Huge congratulations to our pupil, Safiyan, who won the Little Achievers Award at the Thurrock SEND/AP Awards 2026!
Safiyan truly embodies our school’s core values, consistently demonstrating incredible aspiration and compassion in everything he does. He has already achieved so much, and the entire school community is incredibly proud of him.
Join us in celebrating Safiyan’s fantastic achievement!
It has been a fantastic term for sport at GPFS, with our pupils achieving outstanding success across a range of competitions. Our KS2 team finished 1st in the track events and 3rd overall at the Thurrock Borough Olympics, while our KS1 team secured 3rd in the track events and 4th overall, with more than half of the children winning medals. To round off an incredible sporting term, both our Year 5 Gators boys' and girls' basketball teams were crowned champions, each finishing 1st overall. We are immensely proud of every child for representing GPFS with such determination, teamwork and resilience.
Year 1 at GPFS enjoyed a fantastic trip to Chalkwell Beach as part of their Geography topic on the seaside. The children explored the coast through activities including crabbing, rock pooling and building sandcastles, while identifying human features such as the promenade and cafés, and physical features including the beach, sea and rocks.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity to bring their classroom learning to life, and the children represented GPFS brilliantly with their excellent behaviour and enthusiasm. To round off a wonderful day, everyone enjoyed a well-earned ice cream!
Our Head Pupils and House Captains recently spoke to our Year 5 students about the exciting leadership opportunities available in Year 6, as applications for next year's roles are now open. They shared their experiences, explained the responsibilities of each position, and encouraged pupils to consider how they can make a positive contribution to the school community through leadership.
Year 2 enjoyed an exciting educational visit to Colchester Zoo, where they had the opportunity to see a wide variety of animals from around the world. The trip helped bring their learning to life as they explored different habitats, discovered interesting animal facts, and developed a greater understanding of wildlife and conservation. The children were enthusiastic and engaged throughout the day, making it a memorable and enjoyable learning experience for all.
Year 3 enjoyed an exciting educational visit to Hyde Hall, where they had the opportunity to explore the beautiful gardens and learn more about plants, habitats, and the natural environment. Throughout the day, the children took part in engaging activities that brought their classroom learning to life and encouraged them to develop a greater appreciation for nature. They represented the school brilliantly, showing enthusiasm, curiosity, and excellent behaviour throughout the visit.
Despite the forecast of poor weather, the Gateway Primary Free School Eco Community Fest was a fantastic success and spirits were not dampened. The event was moved indoors, where each year group transformed their classrooms into vibrant stalls showcasing and selling their eco-themed creations. Families enjoyed a variety of games and activities organised by the pupils, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere throughout the school. The event was further enriched by community partners who joined us to inform, entertain, and offer a range of products and services to our families. It was a wonderful celebration of creativity, sustainability, and community spirit.
The Gateway Primary Free School 100% Club celebrates and rewards pupils who achieve 100% attendance throughout the half term. As a special treat, these children take part in a fun activity on the last day of term, recognising their commitment to excellent attendance and punctuality. During Summer 1, pupils enjoyed an exciting water fight, which was a huge success and provided lots of laughter and memorable moments.
Year 4 pupils from Gateway Primary Free School enjoyed an exciting and educational visit to the Imperial War Museum Duxford, where history truly came to life. The children explored a range of fascinating aircraft and exhibits, learning about significant events from the past and the role aviation has played in shaping history. They asked thoughtful questions, showed excellent curiosity, and represented the school brilliantly throughout the day. It was a memorable trip that enriched their classroom learning and inspired plenty of discussion back at school
Gateway Primary Free School recently hosted a family learning session focused on healthy food preparation, where families worked together to make a range of fresh dips, including salsa, hummus and guacamole. Participants learned how to use kitchen equipment safely, practising careful knife skills for chopping and using a blender with confidence. The session was a fun, hands-on way to build practical cooking skills while encouraging teamwork and healthy eating at home.
Year 2 pupils at GPFS were very excited to visit the Tower of London. Despite the rain, the pupils had a great time exploring the Tower and learning more about its history. During the visit, pupils got to see the Crown Jewels and participate in an exciting workshop all about the Great Fire of London. We were very proud to show all of our knowledge, such as where the fire started, how long it lasted, and how it spread across London. We also learned many new facts, including how many people were affected by the fire and what people did at the time to help stop it.
One of our favourite parts of the day was watching the guards outside the Crown Jewels. We enjoyed watching them march up and down, and we were very excited when we even managed to make them laugh. Overall, the pupils had a fantastic day and returned to school with lots of new knowledge and happy memories.
This term, we are becoming explorers and detectives! In our "Where I Live" topic, we are looking at our local community and celebrating the wonderful differences in how people live and work around the world.
In Maths, we’ve turned into Pattern Detectives, spotting and creating sequences everywhere—from our clothes to our classroom blocks!
Meanwhile, our phonics journey continues with a new sound every day, supported by "funky finger" playdough and tweezer challenges to build those strong muscles for writing. It’s going to be a busy, brilliant term!
