there was a cake sale too.
Thank you so much for supporting Trencrom Class in this worthy cause. We are so proud of them putting others before themselves and seeing that all are equal and should receive their rights. Well done Trencrom!
A word from the children:
As you know your children were invited to wear green. The money your child brought in was to help Shelterbox. We had stalls and games like books, crafts and toys. It was very busy and by the end there was not a lot left at all. Trencrom class hosted this event on Wednesday 22nd of February 2023. The first class to come was Godolphin. And then Year 6 and Reception. The games outside were Penalty Shoot-out, Skittles and Hook a Duck. Me, Ia and Orla ran the craft stall. I set up and totally ran the book stall. By Emily C
At Penponds School we raised lots and lots of money for Shelterbox. Trencrom class designed a game stall for two people. This happened on Wednesday 22nd February 2023. There was a Can Toss by me and Logan, Hook A Duck by Orrin and Bert and a Penalty Shoot out by Caleb, Joel and Elffin outside and some more stalls inside. By Keegan
On fund raising day it was fun because you can set up stalls and buy stuff for 20p-50p. People can play your games but if you wanted to buy something a person had to stay at the stall. The other classes came to all stalls after lunch. The money was for Shelterbox. Shelterbox is a charity. So we set up the stalls so we could raise money for Shelterbox. Shelterbox is like if your house got destroyed by natural disaster they will give you a shelter box of shelter kit but they need money to buy the stuff that’s why we are going to give money to Shelterbox. By Seb
On the 22nd of February 2023 Trencrom Class had a fund-raising day to raise money for Shelterbox, a company that send boxes to places that a disaster has destroyed their homes. These boxes provided everything they need to survive with a home. We had craft, book and toys stalls and lots and lots of games! Our goal was to make £160 (enough money to buy two shelter boxes) but everyone thinks we earned more! People sold their old stuff in order to recycle. Some people even made stuff or set up activities! We had Year 6, Year 1 and 2 and Reception in to do our activities and it was very busy! Every child in Penponds School was invited to wear green and bring in £1. We also had a cake sale after school in the bike shed. We had a Can Toss, Hook a Duck and loads of other games but most people were just interested in the lollypops! By Ia
See below for photos of the fundraising day. The grand total (and there was still money coming in...) is £410!
Rainbow Holi Red Nose and Spoon Race
We were due to be fundraising like the rest of the country for Comic Relief a few weeks ago, but as so many children and staff were not able to be in school due to illness, we decided to postpone it to Friday 1st April – we didn’t want so many missing the fun!
We decided to mark our Comic Relief Fundraising with also marking the Hindu festival of Holi. Many of our children have been learning about Hinduism in their RE lessons and we felt that we would try and mark both events together. Holi is the festival of love, colours and spring and it is traditionally celebrated by people getting very colourful by throwing powder paint and getting very messy and colourful! The One Show took part in the Red Nose and Spoon Race Challenge and we felt that we could do our own version in school and link it to learning about Holi too.
See our photos below to see us experiencing world faiths first hand or first paint throw!
Assembly - Creativity and Benjamin Zephaniah
We shared this wonderful video in assembly My Birmingham Story - Benjamin Zephaniah - see below. Benjamin is celebrated poet, writer, lyricist, musician and self confessed 'naughty boy'. He speaks about his experiences (living in Birmingham, getting in trouble, learning to read, finding out about being dyslexic and how the best way to travel is not by car, boat, bicycle or aeroplane but by travelling by book!) This assembly and following work focused on 'nothing holds back creativity', the right to be the best you can be, the right to relax and play and loving our school vision, Aiming High and Achieving Our Best, by being inspired by this great story.
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