Welcome to the Head's Blog! Please visit this page regularly for news, information and updates from Blisland Primary Academy.
Andrew Smith, Head of School.

Blisland Primary School’s Skateboarding Club Takes Off!

This week, 18 excited pupils from Blisland Primary School kicked off their first session at our brand-new after-school Skateboarding Club, held at TR7 Skatepark. With a rotation of 12 pupils attending each week over six weeks, this club promises to be an exciting opportunity for our young skaters to develop their skills and confidence on the board.

Under the expert guidance of our coach, Chaz, pupils began their skateboarding journey by learning the basics of foot positioning, ensuring they had a solid stance for balance and control. They then practised jumping onto the board with confidence before moving on to pushing and gliding smoothly across the skatepark. It was incredible to see how quickly they picked up these essential skills!

As the session progressed, some pupils even had the chance to take on the ramps, testing their bravery and coordination. Chaz was incredibly patient and inspiring, offering encouragement and support to help everyone feel comfortable and motivated. Whether complete beginners or those with some experience, every pupil made fantastic progress during their first lesson.

A huge thank you to the parents who helped with transport—your support makes opportunities like this possible! Keep an eye out for more updates as our young skaters continue their journey at TR7.

Blisland Blast Away Competition

On Thursday 6th February we attended the Bridge Schools Dodgeball Tournament at Callywith College. We were only allowed to take 6 children from Year 3 & 4, in order to make it a fair pick we put names in a hat and drew out 6 for the team. Our squad for the day was Todd, George, John, Harry, Cadan and Emma. We arrived at Callywith College and lined up along all the other teams. The tournament started off not so well with us losing the first game against Polperro, this seem to get our team fired up and they went on to win every game after that. We finished the 1st phase at the top of our group, this meant that we qualified to play in the play off for 1st and 2nd place. Our final game was against Looe who were the winners of the other group. We won the final game making us the Dodgeball Champions!!! Massive well done to the team, we are so proud of you all.

Gate opening times

A quick reminder that the school gate will be open from 8.30 -8.45am. Please ensure all pupils are dropped off as promptly as possible. After the gate is closed, parents will need to contact the school office using the buzzer. Staff will ensure the gate is manned between 8.30 and 8.45am but we are desperate to get back to supporting learning so please help us keep this process as efficient as possible.

Blisland Primary School’s Valentine’s Disco Fun!

The Valentine’s Disco was a fantastic afternoon full of fun, laughter, and celebration! Held at Blisland Village Hall, pupils enjoyed an exciting night of dancing, games, and friendly competition, making it a memorable event for everyone who attended. The dance floor was full of energy as pupils showed off their best moves to their favourite songs. From classic party tunes to the latest hits, everyone had a great time dancing with their friends and joining in with group dances. The atmosphere was filled with smiles and laughter as pupils celebrated Valentine’s Day together. Alongside dancing, there were plenty of fun games to enjoy. Bingo was a big hit, with pupils eagerly marking off their pictures in hopes of winning. "Pin the Kiss on the Frog" brought lots of giggles as blindfolded players tried their best to place their kiss in the right spot. One of the most exciting parts of the afternoon was the battle remote control cars, where pupils took turns racing and competing in thrilling head-to-head battles. A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the event and to all the pupils for bringing so much enthusiasm! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more photos from the night!

This Week at Blisland Primary Academy

It has been another exciting and eventful week at Blisland Primary Academy, with pupils taking part in a range of fantastic activities, from sporting competitions to creative projects and themed celebrations!

One of the highlights of the week was the dodgeball tournament held at Callywith College. Pupils from Blisland competed against 14 other Bridge Academy schools in a fast-paced and energetic competition. Our team showed incredible teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship, demonstrating quick reflexes and strategic thinking in every match. It was a brilliant experience for all involved, and we are so proud of their efforts!

We also celebrated Valentine’s Day in style with a special Valentine’s Disco at the village hall. Pupils enjoyed an evening filled with music, games, and dancing, with plenty of sweet treats to keep their energy levels high! The event was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together, have fun, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. A huge thank you to everyone who helped organise the disco – it was a wonderful success!

In the classroom, Nessa Class has been busy learning about plants and the Earth’s rotation. Pupils explored how the movement of the Earth creates day and night, deepening their understanding of space and science. As part of this topic, they also created stunning space-themed artwork using a combination of print and collage techniques. Their vibrant and imaginative pieces truly captured the beauty and mystery of the universe!

Meanwhile, Kensa Class has continued with their fascinating topic on China. Pupils have been learning more about Chinese traditions, geography, and history, further developing their knowledge of this incredible country. Alongside this, they have been working hard on their gymnastics routines, focusing on balances and rolls. Their dedication to improving their strength, flexibility, and coordination has been fantastic to see.

It has been a week full of achievements, creativity, and fun at Blisland Primary Academy. Well done to all our pupils for their enthusiasm and hard work—we can’t wait to see what next week brings!

Spring 1 

Spring 1

Switch Club

Switch club -the brain child of one of our pupils- has launched! It has proved to be our most popular club with 20 pupils attending from Year 1 - Year 6. Children have enjoyed sharing their passion for all things Nintendo with each other. On the big screen we have been racing in Mario Kart with the next generation of Karters showing fantastic skills. 

Skateboarding Club

We are excited to offer pupils from year 2-6 the opportunity to join an afterschool skateboarding club. The club will be run by TR7 Skateboarding and their professional coaches - all equipment will be provided. We have arranged a 6 week block of skateboarding lessons on Thursday afternoons 4pm-5pm starting on 27th Feb. With the option to stay for another hour to practise skills. The club will be held at TR7 skateboarding in: UNIT 1 Station Approach, Victoria, OFFICES PL26 8LG. This is an inside skateboarding park so weather can’t disrupt the sessions. Teachers and staff can offer a lift to the TR7 site and will supervise (maybe even join in) the session from 4-5pm.

Topic

The Nessa topic this term is the Ancient Romans. Pupils have been attempting to replicate Roman marching tactics. We don't quite have the efficiency and discipline of the Roman army but give us time! We have studied the Roman invasion of Britain as well as the legacy left behind when the Romans retreated. 

Autumn 2

Snow Day

Last week beautiful Blisland was blasted with a blizzard. The children made the most of the snow with snowmen, sledges and snow-ball fights. It is a rare day but such a special one I'm sure children will remember for a long time.

Cross Country

We are up and running with cross country. The club is a very healthy size with 12 members. We have been running through the woods and been doing some hill training. Hopefully the mild weather will continue and we can get some longer runs in.

Christmas Play

Both Kensa and Nessa class have been busy learning their lines and learning the songs for our up coming Christmas play. Dates for the performances have been emailed out so make sure you check your diaries.

Parents Evenings

Kensa class have completed their parents evenings and Nessa are continuing this week. Thank you for taking the time to come in an discuss your child's progress. It is always a pleasure to share what we have been doing at school and to receive positive feedback from home. 

Forest School

This week year three and four went for a wander along the bridle way to collect some foliage as we wanted to make some natural clay tiles.
They looked for leaves with prominent veins which would help to make a clearer imprint on clay. Luckily, they found a wonderful variety along with some interesting seed heads. Once back on the field the children spread out their collected treasures and began by breaking off a small handful of the air-dry clay to knead in their hands until it is soft and pliable. Adding a few drops of water to the clay with there fingertips if it began to crack. They pinched out the clay and then gently rolled it out until about 5 mm thick. The children placed some foliage onto the clay and firmly rolled it in to imprint the pattern onto the clay, making sure that they didn’t press too hard and distort the shape. Watching the children’s delight as they peeled away the foliage to reveal a pattern was a pleasure. The children enjoyed some free time to create little birds and animals. Working with clay is an invaluable experience for sensory development, motor skills, self esteem, and self expression, problem solving skills, discipline, and pride. Clay also has a uniquely therapeutic quality that often settles and calm children; it keeps their attention for a considerable time. Clay is a unique art medium because it is highly responsive to touch and very forgiving. As soon as children are given clay, they immediately begin to mould and shape it. They become aware that they are in charge and have influence over the medium as it is quick to respond to their fingers. The feeling that they are in command of the clay gives children the confidence to try any project which opens the door to greater self expression and imagination. Clay also allows a child to learn to repair mistakes and therefore not be afraid to make them. Making mistakes is essential for self improvement but can be difficult and even an obstacle for some children. The forgiving quality of clay, and therefore the ability to readily fix mistakes, gives a child a sense of control over their project’s success which improves self esteem and self expression as they realise that mistakes are not going to stop their progress

SATS Superstars

We are incredibly proud of our year six pupils who have had their SATS results this week. We have worked extremely hard in school and in after school club. Each pupil was set their own targets and they put their all into achieving it. The process of setting high expectations and working hard towards it - with all the ups and downs - will set them up perfectly for the next stage of their learning journey. It is an absolute pleasure to see them succeed and all of us at Blisland Primary are extremely proud of each one them.