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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

Reading and Writing is Magic, and Magic is for Everyone

Our annual Reading and Writing Is Magic Festival has been nothing short of spectacular, filled with fun activities, challenges, and a whole lot of creativity! This week, we’ve been celebrating the life-changing power of reading and writing in every corner of the school, inspiring everyone at Penpol to embrace their imagination and explore the magic of words.

The key theme of the week was ‘Reading and writing is magic, and magic is for everyone’ — a message that has resonated throughout every activity. We’ve focused on the idea that every child has the right to…

  • Be creative 
  • Have a planet to read and write on
  • See themselves reflected in a book
  • Have some choice in what they read and write
  • Read and write for the joy of it

We had the privilege of hosting Cornish writer Ben Rowswell, who led energetic and inspiring assemblies for all year groups. His passion for storytelling was contagious, and everyone was excited to tap into their own creativity. You can learn more about Ben and his work here: Cornwall Adventure.

To keep the creative spark alive, every child has been given their own special notebook — a place where they can write freely and express their ideas throughout the year. It’s a space for independent creativity, giving each child the chance to freely write for the joy of it.

At Penpol, we believe reading and writing are truly magical, and this festival has been a perfect reminder of how important and exciting these skills are. Here’s to many more adventures with books, stories, and the endless possibilities of writing!

Year 1 – Maths in the Class

In Year 1, we love exploring different areas of Mathematics in fun and creative ways. Here are some photos of the children thinking outside the box to make their own number sentences and using various resources to help them learn.

 

We also enjoy getting up and being active to support our learning! This helps us to use our reasoning skills and strengthens our fluency by embedding it kinestetically.

Tag Rugby Fun with Hayle U9’s Coach Peter Old’s

This week, our Year 4 students had an exciting opportunity to showcase their tag rugby skills under the expert guidance of Peter Olds, Hayle’s Under 9’s rugby coach.

As part of their PE lessons this half term, the children have been learning the fundamentals of tag rugby, including teamwork, agility, and strategy. Their hard work and enthusiasm were on full display during the session with Coach Peter Olds, who provided valuable tips, encouragement, and insights into the game.

The students relished the chance to learn from a professional coach and to put their newfound skills to the test. Highlights of the session included some thrilling tag matches and plenty of laughter as everyone worked together to refine their techniques.

A huge thank you to Peter Olds for taking the time to inspire our young athletes and for making the session both educational and fun. We’re incredibly proud of the determination and sportsmanship shown by all our Year 4 students, and we can’t wait to see them continue to develop their rugby skills.

If your child is interested in joining Hayle Under 9’s Rugby team, please check the details in our picture gallery below:

 

 

We Will Remember

On Monday our Year 6 pupils took break from writing their World War 1 poetry to pay their respects and mark the two-minute silence on Armistice day at the War Memorial in Hayle alongside other members of our community.

 

The children have been learning lots in class about the sacrifice many service personnel have made on behalf of their countries through their topic of ‘War and Peace’

This has included making poppy crosses to lay in the D-day inspired garden outside of the Passmore Edwards Institute opposite the memorial. They have also sewn their very own felt poppies whilst raising money for the Royal British Legion.

 

Year 3’s Pizza-Making Adventure: A Slice of Fun!

Last week, the Year 3 children in Class 7 embarked on a delicious trip to Pizza Express in Truro to learn the art of making authentic Margherita pizza. The trip linked to their DT and science learning about preparing savoury dishes and digestion.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, the children were warmly welcomed by the Head Chef, who gave them a brief introduction to the history of Margherita pizza. He explained how the dish, named after Queen Margherita of Italy, features the colours of the Italian flag: red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil.

The class quickly got to work, donning aprons and chef hats that made them look like mini pizzaiolos (pizza chefs). The Head Chef guided them step-by-step, starting with stretching and shaping the dough. Next came the layering of toppings. Each child spread a generous ladle of tomato sauce over their dough, carefully sprinkled mozzarella, and finally a sprinkle of dried basil leaves.

While the pizzas baked in the restaurant’s oven, the children discussed what they had learnt from the trip and linked it to their science learning on digestion.

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived! The warm, bubbly pizzas were brought out, boxed up and given back to the children ready to be taken home to their families. The trip was a resounding success, blending education with an unforgettable culinary experience. A few children commented on the mini-bus back to school, “This was the best trip ever!”

Year 3 returned to school with happy hearts and a new appreciation for the art of pizza-making. It’s safe to say this will be a day they’ll remember for a long time!

Bright Smiles Ahead: Year 1 Learns the Secrets to Healthy Teeth!

Year 1 had a fantastic time learning all about how to keep our teeth clean and healthy, thanks to the brilliant team from Healthy Cornwall and NHS Dentistry! We discovered the best ways to brush our teeth and learned how much sugar is hiding in some of our favourite drinks. It was a fun, interactive workshop that helped us understand how important it is to look after our teeth every day!

Thank you so much Healthy Cornwall and NHS Dentistry!

A FIERY VISIT: FIREFIGHTERS BRING SAFETY AND FUN TO PENPOL SCHOOL!

Year 1 had an exciting visit from local firefighters as part of our Great Fire of London topic! The children explored how firefighting has changed since 1666, comparing the tools and techniques used in the past to the modern equipment firefighters use today.

Through cross-curricular learning in English, the children wrote their own interesting questions, such as, “What equipment do firefighters use to put out fires today?” and “How do firefighters stay safe?”

This visit provided a hands-on experience, helping the children connect their History and English lessons with real-life firefighting practices. The firefighters also explained the purpose of the equipment, sparking curiosity and deepening the children’s understanding of both the Great Fire of London and how we stay safe today!

Year 6 undertake mini-police training

As part of our PSHE curriculum, Year 6 had the privilege of welcoming Devon and Cornwall Police into their classrooms for an engaging and educational experience. The officers shared insights about their roles within the community, the importance of staying safe online, and the impact of antisocial behavior.

With a careers focus, Phil—a respected officer—captivated the pupils with his personal journey, starting as a 10-year-old with dreams of joining the police force to now having a varied and rewarding career. His story inspired many pupils to consider a future in law enforcement, now equipped with knowledge about the skills and qualifications needed for such a career.

Here’s what some of our Year 6 pupils had to say about the experience:

Ned

“I really liked the mini-police program. It was a valuable experience learning about antisocial behavior, vandalism, online safety, and the age ratings of games and apps. It’s important to tell a trusted adult if something makes you uncomfortable online. We also learned about road safety, like stopping, looking, and listening, as well as not using your phone while walking. I loved the experience!”

Isla

“During the last week, Year 6 was visited by an officer from Devon and Cornwall Police. At first, I didn’t know much about the police, but now I know so many jaw-dropping facts. We explored antisocial behavior—it was crazy to hear about the situations he’s been involved in! We also learned about online safety and road safety. It was so amazing to hear about the police from an actual officer!”

Theo

“When Phil came in, it inspired me to work harder in school, especially in maths and English, as he explained how important those skills are. I learned that to be a 999 response officer, you need to complete a minimum of two years before specializing in roles like traffic or armed response. Phil told me everything I need to know to become a police officer, and I am inspired to be one.”

A big thank you to Devon and Cornwall Police for providing such a valuable and inspiring experience for our pupils! 🚔✨

Magic on the Mount

On  Tuesday 2nd October and Wednesday 3rd  October 2024, Classes 5 and 6 embarked upon magical and memorable trips to St Michael’s Mount as part of their Autumn Term topic, ‘Who’s the King of the Castle?’

Pupils enjoyed a 5-minute boat ride across the water to the island as they didn’t fancy the long swim.

We were greeted at the harbour by Kerry Rice, the Education Officer for St Aubyn Estate, who led us on a magical journey through time as we explored the historic beauty of St Michael’s Mount.

On the short but steep hike up the Mount, we discovered the ‘Giant’s Well’, where Kerry captivated the children’s imaginations with the legend of Cormoran the Giant. We learned about the story of a tyrannical giant who once lived on the mount and how he was defeated by a local boy called Jack.

Further up the Pilgrim’s Steps, children discovered the Giant’s Heart within the cobbled path. Legend has it that if you place your toe on this magical stone, then you can feel Cormoran’s heartbeat in your chest!

Finally, we reached the castle at the top of the mount, where the stone fortifications, battlements and canons immediately brought this period of medieval history to life. Kerry taught us the chronology of the mount’s use through time, going back over 3000 years from early Bronze Age artefacts to its use as a monastery, to the castle’s construction following the Norman Conquest of Britain.

As we explored the inside of the castle, children discovered an abundance of fascinating artefacts scattered throughout the castle’s intricate maze of rooms and buildings, including a mysteriously large leather jug and the entrance to a hidden chamber, where a 7-foot skeleton was once discovered!

After descending the steep and uneven path back down the mount, we had certainly earned a good lunch.  One final treat was in store, as Kerry treated led a wonderful drama activity in which they acted out the story of Cormoran the Giant – complete with an authentic blast of a horn from Kerry!

By the afternoon, the tide has dropped out, revealing the beautiful cobblestone causeway that connects the island to the mainland. We walked back along the beach and enjoyed the minibus journey back to school, minds full of the history and magic of St Michael’s Mount.