The River School

On Friday, our Primary pupils enjoyed a wonderful day celebrating French culture and language.
Throughout the day, the children explored the lives of young people in France, studied famous French artists, and created some impressive Eiffel Tower models. The highlight of the afternoon was the opening of Café Joie de Vivre, where our young serveurs and serveuses proudly welcomed parents and family members to enjoy French-inspired drinks, snacks and a touch of Parisian ambience.
It was delightful to see so many children embracing the occasion by dressing in the colours of the French Tricolore – blue, white and red – helping to bring the spirit of France to life around the school.
A huge merci to our pupils for their enthusiasm and hard work, and to all the parents and families who joined us and supported this special event. We hope you enjoyed your visit to Café Joie de Vivre as much as we enjoyed hosting you!
Take a look at some of our favourite moments from the day below.
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Don't forget, tomorrow (Saturday the 4th of July) is the River School annual Summer Fun Day! Come along from 11:30am till 2:30pm for food, music, activities and sunshine! Join us to celebrate the end of another wonderful school year at The River School. All are welcome.

We were delighted to celebrate our Year 11 Launch (leavers’ prom) on Friday evening. After the dedication and perseverance shown during their exams, it was wonderful to see our students relax, enjoy themselves and truly let their hair down alongside friends, families and staff.

We are incredibly proud of the remarkable young men and women they have become, and feel privileged to have partnered with parents and carers throughout their journey. As they step into the next phase of their lives, we wish them every success and happiness - what a bright future lies ahead!

The River School annual Summer Fun Day is this Saturday the 4th of July, and you are all invited! Come and celebrate the end of the school year with us, family, friends and neighbours between 11:30am and 2:30pm. Food, music and activities - including a bouncy castle and Forest School. Join us for a day packed with fun, laughter, and great community spirit.

🌻 Ready for another bloom? 🌻
Our Delta group have been hard at work creating some new flower beds for the garden.

🎶🌈 Music, Movement & a Splash of Fun! 🌈🎶
Class 1 & 2 had an amazing time in their outdoor music session this week! ☀️🦋
The children explored different pieces of music through a range of fun, hands-on activities, bringing rhythms to life using:
🥁 Drums and sticks
👏 Body percussion
🧣 Colourful scarves
🎪 A giant parachute
There was creativity, movement, and lots of joyful noise as everyone expressed different rhythm patterns in their own unique way.
And to finish… a little magic moment 💦
As the children imagined the sound of rain, they were treated to a refreshing water mist - the perfect cool-down and a lovely way to end the session 🌧️😊
📸 Take a look at the photos to see the fun in action!

🦋✨ A VERY SPECIAL VISITOR! ✨🦋
We had an exciting and rare guest at River School this week… a Purple Emperor butterfly!
Spotted in our courtyard, this beautiful female butterfly is one of Britain’s most elusive species - and it’s never been seen on our school grounds before! 🌿 Marc kindly gave her a few drops of water, which she happily enjoyed in the summer heat 💧
To help our wildlife during this warm weather, we’ve now placed shallow dishes of water around the school for butterflies, birds, and bees 🐝🐦🦋
🌳 Fun fact: The Purple Emperor is known as the “king of butterflies” and often stays high in the treetops, making sightings extra special!
And that striking purple? It’s actually a clever illusion created by light reflecting off its wings!
We’re so proud that our school grounds are supporting such incredible biodiversity 🌼💚
As part of this, our pupils will also be taking part in the Big Butterfly Count - helping protect and learn about these amazing creatures 📝🦋