Children from all age groups were inspired by a diverse range of poets who they have explored as part of their literacy learning.  As well as researching about the poets, pupils added choreography to their presentations, while some even used props.

Poetry is an important part of the curriculum at Upton and every child was given the opportunity to learn a poem off by heart with their teacher.

They thought about the importance of projecting their voice and using their bodies to perform the poem as well. Furthermore, they had so much fun with poetry, thinking about the actions they could use and how they could use their voices to exaggerate words or make them more emotive.

Works performed included Gran, Can You Rap?, Just A Book, Scissors, The Magic Box, Homework!Homework!, and The Schoolkids’ Rap.

Assistant Head of School Gemma Scarr explained: “Oracy - the ability to articulate ideas, engage in active listening, and communicate effectively through spoken language - is one of Upton's golden threads and it runs through everything we do.

“The poetry recitals have been an important part of the children's learning around oracy especially that of speaking and listening.

“It was a wonderful event celebrating poetry, performance and oracy. The hall, on every occasion, was full of parents and families celebrating the children and the wonderful job they did.

“Poetry is so important and watching the children immerse themselves and be creative was a joy.” 

The recital was described as “a fantastic celebration of the many and varied styles of poetry the pupils have been enjoying” by Head of School Darci Arthur.

She added: “They showed a great deal of confidence and performed very well. The recital also demonstrated their communication skills and helped reinforce self-esteem and team building. It was a lovely event which we all enjoyed.”

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

The global annual event saw Upton’s digital leader team from Year 5 and Year 6 pupils present a special information assembly to the whole school.

They delivered an engaging and informative presentation and explained how AI works in everyday apps and platforms, discussed both the benefits and risks of AI, and shared practical advice on staying safe while using AI-powered tools.

The digital leaders encouraged their peers to become responsible digital citizens and reminded everyone that while AI can be a powerful tool for creativity and learning, it must be used thoughtfully and ethically.

Teacher Chris Rowe is Head of Computing. He said: “Technology is evolving quickly, and it’s important that our pupils understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with it.

“Safer Internet Day gives us the chance to have meaningful conversations about how we can all contribute to a safer, kinder online community.”

In addition, the school also hosted a parent workshop to reinforce key online safety messages about apps, games, and social media platforms so that they can support their children at home.

Mr Rowe added: “Parent workshops are great way to strengthen the partnership between school and families in promoting safe and responsible technology use.

“Upton Juniors remains committed to promoting digital literacy and ensuring that all students feel confident and safe navigating the online world.”

Head of School Darci Arthur agreed and added: “We are mindful of the need for our children to make informed choices about the way that AI and all computer and smart technology is used. Safer Internet Day was a great platform for us to reinforce information that we regularly discuss with our children throughout the year.”

Safer Internet Day online says: “Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated in approximately 170 countries worldwide.”

The event is held every February 10. Find out more online at www. saferinternet.org.uk

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393

Pupils and staff showed their creative cleverness as the whole school celebrated the NSPCC national Numbers Day 2026 and have so far already raised £262 (donations are still coming in) to wear their own outfits to raise awareness about the charity that helps keep children safe from abuse.

Head of School Darci Arthur said: “Our number day was built upon the premise of raising money for the NSPCC to maintain the highly important and effective work that will help their support/help line.

“This charity does crucial work keeping children safe and we are proud to offer our support.

“Maths is very strong at Upton and Number Day each year gives the children an opportunity to experience the fun and creativity of the subject.”

Upton’s Maths Lead Maisie Prescott discussed how the day unfolded. She said: “We began with a number day assembly that discussed the importance of the NSPCC’s charity work and then children participated in a whole school maths challenge.

“Pupils dressed as digits or as their favourite times table rockstar in lieu of uniform and made a donation to the charity. They enjoyed a range of fun, interactive Maths activities such as escape rooms, using treasure maps and mathematical art and music to celebrate the importance of Maths.

“It was wonderful to see the children so enthusiastic about their learning during Number Day. Throughout they were enthusiastically engaged in a wide range of hands-on activities and games, and it’s been fantastic to witness their excitement for learning and exploring many different elements of Maths.”

Cracking the Earth’s Core is the challenge for Year 4 children who are investigating how earthquakes occur and how volcanoes are formed.

A special WOW Day saw pupils take part in a range of themed activities. They created and painted picture of a volcanic eruption by using cotton buds and made a 3D volcano using sugar paper and tissue paper.

Guest visitor Tom from One Day Creative used drama to teach the children about the myths around volcanoes and earthquakes from different cultures, while Anna from PrimeVR helped transport the group to different volcanoes around the world, watching real footage of them erupting in 3D.

During their normal lessons they continued with an English text called ‘I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens', an historical fiction based on the 1980 eruption in America, witnessed by an 11-year-old girl who watched in terror and awe as the mountain exploded with the power of ten million tons of dynamite.

They wrote a setting description of the mountain before and after the eruption, focusing on using figurative language. They brought it to life by acting out a scene from the text and created a storyboard with the images.

They are also discovering the story of Mount Pelée's devastating 1902 eruption in Martinique, where a powerful pyroclastic flow (hot ash/gas cloud) from the volcano obliterated the city of Saint-Pierre, killing nearly all its 30,000 inhabitants in minutes. Their descriptive challenge is to write a newspaper report based on the details.

The learning continues at home where pupils are invited to delve into the topic by exploring the subject further and putting together work such as a presentation, a poster or other creative efforts to bring in to school.

Head of Year 4 Nikki Lewis said: “The WOW Day was extra special. The group was so enthusiastic and really enjoyed the various activities that dovetail in with this fascinating topic that is weaving its way through their learning this term.

“Pupils are really embracing all the different elements to gain a varied, balanced and informed overview of earthquakes and volcanoes in our world.”

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

The Year 4 group unearthed a variety of information as they pieced together the creation and development of one of the most fascinating periods in history.

Their learning encompassed a range of skills to help them understand what made Ancient Egypt tick and why it has remained such a rich and interesting subject centuries later.

They discovered the creation and intent behind the building of the majestic pyramids and understood the importance of the River Nile to the survival of the ancient Egyptians and created a 3D model of the waterway.

The group visited an exhibition at Maidstone Museum and focussed on the meaning behind the rite of mummification, as well as creating a canopic jar out of clay. To further their understanding of the mummification process, the children mummified a tomato following the different steps.

In class, they researched the Egyptian hierarchy and placed some key events on a timeline (which the children made using string and the events on cards). They also looked at the reliability of sources and ancient Egyptian architecture.

A special focus WOW Day, encouraged pupils to dress in costumes linked to civilisation with a range of colourful, detailed outfits on show as they worked through a range of activities.

These included making a clay cartouche and deciphering a story written in hieroglyphs, performing a drama based on the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, creating a death mask headdress, constructing pyramids made out of lolly sticks, and designing and playing a Top Trumps style game about Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Head of Year 4 Nikki Lewis said: “Our children were enthusiastic and really engaged in digging deep to discover the many and varied aspects of how Ancient Egypt evolved. It was a fascinating topic for them.”

Head of School Darci Arthur agreed and added: “Exploring an ancient civilisation, learning about the culture and heritage and then having a day of creativity gave our Year 4 group a rich all-round rich experience in the classroom that was enhanced by their visit to the museum.”

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information, contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

Year 5 children took part in a special STEM Day (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) working from an RAF video information film where they acquired insights into the engineering principles underlying rocket design and construction.

It encouraged them to design and build their own rockets, culminating in a series of exhilarating tests.

It was part of a term-long fascinating journey through the stars as the group discovered the mysteries of space.

Their learning began with an in-depth study of Galileo Galilei and his groundbreaking discoveries - pupils actively engaged in dramatisations, portraying Galileo’s findings and the societal reactions they provoked during his time.

The voyage of discovery also encompassed a comprehensive exploration of the planets within the solar system, examining their distinct properties.

Through this, pupils gained an understanding of the Earth’s orbit around the sun, as well as the moon’s orbit around the Earth. To facilitate this learning, an innovative approach was employed using Oreo biscuits to illustrate the various phases of the moon, thereby enhancing the students’ grasp of celestial dynamics.

Modern-day space tourism was also explored, with children creating their own space adverts, showcasing their imaginative ideas about travelling to the stars.

They also crafted their own space narrative poetry, letting their imaginations soar using rich figurative language to transport the group through the wonders of the universe - from twinkling stars to distant planets, their poems were a vibrant reflection of their thoughts and feelings about space.

Head of Year 5 Billie Danson said the space learning work was multi-faceted. She added: “Furthermore, the concept of day and night was thoroughly investigated, fostering a deeper comprehension of the Earth’s rotation.

“The enthusiasm displayed by the children has been remarkable, with many conducting additional research at home to enrich classroom discussions.

“We explored the thrilling space race and discussed the monumental achievement of the first landing on the moon. Their curiosity and excitement have been infectious, with many sharing their own thoughts on what it must have been like to be an astronaut. It’s incredible to see them drawing connections between past events and our present understanding of the universe.

“This term has proven to be both educational and inspiring, igniting a passion for space exploration among the students.”

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

They have vowed to increase their support for the natural world and local habitats following an inspirational meeting from local environmentalist George Cooper, winner of the BBC Kent ‘make a difference’ green award, who was a special guest at their first meeting of the school year.

Hannah Cheshire, Deputy Head of School at Chilton Primary, said: “Mr Cooper has been working on Minster marshes for years, protecting and encouraging all wildlife, but mostly bird populations.

“He taught the children about the importance of this local area and shared with the children how he has campaigned to make a difference.

“Inspired by his actions, the children have gone back to their individual schools to spread the word in support of being more vigilant about these important issues that affect us all.

“It is an excellent opportunity for our pupils to be engaged with considering how each school can work together to further expand their green initiatives like being eco warriors, caring for wildlife and encouraging sustainability.

This year the joint meetings of the Junior Leadership Team will further focus on how the children can make a difference within their school and local community.

At their first get together held at Upton Junior School the group also discussed National Parliament Week, linking the role that junior leaders have in school to that of their local members of parliament. They discussed the importance of listening to and representing the thoughts and wishes of their peers in school and considering the positive changes they could make in school.

The children will the democratically choose another local issue they wish to raise awareness of and create a campaign in support of it.

Their simple but critical aim is to support senior leaders in the running of the Trust’s three partners, Upton Juniors in Broadstairs, Chilton Primary, and Ramsgate Arts primary.

Elected by their peers, each school’s individual leadership group meets together three times a year in order to learn from each other or work on joint ventures.

The inter-school networking and pupil voice initiative can involve many aspects ranging from fund raising to making lunchtimes more exciting – the junior leaders’ views are vital in raising what is important from them and in shaping school improvement.

Executive Head Teacher of the Trust Michaela Lewis says the joint JLT networking sessions and the roles each group has to play in their own schools are vital.

She explained: “Our senior staff embrace their ideas and suggestions, which are discussed thoughtfully and seriously. It fully involves our children in having a true voice in what could be done to further enhance life in our three schools and in our wider community.”

*Contact Viking Academy Trust Executive Head Teacher Michaela Lewis on 01843 582847

Children collectively put their best feet forward to take part in the Odd Socks Day to highlight the UK Anti-Bullying Week that runs from November 14-18.

Pupils donned their brightest and boldest socks in a mismatched pair as the fabulous footwear made a sparkling show in classrooms and around the school backed up by the nationwide Anti-Bullying Alliance charity’s serious message – everyone is different in their own way.

The learning centred on the theme Power for Good and children engaged with the nationwide BBC live lesson which embraced kindness and the importance of standing up and speaking out.

Upton’s Personal Development Lead Izzy Reed explained: “Anti Bullying Week works in relation with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to raise awareness of bullying and teaches ways to prevent and stop this.

“It forms part of Upton's personal development curriculum - with key links to our overarching themes of relationships, health and wellbeing, and living in the wider world.

“It is important that children feel confident in their power to stand up for what is right.”

Head of School Darci Arthur added: “Upton was even brighter than usual as the children wore odd socks with their school uniform. This was an initiative to celebrate being unique and different - with each child wearing mismatched pairs with various patterns, images and words.

“It reflects and endorses the Dr Seuss inspirational quote that can be found on our school walls – ‘why fit in when you were born to stand out’.

“Kindness, tolerance and respect are central to our core values and our pupils are aware of our ongoing anti-bullying message which is reaffirmed regularly. They know they have a safe and secure school in which to enjoy their learning, and if any of them need to discuss any issues including bullying they know they can speak in confidence to a member of staff immediately.

“Anti-bullying week is an excellent nationwide campaign and offers a platform for our school community to further discuss important issues.”

Anti Bullying Week ran from November 10-14. Upton supports the 2025 Anti-Bullying Alliance core message. It reads:

“Every year, bullying impacts the lives of countless young people and silence helps it grow.

“This Anti-Bullying Week, we’re empowering young people to use their Power for Good to safely speak up and raise awareness when they see bullying, face to face or online.

“Lasting change needs all of us. From playgrounds to parliament, our homes to our phones — we all have a part to play.

“Together, we can use our Power for Good to end bullying — for good.”

For more information go online to www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

Upton Juniors is part of the Viking Academy Trust with partner schools Chilton Primary and Ramsgate Arts Primary.

*For more information contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

The theme set for 2025 by the national event was ‘how many activities can you do 25 times?’

Pupils from Year 3 to Year 5 took part in a range of events, including activities such as bouncing a tennis ball without it falling, hula-hooping and doing star jumps.

Families donated for the non-uniform day, which saw year groups around school dressed in a range of Pudsey bear-themed outfits, colourful spotty costumes and much more.

Teacher Izzy Reed, Personal Development Lead at Upton, said: “It was another successful Children In Need day at Upton. Throughout school, we have discussed the importance of this charity’s work and how it seeks to help and support those who need it most.”

Donations for the charity are expected to raise around £600.

Head of School Darci Arthur said: “Team Upton became Team Pudsey for the day".

“We are very strong on the importance of safeguarding our young people which is why Children In Need strikes a strong chord with us.

Charity appeals like this really highlight the community spirit of the school and, once again we raised an impressive amount.

There were some cracking costumes on show all around the school – it was so colourful and there were happy children with smiles on their faces all day. We all had great fun and most importantly helped others less fortunate than ourselves at the same time.”

Upton Junior School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Chilton Primary School and Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

*For more information, contact Head of School Darci Arthur on 01843 861393.

The accent was firmly on respect for those who fought during two world wars, other conflicts and for those who remain in active service around the globe today.

The Remembrance theme filtered through the whole day’s lessons across the age ranges with children completing a variety of creative writing tasks.

These included researching and understanding about the historic Christmas Day truce in the trenches during the First World War, with illustrative silhouette artwork created.

Pupils retold this story or wrote some thoughts and feelings from a soldier's point of view on poppies and stuck them onto their pictures.

Children also learned about the iconic In Flanders Fields war poem written during the First World War by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

Blackout poetry – an art form where you create a new poem by selecting words from an existing text (like a book or newspaper) and blacking out the rest - was also part of the remembrance learning.

Meanwhile youngers pupils created an acrostic poem to reflect the Lest We Forget message and meaning; others used Maths skills to crack codes.

Head of School Darci Arthur said: “It was so wonderful to see all the children commemorating such a special day, giving thanks to those who have protected us.

“The storytelling, use of language, and artistic interpretations resulted in thought-provoking and evocative work. It demonstrated the depth of respect our children feel for Remembrance and highlighted how much they empathised with what they had researched and learnt.”