We are delighted to invite prospective parents and children to one of our upcoming Open Events here at Great Bowden Academy. If your child is due to start school in Autumn, this is a fantastic opportunity to come and see what makes our school such a special place to learn, grow and flourish.

Our open events are designed to give you a real feel for our warm and welcoming school. You’ll have the chance to see us in action, meet our dedicated staff, and learn more about how we support a smooth and happy transition from pre-school or nursery into primary school life.

Upcoming Open Event Dates:

• Thursday 24th September 2025, 9.30–11.00am
• Wednesday 14th October 2025, 9.30–11.00am
• Thursday 19th November 2025, 1.30–3.00pm

During your visit, you’ll be welcomed by our Headteacher, enjoy a short talk, take a guided tour of the school, and have the opportunity to ask questions in our Q&A session. You’ll also meet the class teacher, enjoy refreshments, and your child can take part in some fun play activities – so do bring them along if you can.

To book your place, click here to complete the booking form, or contact the school office on 01858 463216 or office@gba.learnat.uk.

If you’re unable to attend any of the above dates, don’t worry — further open events will be planned, or individual tours can be made available by appointment. Just get in touch using the contact details above.

The deadline for first-time primary school applications for the 2026-2027 school year in the UK is January 15, 2027. You will need to apply through your local authority. To find out more, click here.

We look forward to meeting you and showing you what makes Great Bowden Academy such a wonderful place to start your child’s school journey.

In school, we will be doing everything we can to keep classrooms as cool as possible. This will include keeping windows and doors open where appropriate and closing blinds to reduce direct sunlight. Staff will also closely monitor all children to ensure their wellbeing throughout the day.

We kindly ask for your support with the following:

• Water bottles: Please ensure your child brings a refillable water bottle to school each day. Children will be encouraged to drink regularly and refill their bottles as needed.
• Sun protection:
  • Children should wear a sun hat.
  • Please apply sun cream before school, as children will be outside during break and lunchtime.
• We will make a small number of classrooms available for children who prefer to spend time indoors in the shade during breaks.

Uniform adaptations (next week only):
To help keep children cool during the hot weather, children may come to school wearing their PE kit for the duration of next week.
If your child is comfortable in their usual summer uniform, they are very welcome to continue wearing it.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep everyone safe and comfortable during the warmer weather.

From the very first song to the final bow, the children wowed audiences with their energy, enthusiasm and confidence. There were plenty of laughs along the way, and every performer should be incredibly proud of the commitment, courage and teamwork they showed on stage.

Productions like this don't happen without an amazing team behind the scenes. A huge thank you to our staff, who spent countless hours helping with rehearsals, creating props and costumes, supporting children with their lines and giving up their evenings to ensure everything ran so smoothly.

We were also delighted to welcome Lisa Hilton, who works with the company behind the script, to help give direction to the children. After seeing the children rehearse, she said: "They didn't really need me, they are already fantastic!" High praise indeed!

Finally, thank you to our wonderful PTA for running the refreshments on both evenings. Together, they raised an incredible £211 on the bar, helping us continue to provide more memorable performances like this next year.

Well done, Year 5 and 6. You truly were superstar performers, and we couldn't be prouder.

The children were captivated as they learnt all about being a pilot, including how planes fly and the science behind thrust, lift, drag and weight. They also discovered what happens during the different stages of a flight and heard about the many people involved in getting an aircraft safely into the sky, from engineers to weather teams and cabin crew.

As always, the children had lots of brilliant questions and were eager to find out more about this exciting career.

A huge thank you to Mr Steward for giving up his time to inspire our pupils with such an engaging and enjoyable talk.

Could you volunteer for a future 'What Do Parents Do All Day?' assembly? We'd love to hear about your job, hobby or passion. If you'd like to get involved, please email the school office. Grandparents and other significant adults are very welcome too!

The children were outstanding throughout the day, showing tremendous determination, skill and enthusiasm in every event. Whether sprinting down the track, tackling longer-distance races or competing in the field events, they gave their absolute best and represented the school brilliantly.

We were delighted to see many of our athletes achieve first, second and third-place finishes throughout the day. With every point counting towards the final standings, the team's hard work paid off as Great Bowden Academy secured an impressive 3rd place overall!

Most importantly, the children demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, supporting one another and celebrating each other's successes throughout the competition. We couldn't be prouder of every member of the team.

A huge thank you to the South Leicestershire Small Schools Partnership for organising what is always one of the sporting highlights of the school year.

Well done, Team GBA.

  Determined to make the most of the dry spell, we got underway with some fantastic field events, including a few new additions to the programme. The children thoroughly enjoyed testing their skills in the distance throw and the balancing beanbag race, alongside Sports Day favourite, the ever-popular egg and spoon race. All of this took place in glorious sunshine, with plenty of cheering and encouragement from teammates and spectators alike.

Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas! As the rain clouds rolled in, we quite literally had to race through the running events before the downpour eventually got the better of us and brought the afternoon to an early close.

  While we weren't able to complete every event, we will be finishing the remaining activities soon and adding the final scores together to determine this year's House winners. Watch this space!

A huge well done to all of the children, who showed fantastic enthusiasm, determination and sportsmanship throughout the afternoon, whatever the weather.

And finally, thank you to all the parents and family members who came along to support, and for your understanding when the weather forced us to not just rearrange but also cut the event short. We really appreciate your support — even in the rain!

This year's carnival theme was '6', and, inspired by our school vision of 'A Well-Watered Garden', our float was transformed into a vibrant garden bursting with colourful flowers and six-legged insects. The children fully embraced the theme too, dressing as insects and flowers to bring our garden to life.

  The float was nothing short of spectacular. A huge thank you must go to our PTA Chair, Caroline, and an incredible team of dedicated parent volunteers who spent countless hours planning, building, painting and decorating. Their creativity, hard work and attention to detail resulted in a truly outstanding float that turned heads all around the town.

And their efforts did not go unnoticed... we were absolutely delighted to be awarded 2nd Place and presented with a huge silver trophy!

For the children riding on the float, it was an unforgettable experience. Waving to the crowds, travelling through the streets of Market Harborough and seeing all the excitement around them is a memory we're sure they will treasure for years to come.

  The fun didn't stop there. We also had a stall on the carnival showground, where visitors could buy our homemade seed bombs and try their luck on the ever-popular Water or Wine game.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our school community. To every volunteer, parent, staff member and supporter who gave their time, donated items, helped build the float, staffed the stall or cheered us on throughout the day—thank you. You truly went above and beyond, and we are so grateful.

To top it all off, thanks to the float prize money, collection buckets and stall sales, we raised an incredible £493.75 for the school.

What a fantastic celebration of community spirit, creativity and teamwork. Well done, Team GBA!

Class 3 and 4 have been putting their Design & Technology skills to the test with an exciting brief from Weltons: create a brand-new sandwich worthy of a place on their menu.

Working in teams, the children researched ingredients, explored flavour combinations and developed their food preparation skills, from chopping and slicing to grating and assembling. Along the way, they learned the importance of evaluating ideas, refining designs and working together to bring a concept to life.

The challenge has encouraged the children to step outside their comfort zones, experimenting with ingredients and combinations they may never have tried before. Best of all, they knew their creations were being designed for a real customer, giving the project an extra sense of purpose and excitement.

The finished sandwich designs have now been submitted to the team at Weltons, who have the difficult task of choosing an overall winner. The successful sandwich will then be available to purchase from the deli!

A huge thank you to Weltons for partnering with us on this fantastic project and for helping bring classroom learning to life. We can't wait to hear which sandwich comes out on top – watch this space...

Before half term, our Year 5 girls took the lead in organising a fantastic Wear It Green Day in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Pupils and staff came dressed in green to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our mental health and wellbeing. The girls also organised a wonderful after-school bake sale, packed with delicious cakes, biscuits and sweet treats for everyone to enjoy.

Thanks to the generosity of our school community, the girls raised an impressive £188 for the Mental Health Foundation through donations and bake sale purchases.

We are incredibly proud of the initiative, organisation and enthusiasm shown by the girls, and grateful to everyone who got involved by wearing green, donating or treating themselves to a bake.

Together, we can help raise awareness and support positive mental health for all.

With our wonderful collection of dressing-up clothes, children from Reception right through to Year 6 have been transforming into all sorts of characters and adventures. From superheroes to storybook favourites, the possibilities are endless!

It is always a joy to see children of all ages playing together so happily, using their imaginations, building friendships and enjoying the freedom to be creative.

Playtime is such an important part of the school day, and it is often the simplest activities that create the most magical moments.

Thanks to their amazing efforts, and the incredible generosity of everyone who sponsored them, the PTA smashed their fundraising target of £1,500! With Gift Aid included, the grand total raised was an amazing £1,867.50.

We are so proud of the team for their dedication, determination and commitment, both in training and on race day itself. Thank you also to everyone who cheered them on, donated and supported along the way.

Every penny raised by the PTA goes directly back into school to enrich the children’s experiences and support exciting projects for our pupils.

What an incredible achievement — well done, team!

To kick things off, we were delighted to welcome Anna, who spoke to the whole school about her role as a Barrister. The children were completely engaged as she explained what happens in court, what inspired her to choose her career and the parts of the job she enjoys most.

The assembly ended with lots of thoughtful and insightful questions from the children, who were fascinated to learn more about the world of law and the important work barristers do.

A huge thank you to Anna for giving up her time to inspire our pupils.

Would you like to volunteer for a future “What Do Parents Do All Day?” assembly and share your job, hobby or passion with the children? If so, please email the school office. We would love to hear from you.

 Competing against other local primary schools, the team showed fantastic teamwork, enthusiasm and determination throughout the event. They supported one another every step of the way, demonstrating kindness, patience and great sportsmanship on and off the court.

The girls drew three games and lost four, missing out on a placing. While the results did not quite go their way, their teamwork, encouragement and positive attitude were outstanding.

We are incredibly proud of the way they cheered each other on and threw themselves wholeheartedly into every match. Well done, girls!

After learning about acute, obtuse and right angles, the children put their knowledge into practice by hunting for examples around the classroom. From table corners to displays and everyday objects, they discovered that angles are everywhere.

Adding a practical element to our maths lessons helps children make meaningful connections and deepen their understanding — and Class 3 had great fun putting their angle-spotting skills to the test.

Well done, Class 3.

Whilst the children had a fantastic time exploring the classroom, getting to know their classmates and teachers, the parents heard more about how to help your child be ‘school ready’ over a cup of tea and some delicious snacks prepared by our inhouse caterers Miquils. They also had an opportunity to speak to our Wraparound Care provider Premier Education to find out more about our before and after-school clubs.

This event is not only a great way to help eliminate any ‘starting school’ nerves, but also a great opportunity for children, and parents, to meet their peers, ask any questions they might have, and have a good nosy around so things don’t feel so ‘new’ or daunting when it comes to starting in the autumn.

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it today. If you were unable to attend, your Welcome Pack is waiting for you in the school office, full of useful information, as well as your Bowden Bear, eagerly waiting to be taken home.

A huge well done to our fantastic tennis team, who competed in a local school’s tournament on Tuesday.

The team showed brilliant skill, determination and teamwork throughout the competition, narrowly missing out on a place in the final by just one point.

They finished the tournament in an impressive third place. We are incredibly proud of the way the team represented Great Bowden Academy with such enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

Well done, team.

As part of our Attenborough Day celebrations, Class 4 spent a wonderful morning exploring Hursley Park and discovering how green spaces can be developed to support biodiversity.

The children were treated to a fascinating tour led by local resident Alisa Attenborough (yes, a distant relative of Sir David Attenborough himself!). Armed with school iPads, they photographed the plants and wildlife they spotted along the way. The results were truly stunning, capturing the beauty of nature and showing just how carefully the children observed the world around them.

  Back at school, the children created their own photography gallery and enjoyed admiring each other’s work. They also watched footage from Hursley Park’s wildlife cameras, spotting foxes, mice and even a badger.

Using everything they had learnt, Class 4 then began thinking about how we could improve our own school grounds to encourage more wildlife and create even richer outdoor learning spaces.

We were especially proud of how well-behaved, respectful and engaged the children were throughout the visit. Alisa Attenborough and local walkers took the time to comment on what a credit they were to the school. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and excellent manners made us incredibly proud.

A huge thank you to Alisa for sharing her knowledge and inspiring the children to look more closely at the natural world around them.

The children did a fantastic job collecting rubbish and helping to care for our local environment. Back in the classroom, they discovered that around 80% of the rubbish found in our seas comes from inland areas like our own.

Using Google Earth, Class 3 followed the journey litter can take from our local area, along the River Welland from Market Harborough all the way to The Wash. They discussed the impact this waste can have on wildlife and why every small action we take can make a big difference.

A brilliant example of learning in action and caring for the world around us. Well done, Class 3.

Working collaboratively in teams, the children designed and built their own moving moon vehicles, using elastic potential energy to power them. After testing their creations, they evaluated what had worked well and discussed how they could improve their designs, thinking carefully about why some vehicles were more successful than others.

It was a brilliant opportunity to develop teamwork, problem-solving and engineering skills in a fun and practical way.

A huge thank you to Welland Park Academy for hosting such an inspiring event, and to the wonderful Year 9 students who were kind, patient and incredibly supportive throughout the morning.

We may have some future engineers and scientists in the making.

Across the school, children enjoyed a range of outdoor activities, including minibeast hunts, litter picking, planting flowers, exploring the trees and wildlife around our school, and a visit to Hursley Park to discover how green spaces can be developed to support biodiversity.

It was a wonderful day of hands-on learning, helping children deepen their understanding of the world around them and the importance of caring for it.

A huge thank you to our parent volunteers for helping make the day such a success. The children (and staff) had an absolutely fantastic time!

 Our talented pupils absolutely shone, performing for gathering crowds with stunning vocals from the choir, including a couple of solo performances, performances from our budding cellolists and a piece from our amazing wind instrument band.

It was such a fantastic experience for our children to perform publicly and showcase their musical talents while supporting a great cause.

Thanks to everyone who came along, donated, and supported. We have so far raised an incredible £630 for LOROS. If you would still like to donate, the JustGiving site is still live at:

www.justgiving.com/page/learn-academies-trust-1

A huge thank you to the organisers and all the schools who took part. It was a brilliant day for music, community and giving back.

The team tackled a series of practical challenges and a written quiz, competing against other schools in the Harborough Primary STEM Partnership. As always, it was a fun, fast-paced event and a real highlight of our school calendar.

A big thank you to the Harborough Primary STEM Partnership for organizing the event, the Rotary Club of Market Harborough for sponsoring and supporting, and Robert Smyth for hosting this fantastic challenge.

Well done, team. You did yourselves (and us) proud.
 

Our team of three parents and Mrs Moss are taking on the 13-mile challenge, each aiming to raise at least £100 to support the PTA and create even more opportunities for our pupils.

We are incredibly proud of our staff and parents who are taking on this challenge for our school." Mrs Rebecca Blagburn says, "The support of our PTA and wider community makes such a difference to what we can offer our children, and this is a brilliant example of that community spirit in action.”

This year, the PTA is fundraising for an exciting new outdoor classroom, alongside continuing to provide those extra resources that enrich school life. With a £20,000 target, every donation really does make a difference.

PTA Chair Caroline McCartney, responsible for the initiative, said, “This is such a positive and inspiring fundraiser. Every penny raised goes straight back into supporting the school, and we’re so grateful to everyone who is running, sponsoring, and cheering the team on.”

If you’d like to support the team, please visit: https://wonderful.org/fundraisers/7r1Wv

And if you’re feeling inspired to run for Team GBA, we’d love to hear from you—just email gba.pta@gmail.com for more details.

Thank you to Lily Canter, Great Bowden parent and running coach, for providing a free training plan to support the team. And of course a huge thank you to our runners for pushing themselves for our wonderful PTA community.

Let’s cheer on our amazing runners.

Miquill’s updated menus offer a wide variety of delicious, balanced meals designed to keep our pupils happy, healthy and ready to learn. From comforting favourites to tasty new dishes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Take a look through the new menus to see what’s on offer each week. And don’t forget to pre-order your choices by 8.30am on the day at the latest on the Arbor app.

We’re so excited to have you join our wonderful school community and can’t wait to meet you all very soon.

Please keep an eye out for your welcome email today with lots more information. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us on 01858 463216 or email office@gba.learnat.uk 

Or if you’d like to discuss your school place, please contact our Trust helpline on 01858 459303. This helpline is open today and tomorrow to offer the help and support you need.

Here’s to the start of an exciting journey together.

As you can see, there was fantastic focus and creativity from everyone – we’re so proud of their thoughtful designs and can’t wait to see them brought to life.

Class 3 also enjoyed a hands-on workshop, exploring how much water different households use and identifying simple ways to save water at home, such as turning off the tap when brushing teeth, collecting rainwater, and taking shorter showers.

It was a brilliant, practical learning experience that really got everyone thinking about how we can all make a difference. Keep an eye out for this week’s newsletter for a short survey from Severn Trent, helping the, know if these messages have reached home!

A big thank you to our fantastic PTA for organising a super fun Easter egg hunt on the last day of term, complete with a special visit from the Easter Bunny! It was a brilliant way to end the term. As always, we are super lucky to have such a committed group of volunteers who bring a little extra joy to our school.

We are also very grateful to Rev Hils and Great Bowden Church for leading such a wonderful and immersive Easter morning last week. The children enjoyed learning about the Easter story and acting out the key parts.

We hope you all have a fantastic break filled with well-deserved rest, family time, and a little bit of Easter chocolate too!

The children worked through a range of rugby skill activities before putting their learning into action in small-sided games against other local schools.

We were incredibly proud of their teamwork, enthusiasm, and excellent behaviour throughout the day—they represented the school brilliantly. A great experience and a fun-filled afternoon for all involved.

On Monday, the children had the best time slipping, sliding and splashing their way down. It’s not a question of IF you go down the slide, but HOW– headfirst, backwards, on your knees, with a friend or flying solo… every route leads to a very muddy landing!

Messy, joyful and full of laughter – just how Forest School should be!

The event, designed to introduce and encourage participation in the sport, saw pupils take part in a range of dodgeball skill stations, before putting their new skills into action in friendly games against other schools.

We were incredibly proud of all the children, who showed great enthusiasm, teamwork, and excellent sportsmanship throughout – being respectful and kind to both opponents and staff. Well done, Team GBA!

We were awash with bright colours, personality, and lots of red for Comic Relief, all whist raising money and awareness for people who may not be as fortunate as ourselves.

Thank you to everyone who was able to donate, we have made a fantastic £123 so far for Comic Relief. And don’t worry, if you haven’t yet managed to donate, the donations link will still be active in Arbor until the end of the week.

Dates: From 27^th July to  7^th August
Times: 9:00am – 15:00pm
Price: £20 a day, bookable on Arbor. Tax free childcare vouchers can be used.
Location: Ridgeway Primary Academy

As we have successfully done for the last few years, we will be sharing our Summer Club with Ridgeway Primary Academy, which will be held at their school. Children will need to bring a snack, a packed lunch and a water bottle.

For further information, please see the email send earlier in the week or email office@rpa.learnat.uk.

It was once again a full house with parents, teachers and friends of the school all battling it out to be crowned Quiz Team Champions, hosted this time in the Church Hall (Great Bowden Pre-school).

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, took part, donated, and helped make the evening such a fun and memorable one. A special thank goes to our fabulous quiz hosts Katie and Mike Knott, who brought so much energy and fun to the night. And to the wonderful organising team Caroline, Frances and Charlotte, among (many) others, working hard behind the scenes.

We are so lucky to have such a supportive school community, from our active PTA to our wonderful parents and volunteers, who work so hard all year round to create these brilliant events. Your continued support makes such a difference to our school.

We can’t wait for more fun events ahead. Watch this space.

Throughout the day, the children took part in three hands-on workshops, trying activities such as building catapults and helicopters, powering vehicles with balloons, using microscopes, exploring π (pi), and investigating light. Miss Southam also led a creative and fascinating workshop on chromatography, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

The pupils were equally inspired by the guest speakers – including a science teacher from Robert Smyth Academy and a speaker from the University of Leicester, who shared fascinating insights about space.

A huge thank you to Robert Smyth Academy and the incredible volunteers, including Miss Southam and Mrs Cave, for making this fantastic event possible.

We definitely have some budding scientists, inventors and mathematicians in our midst!

In the afternoon, the children loved choosing their free World Book Day books from the stall using their tokens. We were also delighted by the brilliant response to the after-school pop-up, with so many families popping in to browse and buy a book or two.

A big thank you to everyone who supported the stall. Quinns once again offered their 10% cashback for schools, and Danny was pleased to tell us that the event raised £44.36 for Great Bowden Academy to spend on books. We’ve already used this to add some wonderful new titles from our recommended reading wishlist to the school library.

Danny shared this lovely message with us:
“Thank you again for a SUPERB book stall event at school on World Book Day! It is always a pleasure to see the kiddies getting excited about reading and books.”

And we couldn’t agree more.

Thank you Quinns — and thank you to all our book lovers!

In truth, the first two matches could easily have been convincing wins if it hadn’t been for some outstanding goalkeeping from the opposition, with countless saves keeping the scores level. On another day those chances may well have found the back of the net!

The boys worked brilliantly together and represented the school with real pride. Their efforts this season mean they are set to finish around mid-table in the league, a strong result in a very competitive group. They narrowly missed out on promotion, but their commitment and team spirit have been excellent all season.

Well done to the whole team – you should be very

And to our wonderful, smart, fun, kind, adventurous, and thoughtful children – you are the future, and we can all learn so much from you.

We are so lucky to have each and every one of you in our school community. Here’s to celebrating women in all their greatness, today and every day!

The children took part in a range of fantastic sessions – using Lego to explore where the most energy is used in schools, discovering how we can develop our school grounds to become more biodiverse and wildlife-friendly, and learning about the ways the cathedral is working to become more sustainable. They even made their own seed balls to help encourage wildflowers and pollinators.

As part of the visit, the group also enjoyed a tour of the cathedral, where they saw King Richard III’s tomb, travelled sustainably by train, enjoyed lunch together in the sunshine, and even had time to celebrate some of their favourite eco books as it was World Book Day!

A highlight of the day was the children presenting their eco project:
“Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference – Improving Recycling and Reducing Plastic Waste.”

The presentation shared all the fantastic work the Eco Team has been doing this year. The judges were incredibly impressed by how confidently the children explained their ideas and reflected on the impact of their work. We are thrilled to share that they were awarded the Eco-Factor Project Award for ‘the most impressive presentation’ – a huge well done.

We are so proud of their enthusiasm, commitment and passion for protecting our planet. Well done team.

A huge thank you to the Diocese Board of Education for organising such a brilliant event, and to the many organisations who supported the day, including Let’s Go Zero, Nature Park and PECT.

At Great Bowden Academy, reading is one of our BIG things, so it’s no surprise that World Book Day is one of our favourite days of the year!

This year the children came to school dressed for our ‘Cosy Up and Read’ non-uniform day, and we loved seeing the fantastic decorated masks inspired by their favourite books. It was a brilliant way to celebrate the stories and characters that children love most.

We started the day with a whole school World Book Day assembly, before heading back to class to explore our whole-school text, ‘The Barnabus Project’ by the Fan Brothers. Inspired by the story of Barnabus – a “failed project” who escapes a secret lab to find a place where he belongs – the children completed creative writing and artwork, thinking carefully about the themes of belonging, difference and acceptance.

Later in the morning, the children met in their school houses for a fun Book Cover Treasure Hunt, searching for clues hidden around the school. This was followed by one of our favourite parts of the day – paired reading, where older pupils teamed up with younger ones to share and read their favourite books brought in from home.

In the afternoon, after enjoying their Harry Potter themed lunch, classes continued exploring The Barnabus Project, with quizzes, creative activities and a collaborative frieze, before finishing the day with more paired reading in house groups.

It was a wonderful day celebrating the joy of books, stories and reading together. A huge well done to all our readers.

They encouraged everyone to question their rubbish — Can it be recycled? Can it go in one of our school recycling bins? Why does recycling really matter?

We’re excited to share that they have now launched the Warburtons Bakery Free Recycling Programme in partnership with TerraCycle. Families are invited to bring in clean bakery packaging which we will collect and send off to be recycled, helping to reduce plastic waste.

We are so proud of the confidence and leadership our Eco Team showed in collective worship — true ambassadors for positive change.

As they reminded us all - Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

We kicked things off with the ever-popular PTA Valentine’s Bake Sale – and what a treat it was. A huge thank you to everyone who baked, bought and volunteered. Even the weather couldn’t dampen our spirits as we moved the stall indoors. The team raised an impressive £260 – amazing!

Our in-house caterers, Miquils, also shared the love with a special Valentine’s-themed lunch, complete with hearts, balloons and thoughtful touches. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to sit together and reflect on what makes their friendships so special.

We do love celebrating the little moments – spreading smiles while raising valuable funds for our school community. Thank you for your continued support.

Working scientifically, the children investigated whether the distance from a sound source affects its volume. Using a sound meter to collect accurate data, they carefully considered how to keep their test fair and drew thoughtful conclusions from their results. We were so impressed with their teamwork and reasoning skills.

They’ve also been learning about high and low pitch – and what better way to explore this than by creating their very own pan flutes! It was a brilliant opportunity to combine science, creativity and a little musical flair.

Future scientists (and musicians!) in the making…

We explored both the benefits and limitations of AI, recognising that while it can be a helpful tool (for example, suggesting a new song to listen to), it doesn’t think as creatively as our brains or have the same imagination that makes each of us unique.

Students had thoughtful discussions about using AI in positive ways and making sure it is never used in a way that could upset or harm others. We also reminded everyone of the importance of speaking to a trusted adult if they ever see something online that makes them feel worried, unsure or uncomfortable.

We’re proud of the maturity and insight our pupils showed during these important conversations.

We listened to author Katie Hopper introduce her new book Sylvia’s Candle, which sparked thoughtful conversations about belonging, feeling safe, and finding places where we can truly be ourselves.

In Key Stage 2, the children spent the afternoon reflecting on why our classrooms are such positive places to learn and grow, as well as thinking about their own special places. They created beautiful positivity pouches, filled with affirmations and reminders of just how unique and valued they are.

Supporting our children’s wellbeing is at the heart of what we do. Helping them recognise their worth and feel confident in who they are is such an important life skill.

A huge well done to all the children who received their Headteacher Award this term, presented during our Flourish Worship. We are incredibly proud of you and the example you set every day.

Join Learn Academies Trust for a friendly drop‑in event where you can chat with real experts, explore your options, and get honest answers about the path into teaching.

📅 28 February 2026
⏰ 10am–1pm
📍 Sock Gallery, Loughborough Town Hall

Whether you’re:
• A final‑year uni student figuring out your future
• A teaching assistant ready to progress
• Or considering a complete career change

…you’re warmly invited.

Pop in, say hello, and discover where teaching could take you.

Find out more on our website: www.learnat.uk/institute-of-education/teacher-training

New Age Kurling is an inclusive indoor sport played on flat surfaces using specially designed stones with bearings. While it shares strategy and scoring with traditional curling (played on ice), it’s a versatile, low-impact alternative that allows everyone to get involved and compete.

The team also had the opportunity to try their hand at boccia, a precision target sport similar to bowls or pétanque – and they absolutely loved it!

It was wonderful to see the students getting fully involved, showing great focus, teamwork and determination. Everyone left with big smiles – and a well-earned trophy!

A huge well done to our amazing players for representing Great Bowden Academy so brilliantly.

Our pupils loved showing their individuality in their own clothes and enjoyed getting stuck into the special number-themed lunch menu!

Thank you to our families for your generosity and support – together we raised an amazing £160 for the NSPCC.

Children take the lead as part of teams that matter to them – Eco Team, Worship Team, School Council, Sports Ambassadors and Wellbeing Ambassadors – bringing passion and creativity to the table. These meetings are child-led, giving every voice a chance to be heard and respected.

From dreaming up eco-friendly projects to boosting wellbeing, planning worship or enhancing sports opportunities, our vision ambassadors show us every day how much difference children can make when they’re listened to and empowered.

We’re so proud of how our pupils are shaping school life for the better.