At The Coalface: How has the mining industry help shape our community? Presentation of Learning

17th July 2025Charlie Cicero

This afternoon our Year 5 pupils proudly shared the incredible work from their “Fight for Your Rights” expedition during a special Presentation of Learning at Askern Welfare. The choice of venue was important to us – Askern Welfare, with its rich local history and strong links to the mining community, provided the perfect backdrop to celebrate the children’s exploration of rights, community and local heritage.

The event was a huge success. Families were welcomed into a hall filled with buzzing energy, pride and creativity. Pupils confidently performed their powerful Aberfan Disaster poems. Around the room, tables of children showcased their learning from the expedition, eagerly inviting their adults to view their work and take part in interactive tasks and challenges based on what they had learned.

We would like to give heartfelt thanks to the local experts who enriched our expedition through their time, knowledge and passion: Neill Williams, a former miner who shared powerful first-hand experiences of life underground. Lisa Jackson, committee member of Askern Welfare and a learning coach at Norton Infants, who helped connect our expedition with the mining welfare and share our story.

We are thrilled to announce that the final product from the “Fight for Your Rights” expedition – a professionally printed collection of pupil biographies and artwork of iconic figures – is now available to purchase via ParentPay. Families can now own a special piece of this incredible journey by purchasing their own copy online.

Thank you again to all who attended and supported this afternoon and help celebrate the Year 5’s learning this summer term!

Year 5’s Presentation of Learning Rehearsal: At the Coalface

16th July 2025Charlie Cicero

This term, our Year 5 pupils have been hard at work on their summer learning expedition, At the Coalface, exploring the fascinating geography, rich history, and powerful musical heritage of mining.

Today, they proudly showcased their learning in a special presentation to Year 4. This was a fantastic practice run ahead of their full Presentation of Learning for parents and carers on Thursday 17th July

The Year 5 children took real ownership of their audience’s experience by designing a series of engaging activities for Year 4 to get involved in. From investigating how mining shaped local settlements to trying out creative tasks linked to mining life, Year 4 were thoroughly engrossed.

A highlight of the afternoon was the moving performance of Year 5’s own mining poems inspired by the Aberfan disaster, accompanied beautifully on the glockenspiel. Their thoughtful words and music captured the emotion of this historical tragedy and demonstrated how deeply they have engaged with the topic.

We are incredibly proud of Year 5 for their hard work, creativity and leadership. We look forward to seeing them share their learning once again tomorrow afternoon at the Askers Miners Welfare. Well done, Year 5!

Y3/4 Rounders team triumph against the odds!

2nd July 2025Charlie Cicero

Despite last-minute dropouts leaving us with only 7 players instead of the usual 9, our team showed incredible determination and teamwork. They topped the group stage with an impressive 16 points — ahead of Carcroft, who finished 2nd, along with 3rd and 4th place teams all tied on 12 points.

The final was a tense match, with Carcroft threatening to steal the victory thanks to some powerful hits. But our resilient players held their nerve, securing a fantastic win. In a tense trophy reveal, XP trust comrades, Carcroft, were given the runners up medals whilst our amazing Y3/4 team secured the gold. Well done to everyone involved — you did the school proud!

A visit from Donny Dog and Doncaster Rovers!

27th June 2025Charlie Cicero

On Thursday 22nd May, we had a brilliant visit from Doncaster Rovers Football Club, who came into school to talk to the children about the importance of resilience, belief and setting goals.

Fresh from winning the 2024/2025 league title, the team shared their journey with the pupils – how they dealt with setbacks, worked hard together and stayed focused to achieve their goal of becoming champions. The key message was clear: believe in yourself, keep going even when it’s tough and never stop aiming high.

A huge thank you to Doncaster Rovers for taking the time to visit us and share such a powerful message with our school. What an experience for the children – learning about resilience from real-life champions of League 2!

Another One Bites The Dust

25th June 2025Helen Jenkins

What a treat we had when Zak – a Gladiator also know as Steel- visited our school. Steel inspired us all to strive to be the best versions of ourselves and think like champions. As well as this, the children had the opportunity to take part in mini Gladiator games such as Dual and Unleashed. What a wonderful experience!

KS2 Tennis Tournament

12th June 2025Charlie Cicero

At Doncaster Tennis Lawn Club, a team of key stage 2 pupils from NJS took part in Legacy Sport’s tennis tournament. Each member of the team played three competitive games each of them performing brilliantly: some started strong with others growing in confidence with each game.

The result of the competition surpassed expectations when NJS achieved not 3rd, not 2nd… but 1st place!

Amazing effort from all the team!

Where is Doncaster on the map?

11th June 2025Charlie Cicero

As part of their geography case study, Year 5 have been using the internet to learn more about the United Kingdom, more specifically England and it’s major cities. 5CC began by learning the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain, before exploring a map of England’s counties. Year 5 lastly finished off by locating a list of the UK’s largest cities on the map, as well as plotting the location of Doncaster.

NJS Y5/6 Team @ Play on the Pitch 2025, EcoPower Stadium

25th May 2025Charlie Cicero

On Tuesday, the 20th of May, a team of 10 pupils from NJS participated in this year’s ‘Play on the Pitch’ tournament at Doncaster Rover’s EcoPower Stadium. The team performed extremely well, winning every group stage game in the morning and only conceding two goals in the entire day. The children also took part in a variety of workshops, including dementia awareness, knife, crime awareness and a create your own kit workshop.

In the afternoon, the team continued into the knockout stages where they faced Sunnyfields Primary. After a miraculous goal at kickoff by Charlie McCloy, NJS spent a vast majority of the game attacking the opposition in the opposition is third of the pitch. Sunnyfield had several attacking opportunities that were well defended, however a goal occurred after a messy corner. The game went to penalties where goal keeper, Levi, and our penalty takers did extremely well. Eventually, Sunnyfields secured victory, six penalties to five.

It wasn’t the result the team desired but they greatly enjoyed the tournament. Big thank you to Club Doncaster, for organising the event, and our wonderful parents and carers, who helped support and transport the team.

Celebrating VE Day

11th May 2025Helen Jenkins

What a wonderful day celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE day. Children dressed in the patriotic colours of red, white and blue and took part in a thought provoking Crew session, listened carefully during remembrance assembly and observed a minute silence. Lunch was a picnic or traditional fish and chip supper. In the afternoon, 5HJ created these stunning watercolour paintings of a Spitfire mid flight!

Y5/6 Mixed Cricket @ Askern CC

2nd May 2025Helen Jenkins

More success today as the Y5/6 mixed cricket team secured silver medals. Unfortunately, the final did not go their way but there were stellar performances all around. A shout out to one of our youngest team members for her incredible performances over the last two days (girls and mixed cricket tournaments): Eleanora!

Well done to both the girls and the boys teams for all their practice during lunchtimes and break times. Onto the Y3/4 cricket tournaments in a couple of weeks time!