A Derbyshire mountaineer who suffered severe frostbite injuries gave an inspirational talk to pupils at St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy as part of an innovative programme.
Nigel Vardy’s toes, fingers and nose had to be amputated in 1999 after he faced temperatures of -60 ˚C on Mount McKinley in Alaska.
Mr Vardy (pictured right at St Joseph’s) uses his experiences of rescue, recovery and a return to mountaineering as a motivational speaker and is sometimes known as ‘Mr Frostbite’.
He visited St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Chesterfield Road, Matlock, to talk to pupils about his experiences, never giving up and resilience.
The talk was part of a programme run by the school called Resilience Reaps Rewards, designed to strengthen resilience, improve behaviour and build positive attitudes.
Pupil Romi, 7, said: “What happened to him was really scary. He showed us his frostbite photos of his toes and fingers which were dark blue. They used some of the skin from his forehead to rebuild his nose. He talked to us about empowerment and being determined. I asked him how he does his shoelaces up and he said he was determined to do it and practised and practised.”
Pupil Autumn, 8, said: “I thought his talk was really good. He talked to us about being resilient and being ourselves and about never giving up. He told us not to close our eyes, if there’s a problem then we have to think about how to fix it. He also said to us to keep on learning like a child, he said not to lose that.”
Headteacher Stacey Carr said: “We were honoured to welcome the incredible Nigel Vardy to support the first topic of our Resilience Reaps Rewards programme: Heroes.
“Nigel’s story is nothing short of heroic. After facing unimaginable adversity on the slopes of Mount McKinley and suffering severe frostbite, he turned his experience into a powerful message about resilience, courage and the strength of the human spirit.
“Throughout his presentation, Nigel reminded us that heroes aren’t just those in capes — they are people who face challenges head-on, choose hope over despair and keep moving forward. He encouraged our pupils to believe in themselves, embrace the bumps in their journey and understand that resilience means getting back up, even when the path ahead seems frozen.
“We were so proud to see our children engage — asking thoughtful questions, listening intently and showing how enthusiastic they are about this new programme.
“A huge thank you to Nigel for sharing his story with us and for helping our children understand that heroes come in many forms.”
Mr Vardy said: “I find speaking with youngsters so rewarding because they have open eyes. Eyes which absorb information at a huge rate. They also have questioning minds, with few inhibitions holding them back. The pupils at St Joseph’s were inquiring, inspiring and full of energy, but also polite and reflective. Taking them on my life’s journey, relating to them as youngsters and showing how I was inspired to enjoy the outdoors as a child is one way of inspiring their love of nature and the benefits it can bring. Also, by going through adversity myself, I can share the lessons learned, and show that whatever life throws at us, we can still achieve and accomplish incredible things.
“Life is a journey, filled with experiences which will tailor our lives. If we all walk our journey with our eyes open and inquiring minds, we can achieve a great deal.”
A student at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy has won Gold and Bronze at the European Jiu Jitsu Championships.
Fifteen-year-old Jack Bridgewood, who is visually impaired, won Gold in the GI category and Bronze in the no GI category, in the 14 to 15 age range.
The teenager has been visually impaired since birth and said that no special amendments are made for this.
He said: “It can be difficult, especially when I’m turning. I started doing Jiu Jitsu when I was four. My uncle is a Jiu Jitsu coach. I train with Allegiance Jiu Jitsu in Ilkeston and I used to go every day but now it’s about four days a week due to an injury.”
The European medals follow on from success at the World Championships in Wolverhampton in the summer, when he won Bronze.
He said: “It felt great to win Gold at the Europeans. It was amazing. I won the first fight 16-0 and the other one was 7-4. You basically get told if you’ve won through an app and that’s how I found out. My uncle is my coach and he was really happy.
“If you’d told me a year ago that I would win this competition I wouldn’t have believed it, especially with the problems with my eyes and I also have brittle bones. My mum had been trying to get me to quit because she was worried about me but she was very proud.”
Steve Brogan, Headteacher at Saint John Houghton, in Kirk Hallam, congratulated Jack on his incredible achievement.
He said: “We are so proud of Jack, of all that he has achieved and that he is a student of our school, Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy. On top of being a champion, he is a great student and person and he really deserves this success. He is living proof that with determination and drive, we can achieve our goals, in spite of the difficulties and challenges we face in life. He is an inspiration to us all.”
The GI category refers to the specific weight class category that allows practitioners to compete in a GI, the traditional uniform worn by practitioners.
Over 60 grandparents went back to school at Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in New Mills.
Grandmas, grandads and nanas were invited to spend an afternoon at the school with their grandchildren and take part in some Autumn themed activities.
Jo Mallabar, interim Head of School at Saint Mary’s, said everyone was thrilled with the turnout for the event.
She said: “We had over 60 grandparents which was fantastic. We set out 12 tables and they were full of children and their grandparents, lots of them were asking if we would do something like this again. The grandparents loved it, a few of them carried on finishing their pictures after the children had gone! We had some cakes that had been donated from the parish cake sale and sold them to raise money for Macmillan.
“Executive Headteacher, Patricia Chapman and School Business Manager, Jodie Oxley, had seen something similar at another school and thought it would be lovely if we did it so this event was to test the waters a bit. We were really surprised at how popular it was. We had to dash and get more tables and chairs! It was lovely to see so many people.”
Mrs Mallabar said the event tied in with one of the Catholic Social Teaching principles at the school, building our family and community.
She said: “It was so nice to hear the grandparents talking about what they used to do at school and lovely for the children to be able to spend time with them.”
Alice, eight, said: “My nana and grandma came and we made leaf characters.”
Alfie, seven, said: “My grandma and grandad came and we made owls out of leaves and things. They were really happy to come into school and they really liked it.”
Frankie, 10, said: “I did painting with my grandma and we painted our hands and used them to make a print of a tree. I thought inviting grandparents into school was a really good idea because it meant that we got to spend time with them. It was also nice for my grandma to see what I do at school.”
Zach, 10, asked his granny to come into school. He said: “I think she really enjoyed it. It was great to be able to invite grandparents into school and spend time with us. It was nice to have her in school.”
A long serving teacher at an Ilkeston primary school has written an inspiring children’s book in memory of her dad.
The book written by Sue Law, who has worked at St Thomas’ Catholic Voluntary Academy for 27 years, is called How to Succeed.
The uplifting story revolves around three tiny seeds called Knotweed, Poison Ivy and Sunflower. A competition takes place to see who is the most powerful with Sunflower showing that true power comes from doing good.
Sue has now self-published the book through Amazon after writing it following the death of her dad, Denis Hannon, in July 2022. Denis was also a teacher, having worked in various roles, including Deputy Headteacher, for 40 years at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy in Ilkeston.
“Everyone loved him, he was always a joker. He really loved his poetry and I suppose that’s the skill he gave to me. There’s a photo we have of him with lots of sunflowers and that’s where the idea for the book came from. He died in the July and I wanted to write it for my mum and sisters for the first Christmas that we would be spending without him,” Sue said.
The process of writing the book didn’t take Sue long and she asked a friend’s niece, Addyson Brough, to do the illustrations.
Sue said: “I sent her the script and she created the beautiful illustrations. I couldn’t believe it when I saw them, they were just the way that I wanted them to be. When I showed my mum and sisters we were all a bit overwhelmed.”
Sue’s colleague Gemma Shelbourne, a Teaching Assistant, also created knitted toys based on the characters in the book as a surprise.
The book has now been self-published through Amazon and is available to buy. Sue’s colleagues were so impressed with her work that they are planning on using the book at St Thomas’.
“It has been a long process and there were a lot of proofs. I could have given up so many times but it just goes to show you what can happen if you keep trying. I do want to read it to the children in my class, we were thinking about using it during a pupil induction or a retreat day,” Sue said.
Pupil Favour, six, was given a sneak peek at the book along with her classmate Nancie, also six.
Favour said: “Mrs Law is very lovely and I feel lucky to have her as my teacher. I think she is really clever to write a book. I love it so much, it’s really good.”
Nancie said: “I was very surprised when I heard that Mrs Law had written a book. I think the pictures are really good and the book is really good, it’s perfect.”
You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FJSDD5BK
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson MP was given a whistlestop tour of St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby – the UK’s greenest primary school.
The visit was organised by Catherine Atkinson MP, Member of Parliament for Derby North.
The original St Mary’s building burnt down in October 2020 and reopened in 2023 as the country’s first biophilic school, as part of a pilot project by the Department for Education.
Bridget Phillipson MP met with leaders at St Mary’s and the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust. She was also given a tour of the school by pupils.
She said: “Spending time with the pupils and teachers at St Mary’s was inspiring. Their energy in the classroom and the care they show for their school community capture everything we want for children here in Derby and around the country.
“I’m proud to support the staff who go the extra mile for their pupils every day, giving every child the best start in life.”
Catherine Atkinson MP said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome the Education Secretary back to Derby – this time to St Mary’s. She cares deeply about local communities and is driving a truly child-centred government that listens to families and puts children first.
“I’m determined to work side by side with government, families, teachers and local partners to break down the barriers that hold our children back. Every pupil in Derby deserves the support and opportunity they need to reach their full potential.”
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher at St Mary’s who oversaw the new build project, said: “We were delighted to welcome Bridget Phillipson MP to our thriving school and share the school’s journey from the fire to the opening of our new biophilic school. We were excited to share the tangible impact a biophilic school can have on pupils’ academic, social and emotional development. The children were so proud to show the Education Secretary around the site; spending time in classes, the chapel, courtyards and other outdoor spaces which collectively enhance their learning experiences each day.”
Kevin Gritton, St Ralph Sherwin Trust CEO, said: “We would like to thank Bridget Phillipson MP for taking the time to visit St Mary’s to meet the staff and pupils and our thanks also go to Catherine Atkinson MP for organising the visit. The pupils did a fantastic job of showing her around their wonderful school and they asked some very insightful questions.”
Students across the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust are celebrating their GCSE results.
David Redfern, Headteacher at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy in Buxton, said that pupils had achieved excellently, with results that have delighted staff, parents, and the wider school community.
He said: “I am absolutely thrilled and delighted with our pupils’ results this year. It has been such a joyous year for St Thomas More – with two fantastic inspections, and now these outstanding GCSE results, we couldn’t be prouder.
“Our pupils have worked so hard, and these results put everything into perspective, showing just what an amazing year it has been. I would like to thank our pupils for being such an inspiration, their parents and carers for their unwavering support, and a special thanks to our amazing staff, who go above and beyond every single day to ensure the very best for our children.
“The results showcase not only academic brilliance, but also the strength of character and resilience pupils have shown throughout their studies”
Mike Kays, Headteacher at St Philip Howard in Glossop, said: “TEAMSPH are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements this year. Their dedication, resilience, and hard work have truly paid off, and these results reflect not only their efforts but also the unwavering support from our staff and families. I’ll never forget talking to some of our Year 11 pupils, after exams had finished — the mix of relief, pride, and excitement was palpable.
“One student told me, ‘I didn’t think I could do it, but I did.’ That moment summed up what education is all about: helping young people realise their potential. As a school, we remain committed to nurturing excellence and preparing our young people together on their success journey.”
Hazel Boyce, Headteacher at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby, said that results were broadly in line with last year.
She said: “We are very pleased with our results this year. Results this year are broadly in-line with those from last year. The numbers of pupils securing a grade 4 and above in both English and Maths remains strong which is fantastic news and really opens doors and secures futures for young people.
“75% of our young people have secured the results necessary to go on to study for Level 3 qualifications at Key Stage 5.
“Results in Maths, Drama, Business Studies, English Literature, Food, Media and Construction are especially high.”
Samuel Gray, Headteacher at Blessed Robert Sutton in Burton, congratulated all students on their GCSE results today.
He said “We are immensely proud of our students for their hard work, determination and resilience in achieving these GCSE results. They have shown great commitment to their learning, supported by our dedicated staff and the encouragement of their families. We are confident that today’s achievements will provide a strong foundation for the next stage of their education and future success.”
Steve Brogan, Headteacher at Saint John Houghton in Kirk Hallam, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the results our students have achieved this year, especially in light of the fact that these students were some of the worst affected during their time in our school due to Covid, having had no transition into secondary school life. They are a testament to the hard work of the students, and the support of their parents.
“We are delighted that these results are a further marker of the improvements we have made in our school and I would like to thank the staff for all of their efforts in supporting our students so well over the past five years.”
Students at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby are celebrating A level results today.
Hazel Boyce, Headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the results for this year’s A level cohort. Once again, we have seen an improvement on the results from last year.
“We are celebrating a 100% pass rate with 80% of our students securing grades A* – C. Ninety five per cent of students secured their first choice university. Eighty three per cent of students are going to university and that’s up from 78 per cent last year.
“Results in Drama, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, PE and Media are particularly strong.”
Angelica Mae Ubando, 18, achieved a Distinction* in Media, a B in English Combined and a C in Politics. She is planning to study Journalism.
She said: “I am really happy with my results and I chose Journalism because I have always had an interest in English and Media. I love English and I love having a creative side and I think Journalism is a good blend of both. My family are so happy and proud.”
Scarlett Bowler, 18, achieved an A in History, an A* in English Literature and a C in Biology. She will go on to the University of Liverpool to study Law.
She said: “I’ve always wanted to go to university ever since I was little. I don’t know why, I just heard adults talking about it and thought that sounded great. After the exams I thought they hadn’t gone very well, I don’t know why, I was probably over thinking it. I really wanted to go to Liverpool and if I hadn’t got in I was going to reject my second choice and go through clearing.
“My results were emailed to me and I felt like I couldn’t look. My dad and boyfriend were with me and my dad was working away so he was on FaceTime. We were all really, really happy, everyone was crying.”
Daniel Dze Agwe, 18, achieved As in Maths and Physics and a Distinction in BTec Business. He is off to university to study Mechanical Engineering.
He said: “I was a bit stressed after the first Physics paper as I felt like it didn’t go my way but I was ok after that. I feel like the last two years in Sixth Form have really improved me as a person and the teachers have really helped me personally as well.”
Ashvin Nedungatt, 18, achieved As in Maths, Biology and Chemistry and is going on to the University of Nottingham to study Pharmacy.
He said: “I chose Pharmacy because I have always wanted to help people, it was always going to be either Pharmacy or Medicine. I’ve done a lot of work in hospitals and Pharmacy is a good combination of Biology and Chemistry. It felt like it was my calling.
“I was just lying in bed this morning when I got my results on an email and then I told my mum, dad and sisters and they were happy with how I did, they were proud.”
Luca Cuomo, 18, achieved As in Geography and Engineering and a C in Maths.
He said: “I’m planning on taking a gap year now as I want to apply for degree apprenticeships in finance or engineering. I think it will be a lot better to do the applications now when I can prepare and it’s less stressful. I’m really happy with my results and felt like I worked really hard and that has paid off. I came here in Sixth Form from Saint John Houghton and it was fine. I already knew a few people who were already here and they introduced me to their friends. Two of my friends from Saint John Houghton also came here with me.”
Breanna Efionayi, 18, achieved Bs in Chemistry and Maths and is planning on retaking her third subject this year during a gap year after going through some personal struggles. Ultimately she wants to study Pharmacy at university.
She said: “I had some struggles and it was all quite stressful. I was predicted much lower grades so I was really pleased with two Bs. I’m really happy and my family are happy for me too.”
One of the first pupils to attend English Martyrs’ Catholic Voluntary Academy returned to celebrate the school’s 60th anniversary.
Monika Dooley (née Wake) was in the first intake on the Long Eaton school’s opening day in 1965.
Sixty years later she returned to attend anniversary celebrations which included a fun day and picnic with current and former staff and pupils.
Monika said: “I was in the very first intake on the very first day. I remember lining up in the infant playgroup waiting to go into the first class. I cried all day but it did get better after that! I remember the headmaster was very strict but very fair and I think the teachers had a lot more autonomy back then. There was one teacher in a class there were no teaching assistants.
“School dinners were very traditional and we didn’t line up to get them. We sat at tables and two junior children served the dinners. I loved art and I also liked school plays although I always wanted to be Angel Gabriel but never was!”
Former pupil Merrin Shelton, 26, joined English Martyrs’ in 2003 and left in 2010 and now works as a Reception Class teacher abroad.
She said: “It’s a lovely school. There’s a real community feel. We always used to do school plays and in Year 6 we did Olivia, a version of Oliver, and I played Olivia. I still have a friend who I met here, we’ve been friends now for 20 odd years.”
As well as the picnic and fun day, earlier in the year the school celebrated Mass with the Bishop of Nottingham as part of the 60th celebrations.
Headteacher Gemma Ellis said: “I am so proud to be the current Headteacher of such a wonderful school that has such a supportive community stretching back 60 years. We have had a lovely celebration today, and combined with the Bishop’s Mass a few weeks ago, it has been a great opportunity to open up the school to past and present pupils, teachers and parents, to reflect on the friendship, kindness, learning and hope that the building has seen.”
Bishop Patrick McKinney celebrated a Diocesan Jubilee Rodsley Pilgrimage Mass in honour of St Ralph Sherwin.
The Mass, at St Mary’s Church in Derby, gave student and staff representatives from across our Trust community the opportunity to join together in this Jubilee of Hope, and to remember our patron, Saint Ralph Sherwin.
It was a really joyful, if very hot Mass, with students joining Bishop Patrick and other clergy members in a procession carrying the relic of Saint Ralph Sherwin, the Jubilee Icon and various banners.
Some of our school choirs led us in music ably assisted by Greg Treloar, Christopher Davis and Sam Grimes.
Students from various schools led us in the liturgy of the word and with the prayers of intercession with many people commenting on how well they read. Bishop Patrick also congratulated the children and young people on how well they responded throughout the Mass.
We look forward to next year where we aim to invite more pilgrims from across the Diocese.
