Today, Thursday 26th March 2026, Year 4 gathered in the hall for our much‑anticipated debate on which period of British history was the best. Working in their teams – Celts, Romans, Anglo‑Saxons and Vikings – the children presented their arguments, listened respectfully to others, and demonstrated fantastic oracy skills throughout. It was a joy to see every child growing in confidence as they spoke in front of the whole year group, sharing well‑reasoned ideas with clarity and enthusiasm. I have thoroughly enjoyed planning this English unit, and every year it is one of the experiences I look forward to the most as a Year 4 teacher, as I love seeing the children develop their English‑speaking skills through fully immersing themselves in this learning journey and learning vital points about British history in a fun way.
Our judges were impressed by the children’s excellent explanations, strong use of evidence, persuasive arguments, humour, and confident speaking voices, with many pupils receiving stickers and special commendations. After a very close competition, the Vikings placed fourth, the Anglo‑Saxons came third, the Celts secured second place, and the Romans were crowned the overall winners by just a couple of points. Additional points were awarded for teamwork, positive behaviour, and encouraging full participation, all of which contributed to a wonderfully supportive atmosphere.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to our judges: Mr Lee, Mrs Short, Mrs Miller, and our guest judges, Mrs Elliot and school governor Mrs. Hamblin. Their thoughtful feedback and encouraging words meant a great deal to the children. This debate forms part of our ongoing oracy and global learning journey, inspired by our previous collaboration with a partner school in the United States, and it has become a valued tradition that continues to strengthen our curriculum each year.
My heartfelt thanks also go to Mrs Curran, Miss Hallett and Mrs. Baxter for their support in delivering the lessons and helping the children craft such strong and thoughtful debates. Please do take a few minutes to speak with your children about the experience; they were truly brilliant, and I am incredibly proud of every one of them.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday.
Mrs Kidwai
International School Coordinator and Diversity Lead