Read below to find out more about some of the different activities we have been getting up to; from sporting and musical activities, to visitors and 'wow' days. We are looking forward to helping our children 'explore and grow' further in 2025-26.

• New Paint, New Furniture, New Children, New Classes and a New Start!

  Thu 01 Sep 2016 M Davis

  Welcome back to a new year at Exton & Greetham CE Primary School.

   

  Workmen have been busy in the school all holiday laying floors, putting in new heaters and painting the classrooms. The staff have been hard at work too, rearranging the furniture and putting up displays in preparation for our new class.

   

  We welcome our ten new children; 6 into Reception, 2 in year 3, 1 in year 4 and 1 in year 6 and hope they soon feel part of the family. We also welcome Miss Bevins to teach in Class 3.

   

  There are pictures below to give you a flavour of our new colourful classrooms!

  

• Leavers' Assembly

  Mon 18 Jul 2016 M Davis

  Today saw another fantastic Leavers' Assembly and play, masterfully scripted by Mr Marks.

   

  "Alice in Extonland or Greetham Through The Looking Glass" allowed our year 6 to showcase their acting talents for one last time before moving on to their respective Secondary Schools. Congratulations to the rest of KS2 for their supporting roles.

   

  Speeches were made, certificates were given and gifts presented. Hymns were chosen by the departing year 6, and some new songs were shared with the community.

   

  The assembly finished with a rendition of 'Flying Free', a song that talks about spreading our wings and flying, just as our year 6 are about to do.

   

  Good luck in your future ventures, and keep in touch!

  

• Walk to Fort Henry

  Fri 15 Jul 2016 M Davis

  What a wonderful way to end a week, a term and a year!

   

  On Friday the whole school set off for our annual walk to Fort Henry. We were joined by parents, governors, past pupils and children who will be joining the school in September.

   

  It was just the right weather for walking - not too hot and not too cold. Mr Richardson and Mrs Heywood led from the front, whilst Mrs Davis bought up the rear. The children were able to walk at their own pace as long as they stayed between these people. There was lots to see on the walk, and there was a lot of discussion about the different crops.

   

  We must be getting quicker each year, as we made it to Fort Henry 15 minutes before our packed lunches! We took the opportunity to run around in the long grass before settling to our lunch. Once this was over it was time to walk back, which is always the hardest bit!

   

  It was lovely to be able to walk and talk together in a relaxed environment, and learn things from each other. The headteacher learnt some things about Mario that she didn't know before, and some of the children learnt about the different crops they could see!

  

• Sports Day

  Thu 14 Jul 2016 M Davis

  The weather was kind as the sun shone down on our Sports Day this year.

   

  The children were split into 6 teams to complete a 'round-robin' of activities including and obstacle course, skipping, football and running skills, hockey skills, and bean bag throwing. These all collected points towards a final team score. While Mrs KK retired to work out totals, the children ran in their year group running races, followed by the nursery race and the mums' and dads' races.

   

  It was lovely to see the children working together as teams, supporting and encouraging each other, as well as having the chance to shine individually. Once the scores were totalled, the winning team was announced.

   

  Thank you to all the parents who joined us to support their children, and who contributed to the FOEGS raffle. Thank you to FOEGS for organising the tea and coffee, the raffle and the guess the weight of the cake competition. Thank you also to the nursery for organising a cake stall.

   

  A good time was had by all!

  

• Orienteering

  Thu 07 Jul 2016 M Davis

  Year 5 and 6 set out this afternoon to the RSSP Orienteering Event. The weather was kind to us and the children all tried their best. Orienteering is a great sport, and an exercise in teamwork as well as map reading, speed and agility.

   

  We didn't have enough for the team event, but were able to enter three pairs into the competition. The children agreed to work as boy-girl teams and Mrs Wingrove reported some super teamwork. A lot of ground was covered in locating each of the points on the two courses tackled during the course of the afternoon, and all the children professed to being tired at the end of the afternoon, as one picture shows!

   

  Everyone tried their best, despite stitches and sore feet and we are very proud of all three pairs. Well done year 5 and 6!

  

• Ducklings!

  Thu 07 Jul 2016 M Davis

  We were all a little wary when a female mallard chose to make her nest in the planter on the playground. With lots of wildlife nearby, we were not sure that she and her eggs would survive. However, nature knows what it is doing, and this morning we arrived in school to the sound of tiny cheeps! All of the eggs have hatched and there were 11 fluffy chicks. What a clever mother duck she is!

   

  We gather from the RSPB website that the new family are unlikely to stay with us for long, and may be gone by tomorrow in search of water (we suspect down to the brook). We have been honoured to host the mother duck as she sat on her eggs, and a huge congratulations to the children for staying away and leaving her in peace - we know it has not been easy! Below are a few pictures captured this morning.

   

  

• Life Education Van

  Mon 04 Jul 2016 M Davis

  The children all had a fantastic time with Dominique in the Life Education Van on Friday.

   

  There was lots to learn about on the van, from all about our bodies and how they work, to thinking about friendship and what makes a good friend.

   

  The children listened beautifully and made lots of great contributions and suggestions.

   

  Thank you to all at the Life Education Van for organising the visit. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

• Year 5/6 Sailing

  Mon 27 Jun 2016 M Davis

  Five intrepid explorers (and a headteacher) set out to Rutland Water this morning for a 'Sailing Experience'. It was VERY windy, which meant that the boats went very fast!

   

  Once we had struggled into our wetsuits, helmets and life preservers, those under the age of 12 set out on the water in boats, practising their paddling and steering skills. Once these were mastered, the children were shown how to unfurl a sail and taught the basics of sailing.

   

  Then it was time to return to the water, this time under wind power. The first boat shot off at great speed, giving the occupants a bit of a shock! Never under-estimate the power of the wind! After a few false starts, and a small capsizing incident, we were soon taking it in turns to tack out to the nearest buoy and back.

   

  Mrs Davis was proud of all those who took part, in particular those with a real fear of water, who faced those fears head on, even after watching others tipping over.

   

  A great time was had by all!

  

• Wimpole Trip

  Sun 26 Jun 2016 M Davis

  Weren't we lucky with the weather on Friday? We couldn't believe our luck!

   

  Everybody had a fantastic time at Wimpole Hall Farm and Gardens. The children were beautifully behaved on the trip and we all had a good day: the sun shone, the animals were entertaining, and the gardens were beautiful.

   

  When we arrived at Wimpole we gathered into our groups, then set off on the short walk to the Farm. After depositing our lunches in the boxes by the dairy we were free to explore the farm in our groups.

   

  We were lucky to be the only school visiting on Friday, which meant the farm workers were happy to let us help feed the pigs. There were some quite small piglets, and we were amazed to see how big they would get in just a few short weeks. We were also able to see Shetland ponies and Shire horses - quite different in size! There were highland cattle, and we were also able to watch a milking demonstration. The children were quite surprised to find that the milk is warm when it comes out of the cow!

   

  As well as the animals, we were able to look at items from an old dairy, look at models of how a combine harvester works, have a go at lifting bags of grain using pulleys, have a go at milking 'pretend' cows by hand and look at farm machinery. We were also lucky to find that the barn was being rethatched and there were thatchers hard at work too.

   

  After lunch we were able to play in the paddock next to the farm before walking back to the house to look around the gardens designed by Capability Brown. There was a lot of debate about whether he would have used trampolines in his design if such things had existed! Conner counted all the windows in the house, not including those that had been bricked up to avoid window tax. I think the final count was 170, which must take a lot of washing!

   

  After a quick visit to Wimpole church it was time to climb on the bus for the journey home. There were a lot of sleepy children on the way back (and a few adults too!)

   

  What a great day out!

  

• Ducks!

  Tue 21 Jun 2016 M Davis

  We pride ourselves on being a welcoming school.... however, we have never had to welcome a roosting duck before!

   

  Last week we were most surprised to find a duck has made it's nest in the planter on the playground at the base of the tree and laid (we think 12) eggs!

   

  The children have been fantastic and been very good at leaving her alone to look after her eggs in peace. We are keeping a careful eye on her, and are hoping that if the local wildlife does not find her we may find ducklings in a few weeks time!

   

  John Richardson managed to catch a quick photograph so that we could show the children, and Mrs Heywood and Mrs Healey are keeping an eye on her to make sure she is as safe as she can be.

   

  Fingers crossed!