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Headteacher
Chris Coyle-Chislett

Email the Office
secretary@penpol.cornwall.sch.uk

Telephone Number
01736 753472

Our Address
2 St George’s Road, Hayle,
Cornwall, TR27 4AH

“Penpol pupils are curious, creative and courageous learners. Our school community believes in authenticity as the foundation of deep-rooted learning. Through our rich and relevant curriculum, we nurture community-minded, forward-facing international citizens of the future.”
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Month: November 2025

Sand, Science, and Smiles: Year 1 Investigate How Sandcastles Stand Tall!

Sandtastic Science in Year 1!

Year 1 had a sandy, scientific adventure this week as the whole class set out to discover the perfect mixture for building sandcastles. Using just a cup and their hands, the children tested different amounts of water to see how the sand changed—from crumbly and dry to squishy and soggy.

There were gasps, giggles, and plenty of sandy fingers as the pupils explored which mixture held its shape best. They observed, compared, and talked about what happened at each step, learning while having lots of fun.

Once the final “just-right” mixture was found, the excitement grew just look at their smiles!

Everyone had a chance to pack the sand into their cup and tip it out to create their very own sandcastle. Soon the tray was filled with sturdy little towers proudly made by the whole class.

It was a hands-on, sandtastic lesson full of fun, teamwork, and lots of talk centred around predictions — and Year 1 can’t wait for their next science investigation!

Pepys from the Past: Time-Traveling Diarist Lands in Year 1!

Year 1 had a very special visitor—none other than the famous 17th-century diarist, Samuel Pepys!

The day began with the children taking on the role of town criers, ringing bells and calling out news to the “citizens” of Year 1, experiencing the thrill of delivering announcements the old-fashioned way.

The children were enamoured by Samuel Pepys and listened carefully to everything he revealed, with some impressing him with their own knowledge of what they already knew!

Next, both classes worked in their own classrooms on activities set by Samuel Pepys himself. This included making their own diaries of key events from Pepys’ past, collecting different stickers at stations, and using VIPERS skills to extract information from different sources.

They even tried writing with quills, carefully practicing their letters and imagining they were journaling their own London adventures alongside Pepys. The children also built their own timelines of the Great Fire of London, acting out key moments and even playing a game to see if the fire would spread before they “won,” giving everyone a hands-on understanding of how quickly events could unfold in historic London.

The excitement continued as Pepys quizzed the children: “What unusual pet did I have that could belong in a zoo?” Every child had a chance to guess, and amazingly one child even gave the correct answer! The victorious guesser was rewarded by digging for some cheese, just like Samuel had buried all those years ago. Do you know what the animal was?

They also used magnifying glasses to study a picture of London from a long, long time ago, spotting details they might have missed with the naked eye.

From start to finish, it felt as if history had stepped off the pages and into the classroom. While Samuel Pepys returned to the 17th century, Year 1 will remember this unforgettable journey back in time for weeks to come.

Penpol Remembers

This week, our school and wider community came together to mark Remembrance Day, honouring those who served in wars past and present. In the days leading up to November 11th, our Year 6 pupils took part in a range of special activities across different subjects to help us understand and reflect on the importance of remembrance.

In English, children learned the famous World War I poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae. They discussed the poem’s meaning, imagery and the emotions it evokes. Pupils were inspired to write their own thoughtful poems about the brave souls who sacrificed their lives in WWI.

Meanwhile, in Art, pupils created striking pictures of poppy fields, soldiers, and scenes from wartime, showing great care and creativity.

In Design and Technology, children designed and sewed their own red poppies, carefully stitching the petals and leaves to create beautiful symbols of remembrance.

   

   

On Remembrance Day itself, the whole year group walked together to the Hayle War Memorial. We joined members of the local community to take part in a two-minute silence at 11 o’clock. It was a moving and respectful moment as we stood quietly, remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom.

   

Our Remembrance Day activities helped everyone to think deeply about history, sacrifice, and gratitude — and to understand why it is so important to remember.

Penpol Compete at the National School Song Competition

 

Last year, some staff and key stage two pupils here at Penpol School got together over a series of singing assemblies to write a song that sums up what it is like to go to Penpol School. The children gave lots of ideas about what they enjoy and like about school and worked hard to incorporate these ideas into the song. Our song ‘The Best That I Can Be’ was then recorded in a singing assembly and entered into the national School Song Competition.

Amazingly our song fought off stiff competition of 350 entries and we were invited to The competition final just held just outside of London.

The song is a credit to the children and staff and really encompasses what it is like to be a student at Penpol School. You can listen to the song on all major streaming platforms.

Spooky Spectacular: Potions Bubble and Spine-tingling Skeletons!

Class 4 had a spook-tacular day full of fun, learning, and imagination! Dressed in their own creepy costumes, the children were already channeling the mysterious and magical wonder of Spooky Day.

Our day began with listening to Funny Bones, which inspired the children to design and make their very own skeletons. Soon after, the class got hands-on with some creepy creativity, building spooky skeletons of all shapes and sizes.

After break, Cornwall became the focus as the children journeyed to mystical and magical lands through a Piskey tale. Inspired by the story, each child used their imagination to create their very own spooky Piskey, bringing their tiny magical creatures to life through drawings and clever ideas.

The day also included a practical maths activity where the children followed a spooky recipe, carefully measuring and mixing ingredients like “half a cup of inky slime” and “a full cup of fairy tears”—proving that maths can be both fun and deliciously creepy!

It was a day full of learning, creativity, and fun, and Class 4 showed that even spooky days can be filled with laughter, imagination, and a touch of magic!

Happy Spooky day – Dydh Euthyk Lowen

Year 2 Light Up History with Guy Fawkes in Forest School

This week, Year 2 had an unforgettable experience in Forest School when a very special visitor arrived—none other than Guy Fawkes himself! The children were captivated as he retold the story of the Gunpowder Plot, explaining why he and his co-conspirators tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

The session was full of excitement and curiosity. Pupils listened carefully, asking thoughtful questions about the events of 1605, and enjoyed hearing history brought to life in the forest. They learned not just the facts, but also about courage, consequences, and the importance of working together—just as the conspirators did, for better or worse!

To make the story even more memorable, Guy Fawkes lit the fire in the Forest School firepit, giving the children a dramatic demonstration of the Bonfire Night tradition. He also showed them a seal used on letters in his time, prompting pupils to compare artefacts from the past with things they use today.

The fun didn’t stop in the forest! Back in the classroom, Year 2 continued learning with a range of creative activities. They made timelines of the Gunpowder Plot to understand the sequence of events, played a thrilling game where they had to finish a Guy Fawkes picture before the barrel exploded, and even created sparkling firework artworks to celebrate Bonfire Night.

Teachers praised the pupils for their enthusiasm, imagination, and teamwork throughout the day. It was a fun, fiery, and memorable experience that truly brought history to life!