At Jack Hunt School, the annual Year 7 Exhibitions of Excellence have become a much-anticipated tradition. Blending creativity, curriculum, and community, these exhibitions showcase student projects while offering families a chance to connect with the school in a meaningful way. This year’s exhibition was no exception. We sat down with Mrs. Kate Stojkovic, who leads this initiative, to find out more about the inspiration behind the event, the preparation involved, and why this experience means so much to students, staff, and families alike.

What inspired the idea behind the Year 7 Exhibitions of Excellence?

Mrs. Stojkovic:The exhibitions were always intended to be a great way of smoothing the transition from primary to secondary school. They give students the opportunity to be creative and allow parents to touch base with the school on three separate occasions throughout the year. It helps build strong relationships and gives students a mid-year boost in work ethic and classroom standards—they're so proud to see their fabulous work exhibited!Originally, it was a big event in the main hall, with planes and ships up to three feet long. Now, it has evolved into a well-oiled machine that transforms the Year 7 base into an exhibition space. It’s more intimate, with families sitting comfortably as students explain what they've learned, and teachers are available to answer any questions.

How did you and the team support students in preparing their projects?

Mrs. Stojkovic:Students are given a "homework menu" with a variety of options tailored to different interests and abilities. If a student is creative, they can build models like weaponry for Remembrance, or rainforest animals for Sustainability. Others might choose to create interviews, documentaries, posters, or fact files. We ensure that everyone has access to resources—coloured paper, pens, glue, etc.—so that no one is excluded.Each project should take a minimum of six hours, and while many students complete them independently, it's often a chance for families to come together and create something spectacular. For those who need extra support, the Year 7 base is open at lunchtime, fully stocked with everything they need to succeed.

The exhibition focused heavily on themes like sustainability, history, and the environment. Why those topics?

Mrs. Stojkovic:These themes are drawn directly from our Key Stage 3 curriculum—History, Geography, RE, ICT, and PSHE. The schemes of work are carefully designed to alternate and link subjects. For example, in our Remembrance unit, we explore global empires like the Austro-Hungarian Empire and delve into issues like the exploitation of African resources by colonial powers.The Sustainability topic allows us to look at how the natural world—places like the Rainforest, Serengeti, and Antarctica—is being exploited. Even in our historical Peterborough project, students were encouraged to envision a more sustainable future and articulate those ideas in oracy presentations.

What were some of the most memorable or surprising projects you saw this year?

Mrs. Stojkovic:Each year I come across projects I just can’t part with! I’ve seen 3ft dreadnoughts, scale fighter jets, and even a hand-carved wooden rifle (with bullet shells—that worried me a little!). We’ve had decorated cathedrals and mosques, hand-stitched white tigers, spider monkeys, and pottery parrots and snakes.

Some of the most unique pieces included a greenhouse model demonstrating global warming and a replica of the Peterborough grain barge. Two standout projects this year were Josiah Stanbrock’s documentary on the endangered Kakapo and James Asker’s origami video about threats to Antarctica—both were phenomenal.

You can watch Josiahs Documentary here

How do events like this benefit students beyond the classroom?

Mrs. Stojkovic:They offer a chance for students and their families to come together and really engage in the learning process. The projects spark important conversations and often lead students to explore topics further on their own. During the Peterborough project, students brought in extra research on the suffragettes, Lady Jane Grey, and even archaeological documentaries about hidden cities.These exhibitions ignite curiosity and help students see how classroom learning connects to the wider world.

How did it feel seeing so many people—parents, staff, and students—come together for the exhibition?

Mrs. Stojkovic:I absolutely love seeing the students with their parents. It gives me a chance to celebrate their hard work and sing their praises. There’s something so special about watching students explain what they’ve learned with such pride.The atmosphere on the evening was electric. Mr. Hebblethwaite and Mr. Game spent a long time at the exhibition and told us how full of praise parents were for the school. Many said how happy their children are at Jack Hunt and how well they’ve settled in. There was a real buzz of excitement and joy.

What do you hope students take away from this experience—and do you think they did?

Mrs. Stojkovic:I hope they take away memories. Year 7 is a beautiful age—students are eager to please, eager to try hard, and eager to be creative. That energy is hard to replicate further up the school, so what we’ve done in Year 7 is something truly special. I hope it inspires our students to keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep creating.

Anything you’d like to say to the Year 7s after all their hard work?

Mrs. Stojkovic:To all our Year 7s: I appreciate your enthusiasm, your effort, your questions, your answers, your hard work, your integrity, and your kindness. Your work does not go unnoticed, and we are so proud of what you’ve achieved.Voices of Year 7: What Students Had to Say

We also asked some Year 7 students to reflect on their Exhibition of Excellence experience:

Milena, when asked how it felt to show her work to family and friends, said:"I feel proud because I used a lot of time to create the project and feel great about how it turned out."

Amelia shared what she discovered through her project:"I learnt about different countries and how other people live."

Ruby spoke about how her view of her local area changed:"Yes, because the more I’ve learnt about sustainability, the more I’ve realised the impact it’s been having on the planet."

Iqra offered advice for next year’s Year 7s:"Do your best and the teachers will help you!"

The Year 7 Exhibition of Excellence is more than an event—it’s a celebration of learning, community, and creativity. With students, families, and staff coming together in such a meaningful way, it’s easy to see why this tradition is such a highlight of the school year. Please have a look at some of the photos of the fantastic projects on our  May Newsletter