🌟 Celebrating Reading, Sport and Pupil Leadership! 📚🏅

What a fantastic afternoon of celebration at Badger Hill!

We began our assembly by recognising all of the children who completed and returned their Summer Reading Challenge sheets. It was wonderful to see just how many... of our pupils had been busy enjoying books throughout the summer holidays. Each child received a well-deserved prize in recognition of their efforts. 📖

Next, our Junior Leaders of Reading, Inara and Evelyn, took centre stage to announce our Reading Ambassadors for 2026–27.

Mrs Easby, Inara and Evelyn had been absolutely blown away by the time, thought and creativity that had gone into the applications. From beautifully written letters to imaginative drawings and fantastic videos, every application reflected a genuine love of reading. What made them even more special was knowing that the children had completed them independently, in their own time at home.

With reading playing such an important role in life at Badger Hill, we decided that this year we needed a whole 'Reading Army'! We are delighted to have appointed an incredible 17 Reading Ambassadors from across the academy, and we cannot wait to see the enthusiasm and ideas they bring to their new roles. 💜

The celebrations continued as Miss Cook, alongside our House Captains Bella, Harley, Billy and Ruby, announced the successful applicants for this year's Sports Council. Once again, the standard of applications was exceptional, with the children's passion for sport, enthusiasm and eagerness to make a difference shining through.

A huge congratulations to all of our newly appointed Reading Ambassadors and Sports Council members. Wear your badges with pride, knowing that you have earned them through your dedication, effort and enthusiasm.

We are incredibly excited to see how you embrace your responsibilities, inspire your peers and help make reading and PE at Badger Hill even better.

💜 Proud to be a Badger!

🚀🔬 Year 5 and 6 Explore the Wonderful World of STEM 🤖🌍

On Wednesday, our Year 5 and 6 pupils travelled to the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle for STEMFEST, an incredible interactive festival bringing together over 60 local and national organisations to inspire young people ...about the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Our day began with a journey through space as we stepped inside a planetarium. The children were fascinated to learn about planets, black holes, galaxies, the Sun and the International Space Station. What a fantastic way to spark their curiosity before heading off to explore everything else the festival had to offer!

And there was certainly plenty to explore.

With zones dedicated to Space, Technology, Environment and Energy, and Manufacturing, the children were spoilt for choice when it came to hands-on activities, demonstrations and exciting discoveries.

🔬 At the Teesside University stand, pupils explored how hydrogen is used in space technology and discovered how water can be produced and collected through scientific processes. Meanwhile, the Boulby Underground Laboratory introduced us to the fascinating world of invisible radiation particles. Using a cloud chamber, the children watched in amazement as tiny trails appeared, revealing the paths of particles that are naturally present all around us but cannot usually be seen.

🤖 Elsewhere, there were robotic dogs, 3D printers and virtual reality headsets to investigate. One particularly impressive robotic dog showed off its moves by dancing and even walking on its front paws. Some pupils tried their hand at welding using VR technology, while others put their engineering skills to the test by building LEGO cars and racing them down tracks.

💻 There was also plenty of opportunity to put their computing skills to the test with a Minecraft-inspired challenge. Pupils experimented with a computer programme, trying to outsmart it as they worked to create their own swords, trees and monsters from the Minecraft world. It was a brilliant opportunity to explore computing, think creatively and develop their problem-solving skills, all through a game many of them already know and love.

🔐 Our budding codebreakers also had their chance to shine. Using Caesar cipher wheels, pupils worked to decipher secret messages by shifting letters around the alphabet. Those who successfully cracked the codes earned the opportunity to operate a claw machine and try to win a fidget toy.

What made the day particularly special was the opportunity for our pupils to meet people working in such a wide range of STEM industries. They were able to see first-hand how the subjects they learn in school connect to real jobs, exciting technologies and the world around them.

What a brilliant day filled with curiosity, discovery, problem-solving and inspiration! Who knows? We may have some future scientists, engineers, astronauts or technology innovators sitting in our classrooms right now.

⭐💜 100% ATTENDANCE WINNERS 💜⭐

A huge well done to our latest 100% Attendance Raffle winners, Saxon (KS1) and Isabelle (KS2). 🎉

Both children were in school every day, all week and were drawn as our lucky winners in assembly, each receiving a £10 B&M voucher. ...💜⭐

Who will be our winners next week?

You've got to be in it to win it. ⭐

🎨 Year 3 & 4 Art Update: Masterpieces in Clay & Printmaking! 🏺✨

Our Year 3 and 4 artists have been busy bringing their creativity to life in our Sculpture & Printmaking unit! Inspired by the famous Arts and Crafts designer William De Morgan, the children have journeyed ...through the full artistic process—from concept to final masterpiece.

Here is a glimpse into what they’ve been working on:

✏️ Warming Up & Designing: We started by practicing observational sketching and exploring key concepts like line, texture, and pattern. The children studied De Morgan's iconic nature-inspired designs—such as birds, fish, and florals—to create their own master sketches.

🧻 Styrofoam Relief Printing & Clay Work: Using clever printmaking techniques, the pupils transferred their drawings onto styrofoam blocks to create raised and indented relief plates. They rolled out clay and pressed their designs directly into it, using clay tools to deepen details and carve intricate textures.
Next week, after the clay has dried out,children will be carefully selecting a De Morgan-inspired color palette, to paint their clay tiles.

Take a look at some of their fantastic clay tiles below! We are so proud of the skill, focus, and creativity everyone showed throughout this project, and we can't wait to see the final piece🌟👏

🌟💜 Staff Spotlight 💜🌟

It’s time to shine our Staff Spotlight on another member of the Badger Hill team. This week, we’re getting to know Mr Brown, who teaches our wonderful Year 5 children. 📚⭐

Have a read to discover why Mr Brown finds watching our children ...learn and develop so rewarding, which three very different books are battling it out for the title of his favourite, and his rather interesting theory about a possible past life. 👀🦖

We’re not entirely sure we believe the last one, Mr Brown… 😂

Proud to be a Badger 🦡💜