Nancledra Children

Our Happy Herd

At Nancledra School, we believe that caring for animals plays an important role in children’s learning and personal development. Having animals as part of our school community helps pupils develop kindness, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility. Through daily interactions, children learn to nurture living creatures, understand their needs and show respect for all forms of life.

Animals also support children’s wellbeing. Taking time to observe, care for and spend quiet moments with our school animals can be calming and comforting, helping pupils to regulate emotions and build confidence. These experiences link closely with our curriculum, supporting learning in science, personal development and outdoor education, while encouraging curiosity, patience and teamwork. 

Meet Trixie, our resident Cairn cross with a taste for the high life. A connoisseur of comfort, she enjoys the finer things in life — sunny spots, good company, and the occasional jelly bean or tortilla crisp. Trixie considers herself a lady of style and sophistication, which is why she still hasn’t quite forgiven the artist in residence for capturing her on what she insists was a very bad hair day. Despite this injustice, she remains charming, opinionated, and entirely convinced the world revolves around her — and honestly, she may be right.

Meet Rolo, Biscoff and Fudge — our trio of young guinea pigs, full of mischief and very big opinions. United by their love of the finest spring water and an unwavering devotion to kale, these three can reduce an impressive veggie feast to crumbs in the blink of an eye. Most of the time they live in perfect harmony, squeaking cheerfully and plotting their next snack. However, as they edge into their pre‑teen phase, it’s not uncommon to see at least one dramatically flounce off for a moment of quiet reflection.  Adorable, dramatic, and always hungry.

Meet Fidget and Flump… if you can find them, that is. Our elusive pair have perfected the art of burrowing, leaving the Artist in Residence to spend many hours on the lookout — usually rewarded with nothing more than a fleeting ear or a suspiciously twitching paw. Masters of underground engineering, they prefer life beneath the surface, where tunnels are expanded, plans are plotted, and mischief quietly brews. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the gentle scraping and scratching as they remodel their underground world — occasionally pausing just long enough to check if the coast is clear before disappearing again. Blink, and you’ll miss them.

Meet The Happy Herd FC, Nancledra's feathered football squad and arguably the most entertaining team on the school grounds.

Captained by confidence rather than any actual footballing ability, our flock can usually be found strutting around their enclosure as if they're about to walk out for a cup final. Always impeccably dressed, they take their roles very seriously, whether that's leading playground discussions, conducting important worm inspections or supervising snack times from a respectful distance.

Each member of the team has their own unique personality. Some are bold and adventurous, racing to investigate anything new, while others prefer to hang back and offer tactical advice from the sidelines. What they all have in common, however, is an impressive enthusiasm for food. If there is a tasty treat on offer, their teamwork suddenly becomes exceptional as they charge towards it with remarkable speed and determination.

The squad spends its days scratching, pecking and holding what appear to be very important team meetings. They are excellent listeners, enthusiastic greeters and have become firm favourites with children and staff alike. Whether they're practising their formation, chasing a particularly interesting bug or simply enjoying a sunny afternoon together, our feathered footballers bring plenty of character, laughter and happiness to the Nancledra community.



Meet The Wise Gobblers, Nancledra's resident scholars and self-appointed experts on absolutely everything.

Often found gathered around a good book, these thoughtful-looking turkeys give the impression that they're deep in discussion about great works of literature or solving the world's problems. Don't be fooled, though. Behind those intelligent expressions lies a group of characters who enjoy being just a little bit naughty.

The turkeys are curious, confident and never shy about sharing their opinions, usually at full volume! Whether they're announcing their arrival, demanding attention or commenting on school life, they always make sure they're heard. Despite their mischievous streak, they're firm favourites with children and staff alike.

With their love of learning, larger-than-life personalities and talent for causing gentle chaos, The Wise Gobblers prove that being clever and a little cheeky can be a winning combination.

Meet Emma, a jolly Irish-doodle powered entirely by boundless enthusiasm. Forever cheerful and endlessly wiggly, she takes her role as chief tennis ball guardian very seriously — protecting her precious stash with great devotion… while also spending most of her day enthusiastically searching for the very same tennis ball she’s convinced has gone missing. Emma believes every walk is an adventure, every visitor is her new best friend, and every ball is the most important ball that has ever existed. Chaos? Occasionally. Joy? Absolutely guaranteed.

Meet The Quack Squad, Nancledra's team of runner ducks and the undisputed champions of speedy waddling.

Rarely seen standing still, these energetic characters spend their days racing around the school grounds, always looking as though they're off to an important appointment. Whether they're investigating a puddle, leading a patrol of the field or appearing from nowhere at lunchtime, they're always on the move.

The ducks are curious, friendly and full of personality. They work brilliantly as a team, sticking together on their daily adventures and making sure no corner of the grounds goes unexplored. Their favourite activities include splashing, foraging and enthusiastically inspecting anything that might be edible.

With their upright stance, endless energy and talent for making everyone smile, The Quack Squad has become a much-loved part of the Nancledra family. 


Also known as the Office Fish, Gill is our distinguished Siamese fighter who has settled into his new role as the school’s calming influence with great poise. Gracefully gliding through his tank, he brings a sense of calm to all who pass — unless it’s times tables time, of course. Possessing a surprising aptitude for numbers, Gill is often seen stopping mid‑swim to watch (and occasionally join in with) the testing of times tables badges, observing with what we can only assume is careful calculation. Serene, scholarly, and always keeping an eye on things — Gill takes his role very seriously indeed.

Herbie is the much‑loved tortoise of Mousehole Class, famous for whizzing (well… Herbie‑style whizzing) around the room like he’s late for an important meeting. When he’s not on one of his adventures, you’ll usually find him enjoying his two favourite treats: juicy blueberries and only the finest, most carefully selected leaves.

Herbie has a big personality to match his shell and likes things just the way he likes them. He can be a little grumpy if the classroom gets too chilly – at which point he makes it very clear that the heat lamp should be switched on immediately. Once warmed up, however, he’s back to his calm, curious self, keeping a watchful (and slightly sleepy) eye on Mousehole Class.


Meet the stick insects — yet to be named, largely because we spend most of our time searching for them. These are the latino dancers of the classroom, gently swaying, pausing, and striking a pose as if permanently mid‑routine. Confident in their camouflage skills, they spend much of the day convinced they are completely invisible.

Big personalities in very stick‑like bodies, they enjoy creating suspense by freezing dramatically, then slowly repositioning themselves when no one is “looking”.  These masters of disguise know they are the stars of the show… even if you have to look twice to spot them.