A special visitor surprised pupils at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Matlock as part of a series of innovative workshops to bring books to life.
Lunar the dragon took centre stage in an assembly during which children listened to a mythical story and were invited to use their imaginations to think about what happened next.
Parents and staff also joined in the fun as children were invited to tickle Lunar under the chin and take part in a daring game, which involved dodging the dragon to get their hands on a book.
Following the first workshop, children in the school’s reception and nursery classes met a baby dragon and children in Years 4 and 5 made their own movie using green screen technology.
Josh Grace, 10, said the workshop was one of the best things he had experienced at Saint Joseph’s.
He said: “I loved it, my favourite bit was when we watched people trying to sneak past the dragon. It was something different to what we normally do and I don’t think many people would get to see a dragon in their whole lifetime. It’s something I won’t forget.”
Charlotte Angrave, 11, said: “It was great to see everyone so excited. My sister is in the nursery class and I think she would have really enjoyed it. I like reading and something like this really brings books to life.”
Stacey Carr, Headteacher at Saint Joseph’s, said: “Reading and writing is at the heart of the curriculum at Saint Joseph’s and inspiring children with a hook into learning is crucial. An experience like this and seeing the children’s faces is simply magical and something they will never forget. We are delighted to be able to give our children the opportunity to be creative and use digital technology to produce the best possible outcomes.”
The sessions were delivered by Teach Rex, which provides creative learning workshops with the power to ignite young minds and imaginations. Each session transports children to a world of dinosaurs, dragons and gorillas, enabling pupils to experience something truly magical.
Sam Bryan, a director at Teach Rex, said: “We believe in the power of storytelling in order to engage children in writing and reading. We use powerful hooks to ignite the children’s imaginations. We are all teachers, or have worked in education, so everything we do has an educational purpose that’s linked across the curriculum and aims to improve children’s learning outcomes.”
A ground-breaking ceremony and blessing has taken place at the site of the new building for St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby.
Pupils and staff from the school, the Bishop of Nottingham, local clergy, and representatives from the Diocese of Nottingham and the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust attended the event.
The new building is set to be the UK’s first biophilic school and is a pilot project for the Department for Education.
The biophilic design focuses on connecting those inside the building with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.
St Mary’s original building, in Broadway, was destroyed by fire in October 2020 and the school has been based at St James House in Mansfield Road, Derby, since April 2021.
It is hoped that children and staff will move into the new building by the end of 2023.
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher at St Mary’s, said: “We are delighted to have reached this momentous milestone. The next phase is hugely exciting for us as a school community. We can not wait to see our new environmentally friendly school rise from the ashes and open to our children, staff and families.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in supporting us through the past 2 years; our parents, parishes, colleagues within the Trust, Diocese, Derby and beyond.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “We are proud to be part of this project, which is in keeping with our mission as a group of Catholic schools, to live sustainably and care for the environment, and it’s wonderful that we can support this project.
“We know how much this means to the school community and we would like to thank the staff, pupils, families and everyone connected to the school who has supported them on this journey.”
Peter Giorgio, Director of Education for the Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service, said: “This is a joyful day for the community of St Mary’s and for our diocesan family of schools. After all of the challenges and difficulties, we can now all look forward in hope to the completion of our new St Mary’s.”
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fitout company, has been appointed as the main contractor for the project.
Simon Butler, Managing Director Building Central at Tilbury Douglas, said: “As the main contractor working on this innovative school, it was great to be able to mark such an important milestone as we officially start construction.”
Photos by Matthew Ling Photography.
St Anne’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Buxton is celebrating after being rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted.
The quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision were all assessed as part of the two-day inspection.
Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy learning at this school. Parents and carers, staff and pupils talk of an inclusive, family atmosphere. One parent, with a comment that was typical of many, said, ‘[The school has given their child] the best chance to be the best that they can be.’”
Leaders have high expectations of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the report said.
Pupils’ behaviour was praised and inspectors said they behaved calmly in lessons.
They said: “They (pupils) are positive about their experience of school and describe learning as fun. Pupils enjoy being rewarded for following the school rules of ‘Be ready, be respectful, be safe’. Pupils say that they feel safe. They do not worry about bullying. They know they can talk to staff if they have any concerns, and that staff will help them. Pupils talk warmly of their relationships with staff.”
Pupils benefit from wider opportunities, inspectors said, highlighting gardening club, choir, multi-sports club, school council and pupil parliament.
The report said that leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum to help pupils develop their knowledge of the subjects they study.
Inspectors said: “Subject leaders have carefully organised what pupils will learn and when. They have created opportunities for pupils to revisit previous learning. Pupils’ learning in Year One builds on the knowledge they develop in the Reception class.”
Teachers present key knowledge clearly to pupils, and staff in the Reception class skilfully help pupils to understand the world in which they live, the report said.
Inspectors said: “Teachers encourage pupils to become independent learners. They provide resources such as dictionaries, phonics folders and vocabulary books. When learning how to write in different styles, pupils use these resources before asking an adult for help. Leaders have prioritised reading.”
Staff are proud to work at St Anne’s, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, and leaders, governors and trustees work together to improve the quality of education that pupils receive.
There is a culture of vigilance to keep pupils safe and safeguarding arrangements are effective, the report said.
Julia Wiggins, Headteacher at St Anne’s, in Lightwood Road, said: “I’m delighted to share that, at our most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2022, we were judged Good in all areas and Good overall.
“This judgement validates the hard work, dedication, commitment and devotion of our whole team – our site team, office team, teaching team, governing body and the Catholic Multi Academy Trust of which we are part, St Ralph Sherwin.
“I want to thank everyone who has played a part in this successful outcome, in particular, our parents who have remained loyal to the school and, of course, our wonderful children. This is for all of us, here’s to the next chapter! #proudtobeStAnne’s.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We are delighted for everyone at St Anne’s. It is great to see that Ofsted has recognised all of the work that goes on every day at the school to ensure that pupils receive the very best education and care. Thank you to all of the staff, governors, pupils and families who make St Anne’s such a special place.”
All Saints Catholic Voluntary Academy continues to be a ‘Good’ school, according to their latest Ofsted report.
Inspectors said that All Saints, in Church Street, Glossop, is a “thriving” school where staff aim for every child to find enjoyment, happiness and friendship.
“Pupils are happy, enjoy school life and make strong friendships,” they said.
This is the first ungraded inspection at All Saints since September 2016, when the school was judged to be ‘Good’.
The report said that all leaders, governors and trustees have the highest expectations of pupils and as a result of effective joint working, the curriculum is continually developed.
Behaviour was described as a key strength of the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
Parents who inspectors spoke to and received feedback from were overwhelmingly positive about school life and the leadership of the school, according to the report.
“One parent stated that the school is a ‘wonderful, caring environment with a family feel.’ This sentiment was shared by many other staff and parents,” inspectors said.
Curriculum development was praised in the report, which said: “Staff have been provided with the support and time to make changes to their plans and teaching. Subject development has been carefully prioritised and is having a positive impact on what pupils know and can do.”
Approaches to assessment were well established and the teaching of early reading was described as “effective.”
“The school has had much success with its teaching of phonics and reading to pupils. As a result of an effective grounding in early reading, pupils develop a love of reading,” inspectors said.
The report said that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. It also said that pupils’ behaviour is exceptional.
Inspectors said: “Staff have established a very positive climate for learning. Pupils are eager to learn and get on with one another very well.”
It was noted that All Saints works effectively with its partner school, St Margaret’s, and the St Ralph Sherwin Trust to improve their provision.
“Governors and trustees know the school well, offer support and challenge, and are united in doing all they can to help pupils make progress,” inspectors said.
Grainne Beaumont, Headteacher at All Saints, said: “Staff and governors work hard to ensure our school is always moving forward and changing with the current climate. We strive to continue to grow and develop our school, meeting both the educational needs and, just as importantly, the mental health needs of our children.
“We would like to thank all of the staff, governors and families for their continued support. The school will continue to grow and we always say, ‘we may be small but we have a big heart.’”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “We would like to congratulate All Saints on the outcome of this inspection. It is clear that staff and governors work incredibly hard to ensure that the children receive the very best education and care and it was lovely to read the overwhelmingly positive feedback from Ofsted inspectors.”
Congratulations to Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in New Mills, which has been ranked 10th in the Sunday Times list of the top 50 small state primary schools nationally. Headteacher Patricia Chapman said: “We are delighted that we have been ranked 10th in The Sunday Times, Parent Power 2023: best UK schools guide and league tables. Thank you to all our hard-working staff, families, governors and Trust for all of their support and guidance.”
Well done everyone!
Saint Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is celebrating after being rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted.
The quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision at Saint Mary’s, in Glossop, were all judged to be ‘Good’ following a two-day inspection.
Inspectors said that pupils are happy and enjoy attending Saint Mary’s.
They said: “They (pupils) feel safe and cared for by the staff. Pupils’ attitudes to learning are positive. They are respectful of each other. They show respect to the school’s religious character. Pupils know the importance of being kind. They try to show kindness every day. They do this by upholding the school’s mission, ‘Learning to love, learning to believe and learning to achieve’. “
The report noted that leaders have high expectations of all pupils at the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust.
Parents and carers are extremely happy with the school, according to inspectors. One parent, typical of many, said: “My son really enjoys his time at school and has been really supported by the staff. It is a caring school.”
Pupils’ behaviour was praised in the report.
Inspectors said: “Older pupils take on responsibilities, including as lunchtime stewards. They are role models for the younger pupils and children in school. The school environment is calm. Pupils behave well.”
The curriculum was described by inspectors as being “well planned and ambitious for all pupils.”
The report said: “The school has made rapid improvements since joining the Trust. Leaders have prioritised their work on the curriculum. They have developed strong leaders for each subject area.”
Inspectors said that children in the early years know the expectations adults have of them and follow the class routines.
“They enjoy their vibrant learning environment. Leaders ensure that all children develop their spoken language. Those children who start school with low communication and language skills receive the support they need to catch up,” the report said.
It was noted that leaders have high ambitions for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and they are quick to identify pupils’ additional needs
The wide range of opportunities to promote pupils’ personal development was also highlighted, including a number of clubs.
Inspectors said: “There is a selection of clubs on offer, including gymnastics, netball, drama and multi-sports. These clubs are popular with pupils, including disadvantaged pupils. Leaders prioritise the mental health and well-being of all pupils.”
Pupils learn about different faiths and cultures, according to the report.
Inspectors said: “Pupils learn about different faiths and cultures. They know the importance of respecting others who may be different to them. They celebrate diversity through their assemblies and the ‘character awards’.”
Arrangements for safeguarding were found to be effective, inspectors said.
Paul Ackers, Headteacher at Saint Mary’s, said: “The success of our school is down to a real team effort being in place and the findings are testament to that. The staff and Local Governing Body work incredibly hard and are fully committed to giving the best of themselves for your children. We are so very grateful to them all and it was wonderful to hear the inspectors feedback throughout the process about all the good things they were seeing and hearing.
“Equally, we are very proud of all our pupils and it was lovely to hear the inspectors talk about the children in such glowing terms.
“There are lots of positives that can be taken from the report and this is down to all the hard work that has taken place over the past few years. It has been a period of rapid growth and this has been pivotal to enabling our school to be where it is now. We also know that we can improve further and this is something that we will embrace and rise to the challenge of.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We were delighted to see the wonderful caring community of St Mary’s captured in this report and the hard work of all of the community recognised. The school has made rapid improvements over recent years and we will continue to work closely with leaders at the school to ensure this great success story continues.”
Pupils love learning at Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy in Alfreton, according to Ofsted inspectors who have rated the school ‘Good’ in all areas.
In their report, inspectors said: “Pupils love learning in this school. They are happy and they feel safe. They talk with clear enthusiasm about learning new knowledge. They behave well and respectfully.”
The quality of education at Christ the King, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, early years provision and the school’s overall effectiveness have all been rated ‘Good’.
It was noted that leaders are ambitious for all pupils and that staff at the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, are a strong team.
Inspectors said: “They (staff) support each other well in striving for improvement. All staff and pupils live out the school mission ‘to be the best we can be.’ The school is welcoming and inclusive. Staff work hard to ensure that this is a safe place in which to learn.”
The “warmth of the school’s positive ethos” reaches out into the local area and activities such as planting bulbs, sending letters to a local care home and volunteering in the community were highlighted.
Positive relationships between pupils were praised, including those in the early years and parents and carers are happy with the care provided.
“They (pupils) play happily and older pupils support younger pupils with their reading. Parents and carers are very positive about the school. They welcome the way the school makes them feel part of a community through their kindness and support.”
The curriculum was described in the report as “organised, ambitious and well-sequenced”.
“Leaders have set out an organised, ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. Staff develop pupils’ vocabulary from the start of the early years through to Year 6. Pupils use their precise vocabulary to talk confidently about what they have learned,” inspectors said.
Reading is at the heart of the curriculum, children make a good start with their phonics from the beginning of the early years and pupils describe reading as “diving into an adventure”, according to the report.
Inspectors noted that maths is taught through a well-planned curriculum and they said that pupils who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs learn well alongside their peers.
Pupils’ behaviour was praised and pupils’ personal development was described as a “strength of the school”.
Arrangements for safeguarding were found to be effective.
Inspectors said: “The school goes above and beyond to engage wider agency support for its pupils and families in a rigorous approach and positive safeguarding culture.”
Megan Watts, Headteacher at Christ the King, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of the inspection and with this report. We feel it reflects the hard work of all our children, staff and governors. The inspection has not only validated our journey so far, it has also supported us in continuing to shape our vision for the future of our school. We are excited to continue that journey as a school community.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We are delighted for everyone at Christ the King and it is fantastic to see that all of the hard work done to ensure that pupils receive the very best education has been recognised in the report. Congratulations and well done to everyone involved.”
Work has started on a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly new building for a Derby primary school that was destroyed by fire.
St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is set to be the UK’s greenest primary school as part of a pilot scheme for the Department for Education.
Groundworks on the school’s Broadway site are well underway and the build is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.
Based around biophilia – the design focuses on connecting those inside the building with nature, with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.
The aim is for the new building to be net zero carbon in operation – which means that the amount of carbon emissions added is no more than the amount taken away.
St Mary’s, which is part of St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, will be a series of single storey pavilions connected by a central canopy.
Each age group – early years, infants and juniors – has a practical shared learning resource space which can be used to support pupils’ academic, social and emotional development.
In addition, there is an entrance building featuring a hall, chapel and communal areas, which are connected to outdoor spaces.
St Mary’s original building, in Broadway, was destroyed by fire in October 2020 and the school has been based at St James House in Mansfield Road, Derby, since April 2021.
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher at St Mary’s, said: “Multiple studies have shown that biophilic designs can significantly improve the physical and mental health of building users, namely pupils, staff and visitors.
“This is hugely exciting for the whole community and complements Pope Francis’ important messages urging world leaders to take ‘radical’ climate action.
“We are excited that the site will improve pupils’ academic, social, emotional and spiritual outcomes, as well giving pupils and staff a sense of place and belonging.
“We would like to thank our parents, carers and staff for all of their support, understanding and patience over the past 18 months. Whilst it has been a challenging time for the whole community, we are stronger as a result.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “This is fantastic news for the St Mary’s community and we look forward to seeing their wonderful new school, which will benefit hundreds of children in Derby for many years to come.”
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fitout company, has been appointed as the main contractor for this project.
Simon Butler, Regional Managing Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are proud to be the main contractor responsible for delivering this innovative pathfinder school for the DfE, as it will enhance pupil experience and influence the next generation of school design.
“We are working collaboratively to ensure the best possible learning environments are afforded for the pupils and teachers, with excellent standards of daylight, air quality, comfort and wellbeing. This is supported by the biophilic approach, focusing on landscaping and connecting building users with outside.”
Three schools in the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust are set to be either rebuilt or substantially refurbished as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding programme.
Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Derby, Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Ilkeston, and St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Glossop, are on the list of 239 schools that will benefit, the Government has announced.
The Government has said that it will address blocks in need of replacement or major refurbishment, which will be determined during a feasibility stage.
The new projects build on the 161 that have previously been announced, with construction works now nearing completion on the most advanced sites. It means in total, 400 out of 500 schools and sixth forms have now been selected for rebuilds through the 10-year School Rebuilding Programme.
Louisa Morris, Headteacher at St Philip Howard, welcomed the news.
She said: “We are delighted that St Philip Howard has been named on the list of schools that will benefit from the Government’s School Rebuilding programme. This is exciting news for everyone connected with St Philip Howard and as a school at the heart of the local community, it is also fantastic news for Glossop. I am particularly pleased for our pupils, who are at the centre of everything we do and thoroughly deserve this.”
Steve Brogan, Headteacher at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy, said everyone at the school was delighted.
He said: “We are absolutely thrilled as a school community to have heard that we are part of this project. It is a huge boost for our staff, students and their families, who really deserved this and we are extremely excited by what will come of this. It is also much needed and will really lift our school, at a time when we are doing all we can to give our students a great experience of education at Saint John Houghton Catholic Voluntary Academy.”
Hazel Boyce, Headteacher at Saint Benedict, said the news was a great boost for the school community.
She said: “We are delighted for everyone connected with the school after many years of campaigning and we are particularly pleased for our pupils, who deserve surroundings that match the excellent education and pastoral care that they receive at Saint Benedict.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said this was fantastic news for all three schools.
He said: “This really is amazing news, even more so as only 239 schools have been announced nationally for the project. This will be a massive boost for all three schools that have been selected and for their communities. We are delighted for them.”
St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby continues to be a ‘Good’ school, which is a happy, safe place where staff and pupils treat each other with respect.
That was the verdict of Ofsted following a two-day ungraded inspection at the school in Mill Hill Lane, the first since the COVID pandemic.
Lead Inspector Kirsty Norbury noted that pupils worked hard, were kind to each other and were proud ambassadors of the school’s values.
Pupils told the inspector that the school was ‘like a whole entire family under one roof’.
“All staff have high expectations for all pupils. Pupils are supported well to meet these expectations. They are keen to do their best,” the inspector’s report said.
The wide range of opportunities that the school offers were noted in the report, including Irish dancing, Gaelic football and residential trips.
School leaders were praised for a well structured curriculum that reflects the diverse population of the school community with reading described as “fundamental to the school’s curriculum.”
The inspector said: “Each topic is enriched with books from a variety of interesting authors and genres. Pupils love talking to visiting authors. They are inspired to become readers and writers.”
Children in Reception class learn the routines and behaviours that enable them to be successful in school, according to the report.
“Children develop their language and communicate well with adults and their peers. Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve in the early years. Children are happy and curious learners,” the inspector said.
The comprehensive personal development curriculum was highlighted and the inspector said that governors had a good understanding of the school.
Arrangements for safeguarding are effective and leaders and staff are well trained, the report said.
Tracey Churchill, Headteacher at St Joseph’s, said: “It is wonderful to read the report and to see our school community get the recognition that it deserves. Our families are a pleasure to work with and we are all very proud of our children.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We are delighted for the St Joseph’s community and it is great to see that all of the hard work being done by senior leaders and staff has been recognised by Ofsted.”
