1. Pimlico Primary
Newsletter
March 2015
Future Academies Primary Schools
Knowledge—Aspiration—Respect
Our three primary schools are joining together very effectively to bring an excellent
education to your children. Increasingly our teachers are working together to learn from each other
and to support each other.
One area that we have all been thinking about recently is the new duty for schools to
prepare our children for ‘Life in Modern Britain’, including the promotion of the values of democracy,
tolerance and mutual respect, individual liberty and respect for the rule of law. Our schools have a
strong and long-standing ethos of respect—indeed, mutual respect is one of our three school rules,
and one of Future Academies’ three core principles. As our work in this area proceeds we will publish
key documents on our websites so parents can read our response.
The start of 2015 saw increased number of our pupils taking full advantage of our wonderful
weekend activities: Saturday Sport at Pimlico Academy and Saturday Music School at Millbank
Academy, all taught by subject experts. To find out more about how your child can participate, look
on your school’s website and notice board. It won’t be long before Future Academies have the best
musicians and athletes in London!
Alyson Russen, Executive Principal
Parent events this term
Cambridge class parent progress meetings, Wednesday 1st
April
Please sign up for an appointment that suits you—a sign-up
sheet will be in the office from Monday 9th
March.
Art and Music Open Classes, Monday 9th
March, 1.30 – 3.30pm
This will be an opportunity for Oxford and Cambridge class
parents to see art and music being taught by Miss Gopaul and
Mr Morita.
Cambridge class homework workshops, 9.00 – 9.30am
Miss Reeves will be leading workshops on reading, writing and
maths on March 13th
, March 27th
and April 2nd
.
Oxford class learning at home workshops, 3.00 – 3.30pm
Miss Hutchison will be available to answer your questions on
supporting your child at home on March 3rd
and March 26th
.
Children cooking eggs in The Lab.
These came from the chicks the
Cambridge class children raised last
year.

2. Staff news
Best wishes to Miss Reeves who will be
absent from school in week two of this
term to undergo intensive dental
surgery.
As Mr Ross continues to suffer from an
infectious immune condition he has
been told by his GP not to come back to
school at present. Best wishes too to
Mr Ross.
Miss Burgess will be working with us
during this period, while these two
teachers convalesce.
A very warm welcome to Ms Chu who
joins us as a School Administrator
working in the School Office.
Chinese New Year Celebrations
On 24th
February all of the pupils in our
school celebrated Chinese New Year to
welcome in the year of the sheep.
Children made, and ate, their own
dumplings and noodles, and had an
opportunity to practise their calligraphy
skills.
‘Gong hei fat choi’
Maths Studio
From this term the School’s new
Maths Studio will be open. The purpose
of the studio is to give children the
opportunity to apply their mathematical
skills and logic to solve problems in a
practical environment -- leading to
children being able to solve similar
maths problems when presented in
writing.
This room will initially be
timetabled for pupils in Cambridge class
to use.
We are very fortunate to be able
to use the expertise of Mr Badenhorst,
a Maths Specialist working across the
Trust, to help us to set up the studio
and support mathematics teaching and
learning. Mr Badenhorst has already
established a similar learning space at
Millbank Academy.
Make sure to look out for ‘Open
Class’dates for lessons taking place in
the Maths Studio.

3. Art at Pimlico Primary Miss Gopaul, Art teacher
We have an approach to the art curriculum which is two-fold, one which combines art
‘making’ with art ‘meaning’.
Making: The children are supported in learning to express themselves confidently in a visual
language. Throughout their time at Pimlico Primary they learn about the formal elements of form,
shape, colour, line, texture, tone and pattern. They are exposed to a range of media and
techniques, allowing them to gain confidence and proficiency in them. The art curriculum provides
opportunities for children to develop their own ideas and designs, with increasing independence,
and more complex design processes.
Meaning: In Art lessons we look at a range of paintings and art work with a focus on visual literacy.
Further to this, the art that children look at is placed in a chronological, historical and geographical
context – deepening their understanding of the wider world and feeding back into a well-rounded
art curriculum. The art movements and genres that children look at are built upon as they move
through Reception – Year Six, and children revisit key themes in more depth as they get older. Often
the making that children do is inspired by a particular genre, painting or artifact. Children will leave
primary school in Year Six with an awareness and understanding of art from the Stone Age right up
to contemporary art.
Visual literacy: Visual literacy is the ability to construct meaning from images. It is a form of critical
thinking that enhances the children’s intellectual capacity. By teaching children to ‘read’ paintings
using visual literacy techniques, they develop core literacy and comprehension skills that will set
them up for a lifetime. I select paintings and works of art that are full of visual stimuli, have good
links to geography/science/history and have great stories to tell. In this way visual literacy becomes
a great equaliser in the classroom, with access points for all the children.
Stay posted for dates of our Pimlico Primary Art Exhibition!
Vincent Van Gogh, Room at Arles. Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny.
Painted by Veronica Ferrerosa, Oxford class. Painted by Ruby Stephen-Pietrasik,
Cambridge class.

4. Forthcoming Dates and Events
March
Thursday 5th
, National Book Day. As part of the celebration children are asked to come
to school dressed as their favourite book character. If you missed the information pack
previously sent home, please take an extra copy from the School Office.
Monday 9th
, Science workshop for all children. Children will learn more about life cycles
and habits in this half day workshop led by the Wild Science Company.
Monday 9th
1.30 – 3.30pm, Art and Music Open Classes for Cambridge and Oxford class
parents. Come and see our Art and Music curricula in action.
Friday 20th
at 3 pm, Oxford Class assembly. This will be Oxford Class’ first solo assembly
for the year. Oxford Class parents, please feel free to invite the children’s extended
family members.
April
Wednesday 1st
, Cambridge Class parent progress meetings.
Thursday 2nd
April. Final day of Term 4. School will finish at 3.40pm as usual.
Monday 20th
April. First day of Term 5.
May
Friday 8th
at 3pm, Cambridge Class assembly. Cambridge class parents, please feel free
to invite the children’s extended family members.
Friday 22nd
at 3pm, Musical showcase. All children will take part in a showcase led by
our Music Specialist Teacher, Mr Morita. All families are invited to attend.
Friday 22nd
. Final day of Term 5.