Image of DPSSA Netball League
21 May

DPSSA Netball League

This evening Team B took part in their second evening of netball fixtures. First we played against Sudell and came away with an 11-0 win and then we played St Joseph’s which was a super tight game but we managed to secure a 6-5 win in the end. A great evening of superb play and sportsmanship by every member of the team- well done!

Image of Year 1: Fun On The Park
18 May

Year 1: Fun On The Park

After their learning activities, the children had lots of fun playing on the park. They enjoyed climbing, balancing, sliding and exploring the different equipment with their friends. The children showed excellent teamwork, kindness and confidence whilst playing together and were excited to spend time outdoors in the sunshine.

Image of Platinum School Games Mark
15 May

Platinum School Games Mark

πŸ† Four Years of Platinum! πŸ† We have some incredible news to share with our school community! Our school has been awarded the Platinum School Games Mark again which means we have held the award for four years! This Government-led award, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust, is the highest level of recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to school sports, physical activity, and community competition. Maintaining this standard for four consecutive years is a massive achievement! Why this is a huge win for our pupils: Dedication on the Field: From local inter-school matches to inter-house competitions, our students have shown incredible heart and teamwork. Beyond the Game: This award doesn't just celebrate the athletes; it celebrates our amazing Sports Leaders, staff, and officials who work behind the scenes to make every event possible. A special thank you to Mrs Gardner, our PE leader for all of her hard work in helping us achieve this award again. Community Spirit: It recognises how we bring sport out of the playground and into the wider community. We are so proud of every single pupil who participated, led, or cheered from the sidelines this year. Your energy is what makes our school a "Platinum" place to be! 🌟 Click here to see our sporting success from the last few years:Β https://stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/classes-curriculum/curriculum-overview/physical-education #SchoolGamesMark #PlatinumAward #FourInARow #YouthSportTrust #SchoolSport #TeamWork #ActiveKids #ProudSchool

Image of DPSSA Netball League
14 May

DPSSA Netball League

Tonight Team B took part in our first evening at the DPSSA netball league. The children played really well and adjusted to lots of variations with positions. We came away with one win and one loss so onwards and upwards next week.

Image of Year 4 - PE: Sprint and Relay
13 May

Year 4 - PE: Sprint and Relay

This week in athletics, the Year 4 class applied the sprinting skills they have learned and developed new skills for taking part in relay races. They began with an aerobic warm up and played chase games to develop correct arm positioning for successful baton exchange. This was followed by some practice with batons, transferring them from one team mate to another as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. Their aim was to be able to pass and receive a baton whilst moving. Once the children had had a chance to develop this skill, they put it into practice through team races. They had all improved dramatically by the end of the lesson.

Image of Year 4 Tennis Winners
13 May

Year 4 Tennis Winners

πŸ† SMALL BUT MIGHTY! πŸ† Huge congratulations to our Year 4 Tennis Team for winning the BWD competition at Blackburn Northern Tennis Club! 🎾πŸ₯‡ Mrs. Ham is incredibly proud of the team's determination and fantastic sportsmanship. You played with heart and represented us brilliantly! πŸŒŸπŸ‘ We certainly are small but mighty! πŸ’ͺ #TennisChampions #BWDCompetition #Year4 #ProudSchool #TeamWork

Image of Year 5 PGL
13 May

Year 5 PGL

πŸ§—β€β™‚οΈ What an Unforgettable Adventure! 🏹 Our Year 5 students have just returned from an incredible three-day residential at PGL (and yes, for those wondering, that stands for Parents Get Lost! πŸ˜‰). From the moment they arrived, the energy was electric. Over the last three days, our young adventurers threw themselves into every challenge, including: β€’ Raft Building: Testing their teamwork (and their buoyancy!) 🌊 β€’ Archery: Finding their inner Robin Hood 🎯 β€’ Problem Solving: Using those brilliant brains to crack tough codes 🧩 β€’ Survival Skills: Learning how to thrive in the great outdoors 🌲 β€’ Climbing & The Giant Swing: Reaching new heights and facing their fears head-on! 🎒 🌟 Heart, Courage, and Community Beyond the activities, what truly blew us away was their courage and determination. Whether they were dangling from the giant swing or navigating the woods, the way they shouted words of encouragement to one another was heart-warming. They behaved brilliantly throughout the trip and were a true credit to our school. We couldn't be prouder of the resilience they showed! πŸ™Œ A Huge Thank You This trip wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing staff. A massive thank you to Mr Mealor, Miss Lyons, and Mrs Faux for giving up their time and working around the clock to ensure the children had a safe and life-changing experience. Welcome home, Year 5! Rest upβ€”you’ve certainly earned it. πŸ’€βœ¨ #Year5 #PGL #SchoolTrip #AdventureAwaits #ProudSchool #Teamwork #MakingMemories All of the photos can be found here: https://stbarnabasdarwen.co.uk/photo-galleries/year-5-pgl-may-2026

Image of Year 1 PE: Throwing and Catching
12 May

Year 1 PE: Throwing and Catching

Year 1 continued to practise their skills of throwing and catching. We introduced chest passes to make straight, quick throws and practised catching the ball with our arms out ready to receive. Year 1 noticed that if you have a larger distance between a partner, it was easier to bounce pass the ball.

Image of Year 3- P.E-Rugby: Mastering the Three Touch Ball
12 May

Year 3- P.E-Rugby: Mastering the Three Touch Ball

In P.E. today, the class focused on Invasion Games through a game called Three Touch Ball, which is based on Rugby skills. The children worked on mastering the swing pass, learning to form a 'W' shape with their hands and swinging the ball from chest to hip height toward their target. We also practised receiving by watching the ball into the hands and bringing it back to the chest to prepare for the next move. Beyond the physical skills, we focused on tactics such as running into space, using hand signals to communicate, and working as a team to pass the ball at least three times before scoring in the hoop. Finally, the children took turns acting as officials, ensuring everyone followed the rules and played fairly.

Image of Year 2 - PE - Racket and Ball Work
7 May

Year 2 - PE - Racket and Ball Work

Year 2 have been learning how to hold a racket using the shaking hands grip. We have then been working on our control of the ball.

Image of Year 5 - PE
6 May

Year 5 - PE

We continued our athletics lessons by adding sling shots to our repertoire of throws. The children had to sling a hoop as far as they could, focusing on keeping their arm straight, rotating the body and releasing at the right moment. We also carried out a sequence of three standing jumps, hops and leaps, with the children experimenting by changing their stance and motion.

Image of Bee Stinger Netball Heat Winners
5 May

Bee Stinger Netball Heat Winners

This evening we took part in the Bee Stinger Netball Heats down at Darwen Vale High School. Many of Team B had never played Bee Stingers before but they worked hard and managed to come out heat winners! We are so proud of how they conducted themselves showing respect and resilience the whole way through.