2 months ago
Posted on 20th Mar 2026 by Jane Rhoden

T1 Year 6 Rugby Tournament

T1 Rugby

On the 19th of March the year six tag rugby team went to Oswestry rugby club to play tag rugby against other schools in a competition. If you came first place you would get into the next round where you would play against all the winners around Shropshire but we came second. We played five games and won three games and drew two games. The teams we played against were Longlands, Baschurch ,Whittington, Market Drayton Juniors and Myddle. Although we didn’t come first the team is still very happy because we played very well and didn’t lose a game! The school that came in first place was Baschurch with thirteen points, Hodnet in second with eleven points and Market Drayton Juniors in third with ten points.

Written by Seb ( Year 6 )

2 months ago
Posted on 13th Mar 2026 by Jane Rhoden

Sporsthall Athletics Competition

Sportshall Athletics

During this year, some of the Year 6 children have been competing in a Sportshall Athletics competition.

The first round was held at Maurice Chandler and the team, made up of 6 girls and 5 boys competed in events such as relay, obstacle and hurdles. The girls came first and the boys second but collectively the Year 6 team won the competition. It was a day of great teamwork and staff were thrilled with their positive attitude.

The team automatically went through to county finals which took place on Tuesday, 10^th March. Again, the team worked well supporting each other and competed with a great attitude. The results came in with the boys coming in 4^th and the girls came 3rd.

The children are all very proud of their amazing achievements as are Hodnet Primary School.

Well done to everyone who took part.

2 months ago
Posted on 06th Mar 2026 by Jane Rhoden

Class 6 – Trip to Cosford

Trip to RAF Cosford
On a Sunny Tuesday, we went to RAF Cosford to learn about World War I and II. We got on the bus at 09:00 am and got there at 09:50.

On arrival, we waited for the other two schools who were also taking part in the Evacuee Day. Once they got there, we were taken into an auditorium where all the children sat and were told that we were now evacuees from World War II. Then, two teachers from each school were called on to the stage. The Billeting Officer walked up and down inspecting them saying which ones were scruffy or had nits and which might be selected to go to live with a host family. It was funny but also made us think how the children may have felt.

After that, we went on to the first Workshop during which we learnt about how and where the children were evacuated. Using our maths knowledge, we worked out the time that it took to get there and how far they had to travel. We then did some geography work, using large ordnance maps, and a compass to explore how far the children travelled.

Then, we explored some of the planes, we tried to find some facts about them.

After lunch, we went to the next Workshop which was a school classroom. When we got there, we were told not to open the desks but some people opened the desks and got a detention. Matias and Harrison T were identified as German spies. We learnt more about life as an evacuee, learning that some got sent abroad whilst others went to the country and never returned home! We also learnt that some of those on boats got torpedoed and many people were killed.

Before leaving, we were able to explore and try the artefacts such as gas masks and military clothing. We also looked at children’s toys and games. Eva said it was an interesting day which gave us an idea of life as a child during the war.

Written by Harrison T and Freddie

2 months ago
Posted on 06th Mar 2026 by Laura Bessant

Hodnet Celebrates World Book Day!

Hodnet kicked off our World Book Day celebrations with a Traitors themed assembly!

We were welcomed into the Great Reading Castle of Hodnet – a place where the Faithful Readers were being thwarted by the Book Traitors. The Faithful Readers love stories, use their imagination and protect books; whereas the Book Traitors try to stop the main character, they try to stop the happy endings and they try to make stories something to dislike.

Four Readers had been chosen at the secret round table and one of those was selected to be the Book Traitor. The Readers were set two challenges to see if the children could work out who was the Book Traitor.

The first challenge asked the Readers to identify the book using picture clues. The children tried to guess which of our Readers was the Traitor!

In the second challenge, our Readers were given a book character and had to deliver two truths and a lie about their book. The children had to see if they could spot the traitor by the way they delivered their lie.

After the two challenges, the children voted for the Reader they thought was the Book Traitor. It was in fact Miss Honey from Matilda!

After successfully finding the Traitor, the children were asked to consider the Oath of the Faithful Reader. Faithful Readers promise to give books a chance; to use their imagination; to try new books and to protect the magic of reading!

It was a great start to our World Book Day celebtrations!

3 months ago
Posted on 27th Feb 2026 by Jane Rhoden

Biscuit and Fudge in the Half Term Holidays

Holidays for Fudge and Biscuit

Over the February half term, the guinea pigs went to stay with one of our Year 6 pupils.

I really enjoyed having them to stay – giving them plenty of cuddles. Biscuit and Fudge very much enjoyed their tasty snacks including Kale and Spinach and always squeaked whenever they saw us near to their food. Biscuit was especially excited whenever you brought her some more hay or fresh snacks. Fudge enjoyed the daily cuddles and attention.

Time quickly flew by and before long it was time to return them to school but I took plenty of photographs to remember having them.

By Harriet

If anyone would like to care for the guineas pigs over a weekend or holiday please contact Miss Darmanin

3 months ago
Posted on 12th Feb 2026 by Laura Bessant

Storytelling Week 2026

Storytelling week was the second event in our calendar of events to support the National Year of Reading 2026. We enjoyed a range of events to highlight the importance of listening to, telling and reading stories.

On Tuesday, Year 5 and 6 enjoyed a ‘Soundtrack Your Story’ workshop from the National Literacy Trust where they learnt about rhythm and rap with Alim Kamara.

On Wednesday, we held a storytelling assembly where each class shared their Talk for Writing text. Reception told ‘The wheels on the bus’; Year 1 told ‘Lost and Found’; Year 2 told ‘Edgar’s Adventure’, a warning tale, and Year 3 told a suspense story ‘The Manor House’. Year 4 carried on the suspense stories with Zelda Claw; Year 5 shared the non-chronological report ‘The Rhiswanozebtah’ and Year 6 told the story ‘Red’, a twist on the traditional version of Little Red Riding Hood.

On Thursday, we had a special visit from Sal Tonge who is a storyteller. Each class enjoyed a workshop with Sal where they listened to and joined in with lots of stories and songs.

We have also held a class reading swap where the older children read with the younger children.

We hope that our storytelling events will have provided enjoyable experiences for all!

3 months ago
Posted on 06th Feb 2026 by Jane Rhoden

Reading Champions 2026

Hodnet Reading Champions 2026

Miss Darmanin has appointed a highly enthusiastic team of Reading Champions to help to promote reading through the school this year as part of the Year of Reading campaign.

The girls have many great ideas and are currently preparing to lead an assembly in order to share their plans.

3 months ago
Posted on 06th Feb 2026 by Jane Rhoden

Sports Hall Athletics Team Competition

The Year Six Sportshall Athletics team had a tremendous competition this week. Once again, their sportsmanship, manners and positive attitude was impeccable. In addition, they also had incredible success, with the girls’ team coming first in their events and the boys second.

Overall, the team placed first, winning the competition. Well done to all!

3 months ago
Posted on 29th Jan 2026 by Penny Lyall

London experience!

Our very excited Y5&6 pupils have been given the ‘save the date’ for our London experience day – this year it will be on Friday 26th June.

We organise the London experience day to provide our pupils with the opportunity to visit our capital, to travel by train, take in key sites and experience city life for the day. We usually go every other year, close to Christmas, but we have decided to change this going forwards to a summer event, meaning we have a longer day and more options to visit landmarks. This links with school themes of monarchy, sustainability, British Values and much more! It’s a magical day, something staff and pupils look forward to as a staple KS2 Hodnet experience.

At the core of our trip this year is visiting the Houses of Parliament, which we were lucky enough to secure this week when the tour booking slots opened for schools – thanks to the staff members who were eagerly waiting for the time slot and ready with fastest fingers first to get the booking!

We have also secured workshops in the Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace. Our next steps are to confirm the other activities – tour of Westminster Abbey plus one other yet to be confirmed, possibly a river cruise! Watch this space for more information, but for now please save the date. Letters with full information will be sent to Y5&6 families in the coming weeks when our travel and full itinerary is confirmed.

4 months ago
Posted on 17th Jan 2026 by Laura Bessant

National Year of Reading 2026!

Hodnet School is excited to embrace the National Year of Reading in 2026.

What is the National Year of Reading?

The National Year of Reading is a UK wide campaign by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust. The campaign’s theme is ‘Go All In’ meaning read about things that really matter to you. Whether it’s sport, music, fashion so something else, if people ‘go all in’ on a topic, the hope is that they will enjoy what they are reading and do it more.

Why is this the National Year of Reading?

Studies have shown that reading is connected to lots of lifelong benefits, including wellbeing and confidence, and improving writing and conversation skills. Unfortunately, reading for pleasure among young people is at its lowest for 20 years. We need our young people to read in order to improve their own life chances, both in education and the workplace.

Is reading just about books?

Definitely not! The National Year of Reading is promoting all types of reading including comics, magazines, online blogs, e-readers, instruction manuals and audiobooks. The campaign wants everyone to read in a way that works for them.

What is happening during the National Year of Reading?

Throughout 2026, there will be lots of events across the UK. At Hodnet School, Mrs Bessant has created a calendar of events to ensure that we enjoy a reading event every month of 2026.

National Year of Reading Calendar

Our first event is ‘Reading Resolutions’ – allowing our children to set a reading goal for the year. This could be about trying a new format of reading or perhaps trying a new author or genre.

The Department for Education want children and families to read for at least 10 minutes every day and Hodnet School we want that for our children as well. How amazing would it be if we could all achieve that goal!