St Columba has been named the Premier League Primary Stars February Spotlight School, recognising the fantastic engagement and positive impact of the programme during the Spring 1 term.
Pupils and staff have embraced the wide range of interventions and enrichment opportunities delivered through Premier League Primary Stars. Over the past six weeks, targeted maths interventions have supported pupils in Years 3–4 and 5–6, with children working in small groups to develop confidence in times tables, addition and subtraction. Using active football and darts-based maths games, pupils were able to strengthen their understanding in a fun, engaging and supportive environment.
Alongside this, pupils across Years 3–6 took part in four English activation workshops focused on creative writing. Through the “Being a Pro” theme, pupils explored using their five senses to enhance their writing, developing creativity, confidence and enthusiasm for English.
Pupil leadership has also been a key focus this term. Through the Project for Positive Change, two Year 4 and two Year 6 school councillors worked together to plan their own fundraising campaign. The project encouraged pupils to think creatively, develop teamwork skills and take ownership of making a positive difference within their school community.
Staff development has continued to be supported through PE teacher support, with a dedicated lesson delivered to the Year 5/6 cohort to help enhance curriculum delivery and introduce new activities. Pupils have also benefited from wider personal development opportunities, including an anti-discrimination workshop for Years 3–4, which encouraged discussion around respect, fairness and inclusion.
In addition, a Safer Internet Day workshop provided pupils with valuable knowledge on how to stay safe online and use technology responsibly, including understanding safer ways to use AI. The school has also continued to promote inclusive participation in sport through a girls-only after-school football club for Years 2–6, creating more opportunities for girls to engage in football and physical activity.
Premier League Primary Stars Joint Coordinator Jordan Blair praised the school’s welcoming environment and the enthusiasm of its pupils, saying:
“I’m really enjoying my time at St Columba. It’s a small school with shared year groups, but the engagement during the interventions has been brilliant. The staff have been so welcoming and friendly and haven’t made me feel like a visitor, but genuinely part of their Monday team. Over the past six weeks I’ve had so many conversations and really got to know the children, and it’s been brilliant to be a small part of their school journey. The Project for Positive Change opened up so many ideas for how the children could run their own event, and listening to them plan it and talk about what they wanted to achieve has been a real highlight.”
St Columba is a fantastic example of how the Premier League Primary Stars programme can support academic progress, pupil leadership, staff development and inclusive participation. We look forward to continuing to build on this success and supporting the school further in the coming terms.
