Highcliffe St Mark Primary School

As we turn our thoughts to the beginning of a new term and look forward to gathering everyone together once again for assemblies and worship centred on new beginnings, it's lovely to reflect on this long-standing tradition.
These photos from the 1990s capture a familiar scene, the school hall filled with children, the benches lined up, and staff leading assemblies that encouraged reflection, celebrated achievements, and fostered a real sense of belonging.
Some traditions stand the test of time, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back for another exciting school year! 💚

Looking back at this photo from the Summer Fayre in the 1990s, it's clear that some things never change. The smiles, the community spirit, and the fun are just as memorable today as they were then. It's wonderful to see that Hook-a-Duck has made a comeback, and even better to see the school community still coming together to support the school and raise those all important funds. Here's to keeping these great traditions alive!

Friday's ice lolly (or cup of tea) sales seem to have become a permanent fixture of HSMP. We wondered if the queue snaked all the way around the building!

Looking for a fun (and free!) family activity this summer? 🦕☀️

Why not take on the Christchurch Dinosaur Trail? Explore our town as you hunt for 10 giant dinosaurs along a 1km trail – perfect for budding explorers of all ages!

🗓️ Running from 23 July – 31 August 2026⏰ Daily, 10am–3pm

📍Pick up a trail map by scanning the QR code on any dinosaur, or collect one from The Regent Centre.

Whether you complete the trail in one adventure or over a few days, it's a great way to get outdoors, explore Christchurch and make some fantastic summer memories together.

More information about the trail and other events can be found on the Love Christchurch page.

Sports days in the 90s looked very similar to modern-day ones, with the exception of the sack race. I do wonder whether the egg-and-spoon race used real eggs or rubber ones! 🥚🥄

"A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessities of life." – Henry Ward Beecher 📚✨
If you're looking for some fun activities this summer, the libraries across BCP are hosting a variety of events as part of the Summer Reading Challenge. It's completely free for children to sign up and take part!
You can find all the information on the library website or by looking at the photos below. Happy reading! 📖🌞

As staff spent the final few weeks of term tidying and sorting cupboards and classrooms, we stumbled across some amazing photographs dating from 1964 through to the early 1990s.
Despite some wonderfully nostalgic fashions, the school itself has changed very little. It's lovely to see that many of the same summer activities our pupils enjoy today were taking place back in the '80s and '90s too.
While the school is closed for the summer, we thought it would be fun to share some of these memories with you.
We're starting with one of our favourite features... our fantastic swimming pool! 🏊📸

As another incredible school year comes to an end, it's the perfect time to reflect on all that has been achieved here at Highcliffe St Mark Primary School.

This year has been filled with learning, laughter, resilience and success. It has been a joy to watch our children grow in confidence, develop new skills, build lasting friendships and truly thrive as young people. Every child has their own unique journey, and we are so proud of everything they have accomplished.

Tomorrow we say a fond farewell to our wonderful Year 6 pupils as they prepare for the exciting adventure of secondary school. We also wish some of our amazing Fledglings Preschool children all the very best as they take their first steps into primary school. Wherever your next chapter takes you, we know you will continue to shine, and we wish you every success and happiness.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our incredible staff. Your dedication, passion and unwavering commitment make Highcliffe St Mark such a special place to learn and grow. The care and encouragement you show our children each day is truly appreciated.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our fantastic FRIENDS committee. Your hard work in organising fun events throughout the year and raising valuable funds has made such a difference to our school community. Thanks to your efforts, our children have enjoyed memorable enrichment days and fantastic new climbing equipment, creating opportunities for fun, challenge and adventure.

As we head into the summer holidays, we wish all of our families a wonderful, safe and relaxing break.

We can't wait to welcome everyone back in September for another exciting year of learning, laughter and new adventures. 🌟💚

Thank you to everyone who donated. Still want to donate? We will collect items for the foodbank right up to the last day of term, just pop your donations into the office.

A quick reminder from our Children Champions.

Please bring in an unopened cereal box tomorrow for our domino challenge!