Today was a special start to our final week of the academic year as the school came out in force to take part in our first primary school sports day!

The day started with the children from across KS2 taking part in a round robin of races with every child across the school representing one of our four historic houses; Arundel, Oxford, Norfolk and Warwick.  They were cheered on and encouraged by children from the Foundation Stage and KS1 as well as a throng of parents and family members.

Then the children took part in relay races with runners from each year group competing for top scores. Throughout the morning Mr B and Miss Ellacott updated the children on the scores and it was a very close thing!

Then followed parent races, with some impressive techniques on display, toddler races and former pupil races.

Before lunch there was a teacher race and then a series of ‘Tug of War’ challenges where the teaching team were pitted against Year Six as well as parents!

At lunchtime hundreds of families enjoyed a ‘Family Picnic’ on the field which was lovely. Whilst the families sat Mr B made a series of special presentations. He presented shields to the recipients of this years ‘George Taylor Award’, the most prestigious award given at the end of KS1. Mrs Linda Taylor explained that the award is presented in memory of her late husband George, former chair of governors of the infant school, who encouraged children to be celebrated for achievements in the widest sense. Sophie was awarded the girls award for her positive nature, enthusiasm and can do approach to school. Jack was awarded the boys award for consistently challenging himself to beat personal goals, showing modesty when he does so and encouraging others to achieve the best they can.

Mr B then explained that we would be saying goodbye to two long serving governors at the end of the year. Mr McGarel has been a governor for four years and has done excellent work on the schools behalf throughout that time. Mr B presented him with a bottle of wine and thanked him for his service. Mrs Harding has been a governor for sixteen years and has worked hard to see the school through periods of vast change throughout that time. Mr B thanked her for her dedication to the school and presented her with some flowers. It was explained to the children that both governors were actually former Earls Hall pupils themselves!

Mr B then thanked Mrs Hindle, a long serving teaching assistant in KS2, for all her hard work at the school over the last eleven years as she moves onto exciting new challenges. He presented her with some flowers and expressed his gratitude on behalf of all of the children. He then presented flowers to Mrs Elliott who, although continuing in her role as a Midday Assistant, is relinquishing her role as a much loved teaching assistant.

At the end of lunch the sporting activities continued, this time with the younger children from the Foundation Stage and KS1 taking part in a series of races whilst being cheered on by team mates from various KS2 classes and a host of family members.

The children ran flat races, egg and spoon races and the obstacle race to name but a few. The scores for each race were added to the morning total from KS2 throughout the afternoon and after a series of further parent and toddler races the whole school gathered on the field in anticipation of the final result of the day.

At the end of the races Mr B presented Mrs Soars with some flowers to show the childrens thanks as she leaves us at the end of the year.

The tension built and then, accompanied by a fanfare, Mr B announced the winning house as Arundel! A great cheer came from thew crowd and Grace and Reuben represented their house to collect the trophy on the stage!

Well done to all our athletes for being such great sports across all four houses! Thank you to the PTA for serving refreshments throughout the day and to all the parents, grandparents and siblings who joined in with the day to make it so enjoyable!