Latest News
What has been happening in school? Have a read 😊
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On our way home. Goodbye Min Y Don. It’s been great!
Fri 27 Feb 2026
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Min Y Don 2026
Thu 26 Feb 2026Last week our Year 5 and 6 children headed to Min Y Don Christian Centre for four days by the sea, and what a fantastic experience it was. The children took part in a wide range of activities including climbing, archery, zip lining, trail biking and abseiling, throwing themselves into every challenge with enthusiasm and determination.
Across the week we saw so much resilience, encouragement and teamwork. Children supported one another, stepped outside their comfort zones and celebrated each other’s successes. There was also time to enjoy free time together- playing games, exploring the site and having fun.
They represented Criftins brilliantly and were an absolute joy to take away. We are incredibly proud of them all and the memories made will stay with them for a long time.
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Promoting Active Lifestyles
Wed 04 Feb 2026We welcomed Jayne from TNS along with Ozzy and Ffraid to come into Collective Worship today to promote and engage our children in physical activity.
The children have also all received complimentary match day tickets for the rest of the JD Cymru Premier Championship Conference season!
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Forest School Nature Walk
Sat 31 Jan 2026This week, all of our children from Nursery to Year 6 went on a nature walk around the local area.
The children carefully observed their surroundings- feeling tree bark, spotting buds, identifying twigs and trees, touching moss and finding early snowdrops. They climbed, explored, got muddy and talked together as they went.
Exploring our local area is a key part our curriculum and links closely to our heritage work. It helps children build a connection to the place they live, understand how it has been shaped in the past and learn how to care for it now and in the future.
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Helen Morgan visits us at Criftins C of E Primary & Nursery
Mon 26 Jan 2026We were delighted to welcome a special visitor to Criftins this morning, our local MP, Helen Morgan.
Helen met every pupil, toured the school and was impressed by the children’s questions, taking time to answer them and explain her role. She also met with the Associate Heads of School, Miss Nia Evans and Mr Robert Jones, alongside our Chair of Governors, Mrs Janet Gargiulo.
It was so valuable to have the chance to share our context, celebrate what makes our school such a special place and discuss some of the challenges we face as a small, rural school.
Helen was very complimentary about our school, our curriculum and, most importantly, our pupils. She could see what a wonderful place Criftins C of E Primary School and Nursery is.
Thank you to Helen Morgan for taking the time to visit our school. It was a pleasure to welcome her and share our school community.
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Year 3/ 4 Dodgeball
Wed 21 Jan 2026Another fantastic result for our Year 3/4 Dodgeball team who came 2nd today by winning 9 out of 12 matches and, as with our Year 5/6, have qualified for the North Shropshire finals as the top Ellesmere cluster school.
Amazing result!
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Y5/6 Shakespeare Drama Workshop
Sat 17 Jan 2026This week, Michael Jenkins from Moreton Hall visited Class 4 to deliver a brilliant drama workshop exploring Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’.
Michael, a professional actor and Moreton Hall’s Head of Drama, praised the pupils’ creativity:
“Criftins School have got real talent. I was thrilled with how the pupils responded. Within just one hour, they were choreographed and working superbly together to create a tempest, telling the story of Prospero and his spirit, Ariel.
“Every pupil was fully invested, using physicality and vocal skills to deliver the narrative while making great use of Shakespeare’s words. It was brilliant.”
A huge thank you to Mr Jenkins for an engaging and inspiring workshop. The room was full of energy and enthusiasm, and it was wonderful to see the children’s confidence grow throughout the session.
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Year 6 Dodgeball
Wed 14 Jan 2026Congratulations to our Dodgeball team who, today, competed at the Marches School along with 12 other cluster schools.
They won all their matches bar 1 and tied for 1st place in their pool. The number of players left in each match are recorded and they missed the finals by 1 point allowing Whittington School to go through against Woodside. However, as the top team from the Ellesmere cluster we have qualified for the North Shropshire finals, a tremendous achievement - well done to our team!
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Farewell, Mr Rushton
Sun 21 Dec 2025On Friday, with heavy hearts, we said goodbye to our very own Mr Rushton.
We came together for a special farewell service, with moving songs sung by the whole school and magnificent performances from each class. Alongside the children, we were joined by staff past and present, parents and members of the wider community.
Mr Rushton has worked at Criftins for 13 years. During this time, he has taught across both KS1 and KS2, worked as Assistant Headteacher alongside Mrs Mandy Jones and, over the last two and a half years, taken on the role of Head of School. He has brought so much joy, kindness and passion to school life, along with many a joke!
He has inspired many adults and children during his time, and leaves behind a legacy that will stay with our school for years to come.
We wish you every happiness in your retirement, Mr Rushton, and thank you for everything you have given to Criftins.
You will be missed by us all. ❤️
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Online Workshop with The National Archives, London
Sun 21 Dec 2025Class 3 had an incredible online workshop yesterday with Sarah from The National Archives, streamed live from their London site, as part of their history learning on Ancient Egypt.
This was a wonderful opportunity, giving our children the chance to work directly with a National Archives expert and explore genuine historical sources from thousands of years ago.
The children were completely engaged throughout, asking brilliant questions and showing great enthusiasm. This was a live session just for Class 3, which made the experience even more special.
What an amazing experience!
