SCHOOL OF THE WEEK: Rogiet Primary School

Head teacher Kathryn Evans beamed with pride as she made last minute-checks ahead of the school’s Easter bonnet parade and egg competition at the time of our visit.

Around 90 infants had decorated a hat or bonnet ranging from a traditional straw hat with dangling chicks to a Disney-themed top hat and eggs marked with letters spelling the word Easter.

Mrs Evans said that the children made them at home and then brought them in for the school’s annual Easter competition.

She said: “Every year their creative ideas get better and better.

“The children are superb and put in so much effort – it’s fantastic.”

The pupils’ enthusiasm for learning is infectious and their enjoyment is evident as they make use of every corner of the school, which was rebuilt on the site in 2009.

The state-of-the-art school is made entirely from sustainably sourced wood and features rainwater harvesting for the toilets, automatic window ventilation and solar heating.

“The building is a teaching tool,” explained Mrs Evans.

“Children, teachers, parents and community users are able to learn about sustainability from using the building itself.”

There is a separate nursery onsite called Little Tigers Day Care that meets in the school’s community room and enables future pupils to become familiar with surroundings and teaching staff.

The school boasts several outdoor areas including a large playground, outdoor equipment, courtyards, a bird hide, and wildlife area where the children can play and learn.

The school has also created a garden where each class has a plot to look after.

In the foundation phase, pupils had put on their all-weather gear complete with red wellies and were exploring how water flows as part of their current topic ‘pitter-patter.’ It was clear to see at Rogiet Primary that making learning fun is key.

In the main play area Year four4 pupils were excitedly watching and counting down teacher and deputy head, Rhys Clewer, as he attempted to launch their ‘rockets’ while learning about the Bernoulli principle.

Made using plastic pop bottles and filled with water, Mr Clewer, protected by goggles and a lab coat, used a pump to launch the bottles to see how far they travelled into the sky.

The rockets soared into the sky before bursting and sending water raining onto the class.

He said: “It’s part of our flight topic.

“We’ve also had a visit from a local pigeon racer who explained to the children about the structure of their wings and feathers.

“We then progressed to looking at the basics of the forces and looking at planes and a very real way of demonstrating thrust.

“The children are really enjoying it and are going home buzzing.”

In a next door classroom Year 3three pupils were practising playing a range of instruments from the guitar to the drums and violin as part of the BBC Ten Pieces initiative.

“They have been listening to music and composing their own to compliment it,” explained Mrs Evans.

Their own compositions based on Handel’s Zadok the Priest have been uploaded to the BBC website.

In Year 5five, we met pupils who had applied for the job of digital leaders in the school.

Their role is to support the IT learning throughout the school helping in areas such as using iPads and laptops.

Year 6six members of Code Club also meet each week to learn about programming and coding.

There are plenty of after-school clubs ranging from Zumba to cookery and Welsh country dancing which are run by teachers at Rogiet.

The school also has a school council made up of pupils from Year 2two to 6six and an eco committee.

Road safety and fitness are among the current initiatives at Rogiet. Twenty pupils recently completed their cycling proficiency test in school as part of the national standards training with Cycle Training Wales.

This also taught them how to ride their cycles safely on the road and in traffic.

A food and fitness committee, made up of different year groups meet regularly to think of ways the school’s food and fitness policy can be implemented throughout the school to encourage all aspects of healthy living.

There is also a healthy tuck shop each day offering fruit and vegetables.

One recent achievement that the school is proud of is raising £1,415.13 for the NSPCC by holding a sponsored zumbathon and circuit training.

Mrs Evans said: “The events were great fun and we were all amazed how the children kept going.

“I came here five years ago and I really love it. I am really lucky.

“Everyday is fun and no two days are the same.”

“It’s about making learning fun and finding things that will capture all the children's imaginations and finding what they want to learn.

“If it’s fun then they will remember it.”

When asked what she hopes her pupils will leave Rogiet Primary with, she said: “Skills for the future, especially ICT.

“It is such an important part of their life.

“I want to get them ready for the future and to become well-rounded, well-mannered people.”