Tudor Crimes and Punishments – do they match?

27th January 2026Thomas White

Last week, in Crew White, we looked at some of the typical crimes of Tudor England: stealing food, believing in a different religion to the ruler and speaking (or even thinking) badly about a ruler. We decided what punishments we thought these deserved. Many of us said fines, community service or short prison sentences but we found out that the Tudors treated criminals much harsher than we do today.

All of the crimes above could be classed as TREASON and, because of this, the punishments often included execution. Our next task will be to give some written opinions on some of these crimes and their punishments.

Children’s Air Ambulance Visit

20th January 2026Nicola Robson

Today we were very lucky to have a visit from volunteers Sandy and Trevor from the Children’s Air Ambulance. They shared lots of facts about how the air ambulance works and how their missions save the lives of children and babies who need urgent care. Did you know it costs £5500 each time the ambulance is launched!

Hook Week: A Tudor Banquet and a Trial Like No Other

9th January 2026Thomas White

Hook Week launched our learning in unforgettable style as Crew White were thrown straight into the world of the Tudors. The hall was transformed for a Tudor banquet, giving the children a taste of life at court and a chance to imagine the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the period.

The highlight of the week was a powerful mock trial of Anne Boleyn. Taking on different roles, the children interrogated a wide range of evidence, questioned its reliability, and debated how convincing it really was. They were challenged to think critically, weigh up claims, and consider how power and bias may have shaped events.

The level of engagement was fantastic. Children asked sharp questions, justified their opinions and showed real maturity when discussing complex and controversial evidence. Hook Week did exactly what it promised: spark curiosity, excitement and a deep desire to learn more about Tudor England.

UKS2 Celebration of Learning

9th January 2026Hannah McLoughlin

We were delighted to invite parents into school for our Art Exhibition, where children had the opportunity to proudly showcase their writing, art and DT (Design and Technology) skills. The hall was transformed into a gallery space, allowing families to walk around, admire the work and celebrate the creativity and effort that has gone into each piece.

The displayed work was beautifully framed to reflect our expeditionary learning, with a strong focus on understanding how we can help our planet survive. These frames helped bring together the children’s knowledge of sustainability, environmental responsibility and global care, giving real purpose and meaning to their creations.

The children were excited to talk confidently about their learning, explaining their ideas, techniques and the processes behind their work. From carefully crafted written pieces to imaginative artwork and thoughtfully designed DT projects, the gallery highlighted both creativity and skill development. It was wonderful to see the children take such pride in their achievements and to share this special experience with their families.

Hook Week – Tudor Crimes and Hans Holbein

6th January 2026Thomas White

Today marked the first day of our new expedition, and Crew White were fully immersed from the start. We travelled back to the Tudor period to begin building our historical knowledge and curiosity, asking big questions about what life was really like during this fascinating, and often brutal, time.

We were introduced to the intriguing figure of Hans Holbein the Younger, exploring how his portraits tell us so much about powerful people, status and life in Tudor England. The children were fascinated by how art can act as a historical source and reveal details that written records sometimes miss.

We also read about Tudor crime and punishment, discovering just how harsh and shocking the justice system could be. While some of the punishments were gruesome, this helped the children understand how fear and control were used to maintain order.

It was a gripping start to our expedition, sparking curiosity, thoughtful discussion and plenty of questions.

We are looking forward to our Tudor banquet on Thursday!

Cutting, Measuring and Showing Courage in DT

11th December 2025Thomas White

In DT this week, Crew White stepped up to a real challenge: sawing and measuring wood at an angle. It was the kind of task that demanded precision, patience and a steady hand, and our crew absolutely rose to it.

There were moments of frustration, moments where pieces didn’t quite fit, and moments where starting again felt like the only option. But the crew showed real courage, sticking with the process and supporting one another to get it right.

By the end, they not only had neatly cut pieces of wood but also a new appreciation for how skilled carpenters and joiners truly are. It was a brilliant mix of resilience, teamwork and craftsmanship.

Reading Buddies Building Confidence

11th December 2025Thomas White

This week, our Reading Buddies programme has been in full swing, and it’s been brilliant to see. Our older, confident readers have been supporting younger students with their pre-reads, helping them practise tricky words, build fluency, and talk about the story before they meet it in class.

They’ve shown maturity, independence and genuine care in the way they guide and encourage their partners. The younger children have absolutely loved the one-to-one attention, and their confidence is growing every session.

It’s been a lovely reminder that reading isn’t just a skill, it’s something we share as a community.

Capturing the Tiger Cat (through Art)

11th December 2025Thomas White

This week, Crew White have been exploring the striking patterns and features of the Northern Tiger Cat through Art. After studying photographs and discussing what makes this elusive animal so unique, the children chose either to sketch the whole creature or zoom in on a single feature—most popular were those bold, expressive eyes.

Using oil pastels, our crew has layered colours, blended carefully, and experimented with texture to bring their artwork to life. The results are brilliant: vibrant close-ups full of detail and powerful full-body pieces that really captured the movement and markings of the tiger cat.

The class showed real focus, creativity, and pride in their work. We can’t wait to display these in our expedition products soon.