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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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The Penpol Times

A Magical Moonlight Walk to See The Mousehole Cat

“At the far end of England, a land of rocks and moorland stretches out into a blue-green sea. Between its high headlands lie tiny, sheltered harbours where fishing boats hide when the winter storms blow.”

Year 1 had a magical adventure to see The Mousehole Cat at The Solomon Browne Hall in Mousehole.

‘The Mousehole Cat tells the heartwarming tale of how the village of Mousehole in West Cornwall was saved from famine by the brave actions of fisherman Tom Bawcock and his faithful cat, Mowzer. Based on a well-known Cornish legend, Antonia Barber’s story of the fearless fisherman and his devoted cat is sure to warm the cockles of your heart—almost as much as an ‘efty portion of stargazy pie!’

First, Year 1 walked through the picturesque streets of Mousehole, admiring the harbour we had previously drawn in class. As we strolled along the cobbled streets, we finally reached The Solomon Browne Hall, where the children watched the performance of The Mousehole Cat in awe. After the show, we walked back to the harbour, where we were treated to the magical lights. It was a truly enchanting experience, and a wonderful way to complete our Moonlit Walk, earning our 360° Curriculum Badge.

The children demonstrated our Penpol Value of Respect throughout the trip and represented Penpol School wonderfully. Thank you so much to Cousin Jack’s Theatre Company for providing us with such a truly amazing experience.

Lighting Up Our Learning: A Christingle Celebration of Light and Love

This week, year 2 has been learning about a very special Christmas tradition – Christingle. As part of our lessons on Christian celebrations, we explored the meaning behind this beautiful tradition, which is celebrated by Christians all around the world during Advent and Christmas.

The word Christingle comes from two words: “Christ,” who Christians believe is the light of the world, and “tingle,” which refers to the orange shape used in the celebration. We discovered that the orange represents the world, while the candle placed on top is a symbol of Jesus being the light that shines in the darkness. We also learned that the red ribbon wrapped around the orange stands for the love of Jesus.  Some Christians believe the sticks with sweets or fruit represent all the gifts we give to others at Christmas, whilst others believe they represent God’s creation of the four seasons.

Learning about Christingle has been a wonderful way for us to understand the Christian message of peace, love, and giving.

Year 1 Gets Active: Mastering Hockey Skills in Invasion Games!

Here’s Year 1 having a blast developing their competence and performance through exciting invasion games! Recently, we’ve been focusing on hockey, learning how to control the ball and work together as a team. It’s been fantastic watching the children practice their skills, improve their coordination, and have lots of fun along the way.

Here are a photo of Year 1 in action, showing off their hockey moves and teamwork during these energetic games!

Festive Fun: Penpol Panthers’ Santa Run

The Penpol Panthers Bring Holiday Cheer with Their First Santa Run!

The holiday spirit was alive and kicking as the Penpol Panthers hosted their very first Santa Run on December 10th. This festive event saw students, staff, and parents donning Santa hats and reindeer antlers, as a blur of red and white soared through the streets of Hayle.

The Santa Run, which the school plans to make an annual tradition, combines the joy of the season with a love of running. Organised by the school’s running club, the Penpol Panthers, this inaugural event was a smashing success. Over 50 participants laced up their trainers to take part in the spirited dash down to the King George V Memorial Walk.

The Panthers ran a distance according to their ability, ensuring that everyone—from seasoned runners to casual joggers—could join in the festivities.

“It’s amazing to see everyone come together for such a fun event,” said club leader Mr. Pearson. “The Santa Run isn’t just about running; it’s about building community, staying active, and spreading a little holiday magic. We can’t wait to do it again next year!”

The event was made even more joyous with many a well-known Christmas song booming from Mr Stanlake’s boombox-backpack!

Here’s to a successful first Santa Run and to the Penpol Panthers for making this holiday season unforgettable! We can’t wait to see what next year brings.

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.

Cracking the Code: Year 6 Builds Brilliant Morse Machines!

This term, Year 6 pupils embarked on an exciting project that combined history, science, and technology: building their very own Morse code machines! Inspired by the revolutionary invention that changed the way humans communicated in the 19th century, the pupils dived into the world of coding, circuits, and ingenuity.

Before the building began, pupils explored the fascinating history of Morse code. They learned how Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed this groundbreaking system of dots and dashes to send messages over long distances. From its vital role in maritime safety to its use in wartime communication, the pupils were captivated by the story of how Morse code shaped history.

With the historical foundation laid, it was time to get hands-on! Pupils worked independently to design and build functional Morse code machines using batteries, wires, bulbs, and switches. Guided by their science and technology lessons, they learned about electrical circuits and how to create a closed-loop system to power their devices.

They also tackled the challenge of encoding and decoding messages, practicing their new Morse code skills with their classmates.

Super work Year 6!

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!).

 

Year 5 and 6 Pupils Shine in High Performance Program

Last week, some of our most talented sportspeople from Year 5 and 6 were invited to attend a strength and conditioning session at a local CrossFit gym. These pupils were selected to take part in the Penwith PE Cluster High Performance Program, an initiative recognizing their exceptional achievements in their chosen sports both within and outside of school.

The group included a diverse mix of athletes—from swimmers to runners, footballers to golfers. During the session, they learned not only how to improve their physical strength but also about the importance of maintaining a healthy body to handle the physical demands of their sports.

A huge well done to all participants for representing our school with such dedication and enthusiasm! 💪🏅

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! 🏰✨