This October, our whole school community came together to celebrate Black History Month through a vibrant programme of learning, creativity and reflection — all rooted in our core values of resilience, respect, integrity and kindness.

Pupils were captivated by African storytelling sessions, exploring traditional tales that celebrate courage, community and wisdom. We were also delighted to welcome MasterChef contestant Louise Simms, who engaging the children with a lovely session on different fruits and vegetables that influence her cooking. She spoke to us about the Jamaican flavours she enjoys cooking with and the people who inspired her to pursue a career in cooking. 

A special highlight was the visit from author Kamapala Chukwuka, who shared stories that encouraged pupils to think deeply about identity, belonging and the power of diverse voices. Across the school, pupils engaged in guided reading lessons inspired by Black authors and poets, developing empathy, respect and an appreciation for the richness of Black British and global literature.

The celebrations culminated in our stunning Black History Month Art Gallery, where families admired the children’s beautiful work. The exhibition showcased freedom quilts, poems, masks, patterns, printing, stencilling, trinket pots, drawings, portraits, landscapes and animal art — each piece reflecting creativity, understanding and pride.

The celebrations were a wonderful success, demonstrating how our pupils live out our values every day: showing resilience as they tried new skills, respect for different cultures and stories, integrity in their learning, and kindness in how they celebrated one another’s achievements.