Celebrating Curiosity, Creativity and Community: ‘Come and See What We Do’ Afternoon at Pennthorpe
On Monday afternoon, Pennthorpe came alive with energy, excitement, and a true sense of community as we welcomed families into school for our special ‘Come and See What We Do’ event. Designed to give parents a taste of everyday learning through the eyes of their children, the afternoon was a joyful showcase of the breadth, depth and imagination that runs through every part of school life.
From the moment families arrived, there was a real buzz in the air. Parents and guests were greeted warmly. Some began their visit with a delicious afternoon tea — a relaxed opportunity to chat with staff and fellow parents. Others dived straight into the action, eager to start exploring our six specially curated Learning Zones.
Led by our brilliant Heads of Department and guided by enthusiastic Year 7 & 8 ambassadors, parents were given an immersive experience of the Pennthorpe curriculum in action. The Learning Zones – Energise, Explore, Experiment, Perform, Create, Taste, and Programme – offered something for everyone, with hands-on activities and interactive moments in every space.
- In Energise, families took on the Mini Olympic challenges of sprints, throws and jumps.
- In Explore, families translated the Greek alphabet into English mathematical terms as they tried to navigate around the room.
- In Experiment, Science focused on chemical reactions making stars and sparklers alongside the delicious smell of explosive popcorn!
- Perform filled the air with the sound of music, as families learnt how to play some chords on the ukulele and had a go at some famous tunes on the keyboards.
- Create offered the children and parents to opportunity to explore the ‘resist’ technique using wax crayon and watercolour to reveal their name like magic!
- And in Programme, the digital world took centre stage, with pupils showcasing their coding, robotics, and tech projects.
- Taste was a hit with everyone on the Terrace, where afternoon tea was served.
The afternoon was a wonderful opportunity for children to take the lead – sharing their knowledge, explaining what they’d been working on, and showing real pride and curiosity in their learning. Our Year 7 and 8 pupils did a superb job of speaking confidently about life at Pennthorpe. Many visitors commented on their maturity, warmth and professionalism.
We were equally proud of the way families embraced the event — rolling up their sleeves, getting stuck in, asking brilliant questions, and encouraging their children every step of the way. Thank you for sticking closely to your scheduled arrival and tour times, which helped us ensure every family had space and time to enjoy the full experience.
‘Come and See What We Do’ wasn’t just an event — it was a celebration of what makes Pennthorpe special. It was a reminder of the power of curiosity, creativity and connection. Thank you for being part of it. We hope you left inspired by your child’s journey, and with a deeper appreciation of the learning, laughter and love that fills our school every day.
