Final Special Mentions Assembly of the School Year Today we came together for our final Special Mentions Assembly of the school year, celebrating the incredible achievements, hard work and resilience of our pupils. Our weekly Special Mentions Assemblies are a highlight of life at James Bateman, giving us the opportunity to recognise the many pupils who go above and beyond every single week. From outstanding effort in the classroom to acts of kindness, leadership and determination, it has been a pleasure to celebrate so many successes throughout the year. A huge congratulations to everyone recognised today and a heartfelt thank you to all of our pupils for making this another fantastic year. You continue to make us proud every week. Have a wonderful summer break, and we look forward to creating even more special moments together in the new school year.

The hot weather hasn't stopped the creativity flowing in our classrooms! Our Year 7 students have been busy putting the finishing touches to their personal outcome final pieces, all inspired by the theme The Wizarding World. From magical creatures and enchanted landscapes to spellbinding symbols and imaginative characters, their work has showcased fantastic creativity and individuality. It's been wonderful to see each student interpret the theme in their own unique way. Well done, Year 7 – your final pieces are truly magical!

Our talented Year 5 students have proudly completed their own personal responses to our Aboriginal Art project, and the results are incredible! Each student hand-painted a wooden story post, thoughtfully designing it to tell their own unique story. Their artwork beautifully showcases Australian animals, alongside traditional-inspired dot painting techniques and patterns, creating vibrant and meaningful pieces. Throughout the project, students explored how storytelling, symbols, and patterns are used in Aboriginal art to share connections with people, places, and nature. They then used this inspiration to create artwork that reflects their own ideas and creativity. We are so proud of the imagination, care, and artistic skills they have shown. Well done, Year 5!

The traditional year 8 shirt signing in progress