Hitcham's Blog

Year 6 Leaver's Service

2026-07-17T13:10:26.925+01:00

Year 6 presented a lovely service packed full of their memories and their time at SRH including personal, sporting and musical achievements; class based achievements; privileges and responsibilities amongst others. Reverend Chris Davey gave them a special blessing and Mrs Cann reflected on the children and their time at SRH.

As the pupils have reached the end of an important chapter in their school journey, we would like to congratulate them on all they have achieved during their time with us.

Throughout the year, they have shown determination, resilience, kindness, and a positive attitude towards learning. They have embraced challenges, supported one another, and worked hard to achieve their goals. We are incredibly proud of their many accomplishments, both inside and outside the classroom.

As they prepare to move on to their new schools, we would like to thank them for the wonderful contributions they have made to our school community. They leave with many happy memories, valuable skills, and friendships that will stay with them for years to come.

We wish every member of Year 6 the very best for the future. Good luck in your next adventure, and remember to be confident, aim high, and always believe in yourselves. We are proud of you all and look forward to hearing about your future successes. Well done, Year 6!

Year 6 Production – Dragon Days

2026-07-10T18:05:00.000+01:00

This week, Year 6 had the exciting opportunity to spend several days at Framlingham College, rehearsing and preparing for their production of Dragon Days. The children spent Monday and Tuesday settling into the theatre environment, familiarising themselves with the stage, props and technical aspects of the production.

On Wednesday morning, they performed to the rest of the school before taking to the stage again for their first public performance in the afternoon. The final performance took place on Thursday evening, and the children truly rose to the occasion, delivering a confident, energetic and memorable show.

We are enormously proud of every member of Year 6. Throughout the week, they demonstrated resilience, determination and teamwork, stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing every challenge that came their way. Their enthusiasm, commitment and talent shone through in every performance, and they should be incredibly proud of what they achieved.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Framlingham College for the exclusive use of their beautiful theatre, which provided the perfect venue for this special event. We are also grateful to all the staff, families and volunteers who supported the production and helped make it such a success.

Photo credits to our ex-teacher John Byer, who has taken some fantastic shots,

more will be shared via the website gallery next week.

The recording of Wednesday morning's performance will also be shared with Year 6 families next week.

Landguard Fort

2026-07-03T08:25:06.933+01:00

On Tuesday, Year 6 ventured to Landguard Fort for an exciting and educational trip. They explored the historic fort, which has defended the coast of Felixstowe for hundreds of years and played an important role in protecting England from potential invasions. The children enjoyed discovering the fort's tunnels, rooms and defensive features while learning about its fascinating history.

They also learned about the beach environment and the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans. A lady called Leonie taught the children about the different types of plastic pollution: microplastics, mesoplastics and macroplastics. Following this, we explored the beach, searching for examples of each type.

We collected a wide variety of rubbish from the shoreline, including fishing nets, buckets, food packaging, sieves and cans. It took only a few minutes to fill our buckets, which was quite shocking and highlighted the scale of the problem.

The children were fascinated by what they discovered and gained a greater understanding of the environmental challenges facing our coastlines. To conclude the day, they created persuasive educational posters to inform others about the harm caused by plastic pollution and encourage people to take action to protect our oceans.

It was a fascinating and thought-provoking day out, combining local history with important environmental learning.

Anglo-Saxon Workshop

2026-06-26T15:54:25.636+01:00

On Monday, years 5 and 6 took part in an Anglo- Saxon workshop. The day began with an exciting and dramatic entrance, instantly capturing our attention! Ash from Marvellous Histories led the session, teaching the children how to stand and move like Anglo-Saxon warriors, which they thoroughly enjoyed. The loved lining up in formation, imagining they were about to engage in battle with the opposition!

The children were particularly engaged when exploring artefacts, especially the weapons and heavy chainmail, which helped them appreciate the skill involved in its creation. They also learned about Anglo-Saxon life, including clothing and diet, with some interesting discoveries during the Q&A.

Overall, it was an engaging and informative experience. Thank you to Ash from Marvellous Histories for bringing the topic to life for our pupils.

Learning in VW

2026-06-16T14:42:51.498+01:00

Last week VW had a busy week! They were preparing for their production, writing diary entries from the perspectives of either Beowulf or Grendel, and making origami lotus flowers to recognise how they symbolise enlightenment for Buddhists.

As part of Eco Science Week, they also took part in a very smelly science investigation using natural dyes — including turmeric, red cabbage, blueberries, tea and more — to dye natural materials such as wool. The results were mixed, but turmeric was the clear winner for releasing the most pigment. We explored how anthocyanins and tannins affect colour, and we experimented by adding bicarbonate of soda and apple cider vinegar to the red cabbage dye to observe the colour changes and learn about pH scales.

The class also enjoyed two workshops delivered by CAP (Christians Against Poverty), focusing on money management, budgeting for the future, and prioritising expenditure — all incredibly valuable life skills. Thank you to them for delivering such informative sessions.

Year 5 and 6 STEM Workshops

2026-06-01T15:30:36.658+01:00

Today, Year 5 and 6 were fortunate to take part in a STEM workshop led by STEMPOINT ambassadors. They learned about the role of offshore wind energy, including the East Coast Wind Farm, discovering that a single wind farm can power an impressive 700,000 homes.

The ambassadors also shared information about the wind farm in Great Yarmouth, which has been in operation for many years. Pupils were fascinated to learn that one of the older turbines is approximately the size of the London Eye, while more modern turbines can reach heights of around 280 metres—similar to the height of The Shard. The children also learned that the Crown Estate owns the seabed and that developing offshore wind farms involves many different people and areas of expertise.

We explored a range of renewable energy sources, including solar, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy, before reflecting on non-renewable sources and the impact they have on our planet. The children also learned how electricity generated offshore reaches homes and schools. One ambassador explained how large underground cables are laid at a depth that allows farmers to continue using the land effectively, without affecting the landscape.

Towards the end of the workshop, we discussed the advantages of using three blades on a wind turbine rather than four. We learned that each blade weighs around 30–35 tonnes, meaning that adding extra blades would significantly increase both the weight and cost, making it unviable. The ambassadors also spoke about STEM careers, including engineering, civil construction, communications, archaeology and environmental roles.

To conclude the workshop, the children worked in small groups to design and create their own prototype wind turbines, demonstrating excellent teamwork and creativity.

Thank you to STEMPOINT for providing such a fantastic and engaging learning experience.

End of SATs Celebrations

2026-05-14T14:23:50.506+01:00

Today marked the final day of SATs week for Year 6, and we could not be prouder of the children. Throughout the week, they have shown incredible perseverance, resilience and determination, approaching each challenge with maturity and positivity. They should all feel extremely proud of themselves for the effort and commitment they have shown.

To celebrate the end of the week, we had hoped to spend some time together on the field enjoying the sunshine. However, the British weather had other plans! Instead, the children enjoyed a well-deserved celebration in class with cake and time to relax together after all their hard work.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to one of our wonderful parents, who very kindly baked some beautiful cakes for us to enjoy. This was such a thoughtful and generous gesture was greatly appreciated by both the children and staff, and it made the celebrations even more special.

Well done, Year 6 — we are immensely proud of every single one of you!

Year 6- Replies from MP

2026-04-27T08:11:00.004+01:00

Earlier this year, Year 6 were able to visit the Houses of Parliament for a full tour. We stood in the House of Commons, observed proceedings in the House of Lords, and learned about how laws are made.

Before the trip, the children wrote letters to our MP, Patrick Spencer, sharing their thoughts on the SPaG paper that Year 6 pupils across the country will be sitting this May. He has since replied to the children individually.

Heart Dissection

2026-04-17T10:34:19.005+01:00

Today, Year 5 and Year 6 pupils took part in a lamb’s heart dissection as part of their science learning. This provided the children with a valuable hands-on opportunity to explore the structure and function of the heart. Before beginning, we discussed ethical considerations, emphasising respect for the animal and the importance of learning from real biological specimens.

The pupils identified key anatomical features and reviewed how the heart functions to pump blood around the body. During the dissection, appropriate PPE was worn at all times. The children carefully examined the internal structures, focusing on identifying the left and right sides of the heart by comparing the relative thickness of the ventricular walls. They successfully located the septum and were able to observe visceral fat on the surface of the heart, as well as identifying external features such as the aorta and the apex.

Overall, it was a fantastic and engaging learning experience that deepened our UKS2 pupils’ understanding of the circulatory system through practical, respectful, and scientifically meaningful investigation.

Year 5 and 6 swimming competition

2026-03-25T16:20:00.000+00:00

Yesterday Year 5 and 6 children took part in a swimming competition against seven other schools at Framlingham College. Two teams competed in the swimming gala with one team finishing 3^rd place. The children had lots of fun, swan brilliantly and should be very proud of themselves!

Year 5 and 6 Netball Tournament

2026-03-25T13:42:00.000+00:00

Last week Year 5 and 6 children took part in a netball tournament at Framlingham Prep School. All the children played brilliantly in all of their matches. Three teams represented our school with all teams placing towards the top of their group and one particular team finishing 2^nd. All the children showed great teamwork, sportsmanship and were proud to represent our school. Well done SRH children.

UKS2 Hockey Success

2026-03-24T08:24:00.002+00:00

Yesterday, SRH took a group of Year 5 and 6s to a hockey tournament in Harleston. Across the three teams they played a series of matches of Quick Sticks style hockey - 4 on a team with no goalkeepers on small pitches.

All three teams won the majority of their 8 matches played in their respective groups with one team winning all of their games. Having won their league, they then went on to play a final match which they drew to maintain their unbeaten status. The children showed great skill and determination in all of their matches.

As always, the children who participated were a credit to our school; playing the matches fairly, following the decisions of the referees and showing respect to their opponents regardless of the result. Well done to all those involved with another afternoon of sporting success for SRH students.

London Trip

2026-03-02T08:58:00.001+00:00

A full-on day travelling into London and visiting the Natural History Museum and then off to the Houses of Parliament for a tour.

A great (& tiring) day for all!

Year 6 London Trip

2026-02-27T13:16:00.003+00:00

Year 6 have arrived in London and are having a fantastic time in the Natural History Museum!

London Trip for Year 6

2026-02-27T10:39:00.002+00:00

In preparation for their trip to London and the Houses of Parliament today, the children drafted formal letters to their MP outlining their views on the Year 6 SATs papers.

They will be delivering these letters during their visit to Parliament today in the hope that their voices might contribute to future discussions about the role of SATs within the curriculum.

As part of their preparation, we researched a range of statistics and evidence to help them construct well-informed, balanced arguments to support their viewpoints.

Electricity

2026-02-05T10:29:00.004+00:00

Over this half term, Year 6 have been learning about electricity. As part of this, we explored voltage, which is the force that pushes electricity through a circuit and can affect how components, such as bulbs, work.

The children carried out an investigation to find out whether increasing the voltage increases the brightness of a single bulb. This involved identifying the independent, dependent and controlled variables, creating a hypothesis, constructing a conclusion after the results had been recorded and then carefully evaluating the effectiveness of the experiment.

SRH House Swimming Gala

2026-02-04T21:26:00.003+00:00

This year’s House Swimming Gala was held at Framlingham College on Wednesday, with the whole of Years 5 and 6 attending.

This year, we introduced width races to support children who were new to swimming, ensuring everyone could take part with confidence. It was a fantastic morning, with pupils showing incredible resilience and determination throughout — staff were immensely proud of them all. A new format took a little longer to organise but it was fantastic to see so many children able to access the races.

Every race contributed points, and ultimately Hitcham were victorious, lifting the house cup.

A huge well done and thank you to all the children, to Framlingham College for the use of their wonderful facilities and excellent tuition, and to the staff and parents for their support.

Refraction in Action

2025-12-11T08:17:00.002+00:00

Today in Year 6, we explored the science of refraction and how white light can be separated into its different colours. Using prisms, pupils directed beams of white light and produced small rainbows—this showed us how light bends and splits as it passes through a new medium. We learned how this process, called refraction, happens because light changes speed when it moves from one material to another. We discussed how light bends towards the normal when it slows down, just like the way a straw looks bent or distorted in a glass of water.

To build on this, we recreated Newton’s colour wheels and tested whether spinning a coloured disc fast enough would make the colours blend back into white light. The class loved seeing science in action and discovering that white light really is a mixture of all the colours of the spectrum.

A brilliant afternoon!

Year 5 and 6 Tag Rugby Competition

2025-11-27T14:51:00.003+00:00

Year 5 and 6 boys and girls played in a tag rugby competition at Thomas Mills High School. Both teams showed great teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship. The children played brilliantly in their matches with one team playing in the final and the other team winning many of their games too. Well done to all those SRH children who took part!

Snapshot in VW

2025-11-14T10:51:00.006+00:00

This week, the children in VW have been busy!

Linked to our class text Lizzie and Belle, they explored descriptive language to capture the tense moment a chandelier fell and injured Lizzie’s father, Ignatius, focusing on the calm before and the drama after the fall.

In maths, they’ve been adding and subtracting fractions and progressing to mixed numbers. For History, they researched influential figures including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Windrush generation, organising their findings in chronological order. We used the library for this.

In RE, the class learned about the Qur’an and how Muslims recite it in Arabic. They looked at the opening section of the Qur'an, Al-Fatiha, and tried memorising short sections for 10 seconds at a time- quite an interesting challenge! They reflected on what it might feel like to share Allah’s message with the world.

Recital at St Michael's Church

2025-11-12T18:59:00.006+00:00

On Wednesday afternoon the Woolf Quartet treated Year 6 to music by Haydn, Beethoven and Florence Price. The four amazingly talented musicians met at the Royal Academy of Music.

We met the musicians afterwards to thank them for the wonderful concert.

Our Year 6 cellists and violinists had their photo taken with their cellist and violinists respectively. We explained we don’t have any viola players yet as bigger hands are needed to play this larger instrument!

Wow...what a performance!

2025-11-07T12:45:00.001+00:00

We were given a wonderful treat by our musicians from all year groups in our music assembly. The children from across the school performed solos and in groups and it was so lovely to see some of the older children playing their instruments so eloquently and seeing how much progress they have made whilst they have been learning their instruments. Many children have continued with music lessons following the class music lessons and are playing their instruments fluently.

We listened to recorders, clarinet, piano, guitar, boom-wackers and violins. We also heard some lovely singing from the year 5 and 6 choir under the direction of Mrs Johnson; the year 4 who are off to Snape to sing soon, and some duets and solos from other KS2 children.

It truly was so wonderful to see the confidence shown and shared by all the performers.

Cross Country

2025-11-05T13:55:00.002+00:00

Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 children took part in cross country at Brandeston Prep School. The distance varied for each year group and 92 children represented our school. We are very proud of all the children who took part for their achievements. We also had many children who came in the top five and will be running at the County finals. Well done to all of our SRH children! It was lots of fun!

Year 6 at Crucial Crew

2025-10-21T15:59:00.003+01:00

Today Year 6 attended an educational event run by Suffolk Coastal Crucial Crew.

The children were given information, advice, practical skills and simulated experiences for how to remain safe in a variety of different aspects of every day life as well as how to ensure the safety of others and wildlife.

We were treated to talks about:

Fire Safety

Drug and Alcohol Awareness
Water Safety
Online Safety
Electrical Safety
First Aid
Safety and the Environment
Consent and Boundaries

The children were given a step by step guide to aiding someone suffering from cardiac arrest and were able to test out the DRS ABC method on some volunteer mannequins as well as a simulated rescue by the fire brigade from a burning house.

Taskmaster in MS

2025-10-20T16:18:00.001+01:00

For our Hitcham's Hundreds, Class MS attempted to complete 100 Taskmaster Tasks in one day. Set by Mr Snowden in the role of The Taskmaster, the tasks tested us in a variety of different ways; challenging our drawing, writing, physical, balance and problem solving skills. Some of them were completed over several hours whereas others only gave us a short time to think before having to come up with an answer.

Tasks completed today included:

Task 8: Without removing your pen from the paper, draw the most ambitious animal. Most recognisable ambitious animal wins.

Task 18: Make the most realistic person out of clothes not being worn. You may not appear yourself. You have 6 minutes.

Task 28: Choose a person in your group. Make the longest line of things that start with the same letter as that person’s name. You have 4 minutes.

Task 36: Make the tallest book tower. If your tower falls, you will fail the task. Tallest freestanding book tower wins.

Task 69: Cut out the best snowflake using a single sheet of paper. Best snowflake wins.

Task 70: Repair the piece of paper used to make your snowflake. You have 2 minutes. Most complete repair wins.

Task 86: Retell ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ using only noises. You must not act or say any words. You have 4 minutes.

Mr Snowden also set us a task to be completed at home:

Task 76: Do a random act of kindness for someone at home.

You must do it this evening and provide evidence of the act tomorrow morning.

Although we did not quite manage all of the tasks today, we are hoping to complete the remaining few over the next few days to earn our sponsorship money.

Here is a selection of photos completing some of the tasks above as well as a few others: