Our Year 5 pupils had an incredible time visiting the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium, bringing their classroom learning to life!
The children dived right into an array of hands-on exhibits that reinforced key science concepts like forces, light, sound and space. They especially loved testing out interactive displays on pulleys, levers and magnets, alongside experimenting with light and shadows.
Our Year 4 students recently enjoyed an incredible educational adventure at the Natural History Museum for a day filled with curiosity and enquiry. The children were captivated by the powerful Volcanoes and Climate Change: Fixing our Broken Planet gallery, where they explored the science behind our changing Earth. They also uncovered ancient Roman history in the Volcanoes and Earthquakes zone; the children stood inside the interactive earthquake simulator to experience the tremors the Romans felt, and they viewed the poignant plaster casts of Pompeii victims preserved by Mount Vesuvius.
Next term, the year 6 children will be learning about World War 2.
Minet Junior School is proud to announce that it is one of 227 schools that has achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) this month, a nationally recognised accreditation that celebrates a commitment to developing excellence in science leadership, curriculum design, teaching and learning.
Led by the University of Hertfordshire, for over a decade the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) has been setting children on a path to a life filled with exciting possibilities and opportunities, by giving them access to a strong foundation in quality primary science education. Over 7,000 Quality Marks have now been awarded, impacting on the learning of almost 2,000,000 children.
PSQM is a comprehensive, evidence-informed, professional learning programme which equips primary science subject leaders with the knowledge, confidence, and expert support they need to transform the quality and profile of science education in their schools.
On Friday 9th October, Minet Junior School celebrated Hello Yellow Day for mental health awareness with a special twist! Because we believe play is vital for children’s well-being, we combined the day with our new OPAL initiative.
Our children came in dressed in yellow to show their support and brought in wonderful donations, including toys, balls, dressing-up clothes, kitchen utensils and over £100 in cash donations to kickstart our new play project!
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As part of their RE learning about Islam, Year 6 visited the local Hayes Muslim Centre on 23rd September. During the visit, the children watched the Imam demonstrate the different calls to prayer and learned more about the meaning and significance of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Volunteers from the centre kindly provided guided tours, giving the children the opportunity to explore various areas of the mosque, including the sisters' hall, the washing area and the range of resources available to support learning about Islam. The visit gave the children a valuable insight into Muslim beliefs and practices, helping to bring their classroom learning to life.
The children and teachers had a fantastic day experiencing life in a Victorian school. Everyone made a great effort to look as Victorian as possible, and some children even arrived with 'dirt' on their faces to complete the authentic look!
Throughout the day, the children took part in lessons just as Victorian pupils would have done. They practised English grammar and handwriting, chanted maths facts and completed calculations, wrote lines, and searched for definitions in dictionaries. The experience of having strict, authoritarian teachers was very different from the supportive and interactive learning environment they are accustomed to today. It gave the children a valuable insight into what school life was like during the Victorian era.
On Monday 14th September, we officially launched our new games and activities as part of our ongoing OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) bid to make playtimes more exciting! The playground was filled with fun, laughter, and giggles as children enjoyed a brilliant mix of activities, including dressing up, giant board games, Lego, racing cars, singing, and dancing. Watch this space—there are plenty more fun activities to follow!
This year, our children took part in National Smile Month competition 2026.
Out of 86 entries from different schools in the Borough, a child at Minet Junior School came second. This was a fantastic achievement.
