Unfortunately we are having trouble with our phone system this morning. If you need to reach the school please use our backup number of 01736 756915. Thank you.

THE JELLY FRIENDS American blog
penpol_school_logo_for_website_white-slimline copy
Can you help the Jelly Friends?
  • Contact Us

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.”
Home
Information
Curriculum
Parents

History

Step into the World of ‘Swop’: A Virtual Author Visit with Lucy Noguera!

Year 1 had an exciting and engaging virtual author visit with Lucy Noguera today, where they had the special opportunity to meet the inspiration behind the main character of her books, Swop!

The children were full of fascinating questions for Lucy, such as, “How long did it take you to write Swop: The Daring Dinosaur Detective?” and “What inspired you to create these characters?”

Lucy took us on a journey through her creative process, sharing insights from the very first spark of an idea to the moment her books were published.

We’re now eagerly awaiting our delivery of Dyslexia-friendly copies, which will be a fantastic addition to our school library’s dyslexia section.

A huge thank you to Lucy Noguera for such an inspiring visit! We’re excited to get started on the special Science detective mission you set for us, linked to our Digging for Dinosaurs topic. We can’t wait to put our detective skills to the test!

 

Here’s a wonderful creative drawing by one of our talented students, inspired by Swop, now proudly displayed in our Class 4 book corner! What a fantastic way to bring the story to life! 🌟📚

Reception Children’s Magical Adventure at the Minack Theatre

I was the queen fairy and I was in love with a donkey – Jackson

Our Reception children have embarked on an unforgettable journey to the breathtaking Minack Theatre for a singing, dancing, and performing workshop. The experience was a playful and immersive exploration of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, filled with music, movement, and storytelling.

We went to the Minack Theatre. I was a builder and we also did super heros. We had to save the day – Tristan

 

Led by the lively and engaging Wenna White, Betty Blue and Ryan Red, the children were transported into the magical world of fairies, kings and queens, builders, and even a donkey! Through song and dance, they brought Shakespeare’s enchanting story to life, stepping into the roles of characters and embracing the spirit of the play.

I was a fairy. We saw the dressing room. We had to collect magic dust. We had to be naughty with it and spread it over the builders and the princess and the donkey ee-or – Esme

 

The adventure didn’t stop there! As well as performing, the children had the chance to explore the stunning Minack Theatre and its beautiful gardens. They learned about the theatre’s fascinating history and how the remarkable Rowena Cade built it with her own hands. A real highlight was going backstage, where the children got a glimpse of where the performers prepare before stepping onto the famous stage.

I was being the prince – Ava, I was being the queen – Flora, I was being a fairy and I falled in love with a donkey – Georgie

The day ended with a special performance on the Minack’s stage, where the children showcased everything they had learned.

It was a magical and memorable experience for all, sparking creativity and excitement about theatre and performance.

A huge thank you to the Minack Theatre team for giving our children such an incredible opportunity. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll see some of them return as future stars of the stage!

 

Year 3 Head to the Mines

Our Amazing Trip to Geevor Tin Mine!

Wow! What an exciting day we had at Geevor Tin Mine! We travelled back in time to learn about tin mining in Cornwall and even became miners for the day.

 

Wearing hard hats, we explored a real mine. It was dark, damp, and spooky! We saw how tin was separated from rocks, used old tools, and tried drilling and crushing rocks ourselves.

 

Next, we panned for gold and found gems—just like real treasure hunters! We visited the locker room, left just as miners had last used it, and ended the day with a fun Cornish sing-along.

We had an amazing time and learned so much.

 

AI in the Classroom

As Class 7 continues to learn about Cornish Mining,  this week we added a special twist! We used “School AI” to help us explore this fascinating topic in a way that was just right for each child.

 

With AI, we could ask our own questions and get tailored answers to help us understand what life was like for miners. Some chidlren wanted to discover what kinds of food miners ate, while others wanted to find out about their family life. Some even explored how mining helped the economy and why it was so important for Cornwall. It was amazing to see how AI could guide us to learn in a way that suited us best!

 

We also had an important discussion about using ai safely. We learned that AI is a great tool for learning, but we should always check information, think critically, and ask a teacher if we’re unsure.

 

A Special Visit from Clint at Geevor Mine!

Year 3 had an unforgettable experience this week when Clint from Geevor Mine came to visit us! He brought history to life with his fascinating stories about what it was like to be a miner in Cornwall, both in the 19th century and in the 1990s. The children were amazed to learn how mining has changed over the years and just how tough the job was!


One of the highlights of the visit was the chance to dress up in traditional mining clothing. The children had so much fun trying on the outfits and imagining what it must have been like to work deep underground. They also had the opportunity to feel the weight of real mining equipment—everyone was shocked at how heavy it was! It really helped us appreciate the hard work and strength needed to be a miner.

There were gasps of amazement when Clint told us that, in the past, children as young as three used to go down into the mines! It was difficult to believe, but it helped us understand just how different life was for children in those times.


We are now even more excited for our upcoming visit to Geevor Mine next week! We can’t wait to explore the site in person and see firsthand the places and equipment Clint told us about. Stay tuned for more updates after our trip!

YEAR 1 – LONDON’S BURNING!

Our Year 1 children have been enthralled with our Great Fire of London topic. Today recreating their own Great Fire of London – LONDON IS BURNING!

Both Class 3 and Class 4 have been combining their History and Design and Technology skills to design and build their own models of houses from the 1660s. They have explored how homes were constructed during this time, learning about the materials used—such as wood and thatch—that made the houses more vulnerable during the fire. They built models that reflect what homes in London might have looked like – with some amazing HOME creations too!

This project has not only deepened their understanding of a key historical event but also encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

YEAR 1 HAVE BEEN DESIGNING AND BUILDING GREAT FIRE OF LONDON HOUSES!

As part of our exciting Great Fire of London topic in Design and Technology, Year 1 children have been busy designing and building their own houses! They’ve explored what homes looked like in London during the 1660s and learned how the materials used at the time contributed to the spread of the fire.

Using their creativity and problem-solving skills, students have designed houses, considering how to make them strong and safe. They’ve used a variety of materials, from cardboard and paper to paint, to build models of their houses. This hands-on project has not only helped them understand history but has encouraged teamwork and also explored our Penpol value of CREATIVITY, all while having fun learning about the Great Fire of London!

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS TAKE OVER YEAR 3!

Earlier this week, Year 3 dressed up in their finest Ancient Egyptian attire for a day celebrating their Ancient Egypt topic.

 

To start the day, the children showed off their dance moves to the song Walk Like an Egyptian.

 

Throughout the rest of the day, the children completed their own booklets filled with Ancient Egyptian activities, explored non-fiction books, and made their own papyrus.

There were lots of excellent costumes, and the day was enjoyed by all! Well done, and thank you, Year 3 (and parents!).

 

A fort-ified effort!

This half-term, our Year 2 pupils have been learning all about castles and embarked on a building project that even Henry VIII would have admired. Every foreman needs labourers, so what better opportunity than to collaborate with their learning buddies from Classes 14 and 12?

With guidance and teamwork, the Year 2 pupils transformed their designs into impressive castles, showcasing their newly gained knowledge. From the importance of battlements for defense to creating a working drawbridge, their projects brought history to life in the most creative ways.

Well done to our budding architects and their fantastic learning buddies for such a royally impressive effort! 🏰✨

Year 5 Trip to Carn Euny and Penlee House and Museum

On Wednesday 13th November, Class 12 delved into the history of the Penwith area by visiting Penlee House and Museum and Carn Euny Stone Age settlement. In the morning, we participated in a Stone Age workshop, learning lots of information and taking on the role of historians and archeologists. As historians, we studied artefacts and handled replicas which helped us to understand more about the life of a Stone Age human. Inside the museum, we investigated artifacts that have been discovered in the Penwith area.

“I enjoyed the treasure hunt in the museum.” Noa

“It was great when we got to handle the replicas.” Noah

“Making the coin badge was really great, and I liked that I got to take it home.” Lucy

After lunch, we ventured down some narrow country lanes to the ancient site of Carn Euny village. After exploring the village and discussing how and why these people lived here, the children tackled a question that has been baffling archeologists and historians: What is a fogou (an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British-defended settlement sites in Cornwall).