An overgrown garden and allotment at a Derby primary school have been transformed by volunteers from Rolls-Royce who also uncovered a piece of history.
Fourteen R-R employees spent the day at St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Chaddesden, Derby, as part of the Derby company’s outreach programme.
Jobs completed by the volunteers included edging around raised beds, clearing and preparing planters and tidying and edging around the orchard.
They also dug out and prepared a pre-formed pond base, discovering a silver spoon dating back to the reign of King George V in the process.
Among the team was ex-St Alban’s pupil Mark Davis, who was returning to the school for the first time in 30 years.
He said: “It’s very familiar and it’s really nice to come back and for such a good cause. We’ve done two or three different projects now and when this one came up I thought the least I can do is come back. The school has got a great community feel to it.”
Tim Brogan, Headteacher at St Alban’s, thanked the volunteers for their hard work.
He said: “We were proud to welcome a fantastic team of volunteers from Rolls-Royce to support the development of our school’s outdoor learning environment.
“In total, they generously contributed 90 hours of volunteer time to help transform our garden and allotment space. Their professionalism, teamwork, and friendly attitude were exceptional, and they truly listened to the needs of the school throughout the day.
“The team brought energy, collaboration, and humour to every task. One of the highlights of the day was welcoming back a volunteer who had attended St Alban’s in the 1980s. He brought along photos from his time at the school, sparking great conversations and memories.
“In a surprising twist, while digging the pond area, the team even discovered a silver spoon dating back to the reign of King George V – a small but fascinating piece of history now linked to our grounds!
“We are incredibly grateful to Rolls-Royce for their commitment to community, sustainability, and education. Their contribution has made a lasting difference to our school environment and enriched the quality of outdoor learning for all our pupils.”
Sian Skerritt, programme executive from R-R, helped to lead the team of volunteers.
She said: “We usually do something like this once a year. It allows us to spend time together off the job and we are helping to improve the local community. Almost all of us work at desks on concepts so doing something practical in the community and seeing the results is lovely.”
Pictured right are R-R volunteers, the historic spoon, after the revamp, before the revamp, Mark Davis, R-R volunteer and former St Alban’s pupil.
Pupils at St Anne’s and St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academies celebrated VE Day in style.
Children and staff at St Anne’s in Buxton held a special themed street party.
Pupils dressed in clothing from the era and sang a selection of wartime songs to bring the past to life. Parents and carers were asked to donate wartime inspired food including scones, jam tarts, pork pies and sausage rolls.
Stephanie Clarke, Assistant Headteacher at St Anne’s, said: “To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we hosted a special event in our school playground that brought together children, parents, and grandparents for an afternoon filled with reflection and togetherness.
“The children gave a heartfelt performance of wartime songs they had been learning in class, and the celebration ended with everyone proudly singing the National Anthem.
“It was a heartwarming sight to see different generations united in remembering such an important moment in history. Many grandparents spoke of how the event stirred memories of their own early years, and we were truly moved by the warm and thoughtful comments shared throughout the afternoon.
“We extend our sincere thanks to all who joined us and contributed to making the day so memorable.”
Class 3 pupils at St Mary’s in New Mills visited Watford House to celebrate VE Day with the care home residents and veterans. They sang songs, waved flags, talked to the residents and even had an ice-cream.
Pupil Tobias said: “We went to Watford House and sang songs from WW2. I enjoyed making people happy.”
Pupil Alfie said “I enjoyed hearing about the veteran’s childhood and how happy they were growing up -it made me smile.”
Other pupils said they loved making their VE Day posters and creating flags to share with the residents.
A Headteacher walked through Derby dressed as a chicken after his pupils fulfilled a fundraising pledge and raised over £1,300 for charity.
Graham Lobb walked 3.6 miles from his school, St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy in Alvaston, to St Mary’s Church in Bridge Gate, Derby, with colleague, Nathalie Woodings, who was dressed as an egg.
Mr Lobb set his pupils a challenge to raise over £1,000 for CAFOD and the money will be used to buy chickens for families in Kenya, to help them earn a living.
The final total raised was £1,300 and Mr Lobb had to fulfil his pledge to walk through the streets of Derby dressed as a chicken.
He said: “I am really proud of the way that the school came together and completed my challenges to both complete the Big Walk for CAFOD and to raise a fantastic amount of money for this great cause.
“I enjoyed doing the walk with Miss Woodings – and was really happy to do it following all the effort that the children and families made.
“It really did show that – while St John Fisher might be quite a small school – it has the largest of hearts. I wonder what we will do next year!”
Each class at St John Fisher was set the target of walking 211 miles – the distance between 9 jubilee churches in the Diocese of Nottingham – plus an extra 200 miles across the whole school to bring the grand total to 1,411 miles – the distance from the school to the Vatican in Rome.
Pupil Riley said: “I thought it was really fun; I wasn’t sure if Mr Lobb and Miss Woodings were going to do it. I’ll be leaving school this year but my brother is still here so hopefully he can tell me what they do next year.”
“The school has never done anything like this before. Mr Lobb is a really fun Headteacher and the best one I’ve had so far,” pupil Lily said.
Pupil Adriel said: “I wasn’t sure if we would raise enough money so that Mr Lobb would do it. I thought we might get to £700. I think Mr Lobb and Miss Woodings doing this shows how much they care.”
The fundraising is part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which aims to foster a sense of hope and community.
Mr Lobb, Miss Woodings, Will Cruddace and John Grattidge (both from CAFOD).
St Josephs’ Catholic Voluntary Academy in Matlock is a school where staff want the very best for children in their care, according to Ofsted.
Inspectors visited the school in March 2025 and said that effective action had been taken to maintain standards at the previous inspection, which saw a Good rating awarded in 2019.
Inspectors found that pupils were proud of their school and enjoyed the many leadership and enrichment opportunities available to them. They highlighted a programme that pupils take part in called ’50 things to do before leaving St Joseph’s’, which provides a rich variety of experiences for children during their time at the school.
The list includes going on a train, baking a cake, going on a picnic, visiting the sea, performing a song using Makaton and watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly.
According to the report, the school has a clear and ambitious vision for how it can improve. It focuses on securing high standards of behaviour and ensuring pupils are ready to learn. As a result, pupils feel safe, respected, supported and they enjoy coming to school.
“The school has a strong, caring and welcoming ethos. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They understand and fulfil the school’s high expectations of them,” inspectors said.
They said that in recent years the school had taken swift action to improve standards, “Pupils benefit from a broad and engaging curriculum. As a result, pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their education.”
Parents and carers are highly positive about the school, the report said.
“Many comment that their children are happy to go to school and enjoy every aspect of their learning. Parents have high praise for the school’s time, dedication, and love towards the children,” inspectors said.
The curriculum at the school was described as “ambitious, clear and well designed” and it sets out what pupils will learn at each stage.
Inspectors said reading standards were improving and children in the early years benefited from a well planned and engaging curriculum that supports their early development.
Pupils’ behaviour was highlighted in the report. “Pupils show positive attitudes to learning. They are polite, respectful, and have strong relationships with staff and peers,” inspectors said.
The school’s “rich personal development curriculum” which teaches pupils important life skills and develops their character, was also praised.
Stacey Carr, Headteacher at St Joseph’s, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our amazing school, staff and pupils! The recent report truly highlights the incredible journey we’ve been on together as a school family, capturing our successes beautifully. It reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone involved and showcases the wonderful community we’ve built. It’s such a joy to see our efforts recognised, and I’m excited for what lies ahead as we continue to strive for excellence together.”
Please click on the link below to read the full statement from Bishop Patrick about the very sad news of the death of Pope Francis.
Pupils at St Thomas’ Catholic Voluntary Academy have raised £1,800 to buy super egg-laying chickens for families in Kenya.
The money raised by the school, in Ilkeston, will go to CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, and the charity will buy chickens for families in Kenya.
Training is provided for families to help them look after the chickens and they can use any eggs produced to eat or sell.
Pupils at St Thomas’ raised the £1,800 through sponsorship they collected for taking part in an inflatable obstacle course and a cinema night at school.
Pupil Charlie said: “I loved the inflatable obstacle course, it was dead good. Inside it was like being in a jungle. I am glad we helped the people in Kenya to buy chickens and I managed to raise £20 myself which buys 5 chickens.”
Pupil Stanley said: “We got to play on the inflatables and it was good to do that with my friends. I really like doing this sort of thing in school, it’s fun and it’s good that we are helping people in Kenya and raising money to buy chickens for them through our sponsorship money. Having chickens will mean that they can eat the eggs.”
Pupil Ava said: “We had a cinema night at school when we could bring our own sweets in and watch Chicken Run with our friends after school. We paid £3 and the money goes to charity. It’s much better watching a film in school because there’s more space and you get to watch it with your friends.”
Headteacher Michael Sellors said: “Every year, and again this year, we are bowled over by the level of support from our school community to help others in need, whether this be in our local community, or internationally supporting the work of CAFOD.”
Other fundraising events at the school have included an all day danceathon which raised £1,450 for a charity called Network for a Better World, a lay missionary group which works to relieve poverty, with specific support for women and children, in a rural mission parish in Southern Malawi.
Every child at the school created a piece of art based on Catholic Social Teaching principles and the work was sold at a grand art sale attended by parents and carers.
Over £500 was raised and this will be split between the charities supported by each class including Little Ways, Poor Clare Sisters, CAFOD World Gifts, Mary’s Meals, Beauvale Society, Fair Trade and St Vincent De Paul Society.
Pupils enjoying the inflatable obstacle course at St Thomas’ Catholic Voluntary Academy.
St Philip Howard Catholic Voluntary Academy is a fantastic place to work, learn and grow, according to Catholic schools’ inspectors.
The school, in Glossop, underwent its Catholic Schools Inspectorate inspection, which is the national framework for the inspection of Catholic schools, over two days in March 2025.
The overall quality of Catholic education provided by the school was graded Good while Catholic life and mission was graded Outstanding and Religious Education and Collective Worship were both graded Good.
Inspectors said: “Students enthusiastically support the school, embodying the mission at St Philip Howard, summarised as ‘#TeamSPH – Together on the Journey’. Students describe an inclusive community, where they are accepted and can be themselves.”
Students express a strong understanding of the importance of faith, and the respect which must be accorded to those of other faiths and none. With staff, they contribute to the mission statement which describes journeying together as a united Catholic family, the report said.
Various fundraising activities at the school were highlighted in the report and inspectors said that students articulate an imperative to serve others ‘locally, nationally and globally’ and list many examples.
The report said that there is a commitment to pastoral care at St Philip Howard which addresses individual needs as a matter of course. The staff survey records a typical response: ‘SPH is more than a school, it is a community and a family.’
Inspectors said that students are provided with lots of opportunities for spiritual and personal growth.
The said: “SPH is a fantastic place to work, learn and grow. The school provides a nurturing and inclusive environment where faith is not only taught but lived out in everyday interactions.”
Behaviour was praised in the report with inspectors saying: “Strong relationships contribute to good behaviour for learning in most lessons, and students, particularly in Year 10, readily concentrate on their work and complete tasks independently.”
Inspectors said that students are very proud of their impressive books, most of which showed frequent self-assessment and improvement.
In Religious Education, the report said that staff have strong subject knowledge, readily engaging with student questions and enhancing lessons which were already well planned and sequenced. This enhances students’ moral and spiritual development.
Headteacher Mike Kays said: “As a school we are delighted with the outcome of this inspection and in particular the Outstanding judgement for Catholic life and mission, the whole report is testament to the hard work and dedication of all the staff, pupils and community. We look forward to continuing the journey with the whole community of #TeamSPH.”
A Derby Headteacher has promised to walk through the city centre dressed as a chicken if his pupils fulfil a fundraising pledge.
Graham Lobb will walk 3.6 miles from St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy in Alvaston, to St Mary’s Church in Bridge Gate, Derby, on Friday, April 4th and will be accompanied by colleague, Nathalie Woodings, dressed as an egg.
The inspiration for the chicken and egg theme came from the fundraising challenge itself, to raise money to buy super egg-laying chickens for families in Kenya, to help them earn a living.
Pupils at the school are aiming to raise £1,000 which will be donated to CAFOD, an international Catholic aid agency, by completing a series of challenges.
Each class at St John Fisher has been set the target of walking 211 miles – the distance between 9 jubilee churches in the Diocese of Nottingham – plus an extra 200 miles across the whole school to bring the grand total to 1,411 miles – the distance from the school to the Vatican in Rome.
The fundraising is part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which aims to foster a sense of hope and community.
Pupil Saoirse, 10, said: “We try to walk when we can during the school day, we do laps of the field. Our year is currently at 166 miles. It’s fun because when we walk we talk about how we can be pilgrims of hope and we talk about our day and we are encouraged to talk to classmates we don’t know. We also have to think about hope and what that means. I think Mr Lobb’s idea to walk through Derby dressed as a chicken is cool and funny and it’s good that we are raising money for CAFOD at the same time.”
Pupil Jan, 11, said: “I can’t wait to see Mr Lobb dressed as a chicken but we have to complete our challenge first.”
Mr Lobb said: “The children have been set the challenge to walk during the school day with their friends, talking about their faith and what they might be giving up for Lent. It’s a virtual pilgrimage and we are tracking the progress of each class on a display board in school. Some classes will enjoy an extra playtime if they complete the challenge and there will also be a non uniform day as a reward.
“It was my idea to dress as a chicken as I thought it would be a bit of fun for the children, they will wave us off if they raise the £1,000 and we’ll send back videos and reports as we walk through Derby. We’ll take a bucket with us and hopefully raise more money on the way. Representatives from CAFOD are going to meet us at St Mary’s Church.”
The school has also set up a Just Giving page St John Fisher Fundraising Page is fundraising for CAFOD
Pupils’ education was not disrupted at a Derbyshire school which was split across two sites for almost six months due to RAAC, according to Ofsted.
Inspectors visited St Edward’s Catholic Academy, in Swadlincote, in January 2025 and said that the school had taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school was previously judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.
In September 2023, Years 3 to 6 at St Edward’s had to move temporarily to their partner secondary school, Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary, in Burton, while pupils in nursery to Year Two remained at St Edward’s.
The move followed a Government announcement about issues in schools where Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) had been identified.
Pupils and staff were reunited back at St Edward’s in February 2024 after a mix of horizontal and vertical props were installed across the school.
The school has been placed on the Government’s School Rebuilding programme, which means that it has been deemed eligible to be added to a list of schools to have one or more blocks rebuilt or refurbished.
Ofsted inspectors said that leaders had successfully navigated a difficult period for the school.
“They have ensured that pupils’ education has not been disrupted and have continued to make improvements,” they said.
The school’s positive culture was highlighted, along with pupils’ behaviour.
The report said: “This is a caring school, where pupils are happy and safe. ‘The Edward’s Path’ defines the school’s family ethos. This is understood by pupils and acted on by all. Pupils speak proudly about the school virtues, ‘True Mind, True Heart and True Spirit’. They appreciate how qualities such as friendship, citizenship and service, guide their journey through school. Pupils understand that these qualities help everyone in school to ‘live well’ and ‘be a good person’.
“The school’s positive culture encourages pupils to behave well. Pupils show kindness and love to each other and are clear that everyone is welcome.”
Inspectors said that the school has high expectations for all pupils and that pupils work hard and enjoy their learning.
“The school has made positive improvements to the quality of education for pupils. The curriculum is carefully sequenced, with progression from the early years and coherent links between subjects. High-quality books enhance subject content. Activities for pupils are relevant and interesting,” the report said.
According to the report, the school makes sure that staff subject knowledge is secure so they can teach the curriculum effectively.
“Children make a positive start in nursery, where staff support them to listen attentively. In reception, staff help children grasp letter sounds quickly. The school provides appropriate support to those pupils who need help with reading to keep up. Pupils, including children in the early years, achieve well,” inspectors said.
The school identifies and meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, the report said. Arrangements for safeguarding were also said to be effective.
Classrooms were described as “studious” in the report, which also said that pupils show positive attitudes and concentrate well in class.
Headteacher Kay Methven said: “We are delighted that the report recognises the sustained improvements within St Edward’s, especially during the ongoing significant challenges regarding the building. The report celebrates our school and its ethos, highlighting the high quality of education provided and the pride pupils have in being part of our school and living out the virtues they are taught.”
Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “This report recognises the tremendous amount of work done by staff during what has been an incredibly challenging period for the school due to RAAC. We would like to thank staff for their dedication, pupils for adapting so well and parents and carers for their understanding. Congratulations to everyone at St Edward’s on this wonderful report.”
“This is a caring school, where pupils are happy and safe. ‘The Edward’s Path’ defines the school’s family ethos. This is understood by pupils and acted on by all,” Ofsted.
St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy has been graded Outstanding by Catholic schools’ inspectors.
The school, on Broadway, Derby, underwent its Catholic Schools Inspectorate inspection, which is the national framework for the inspection of Catholic schools, over two days in January 2025.
The overall quality of Catholic education provided by the school, Catholic life and mission, religious education and collective worship were all graded Outstanding.
Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy coming to St Mary’s school and appreciate all that it has to offer. They are happy, confident and secure, relishing their environment close to nature, fully embracing the Catholic identity and mission of the school.”
The report said that Executive Headteacher Amanda Greaves had driven her vision for St Mary’s to outstanding outcomes, with an unremitting focus, through a difficult period in the school’s history.
“She (Mrs Greaves) has been fully supported by the commitment of the leadership team, staff and governors,” inspectors said.
St Mary’s original building, on Broadway, burnt down in October 2020 and pupils and staff were based at St James’ House, on Mansfield Road, Derby, from April 2021. They moved back to a new biophilic school – the UK’s first – on Broadway in December 2023.
Pupils’ behaviour was described as excellent and relationships between them “very good.”
Inspectors said: “Leaders ensure it (the curriculum) meets the needs of different groups of pupils, conscious of the diversity that exists. [Pupils] work with independence and sustained concentration, collaborating easily and productively with one another. They produce high quality work, that is well presented. They show an innate curiosity in their studies, and are actively engaged in their work.”
“They actively participate in the Catholic life of the school: they display understanding of their sense of worth, valued as made in the image and likeness of God. Pupils have an easy acceptance of each other,” the report said.
Understanding of the school’s mission statement was praised and the impact it has on the school community was highlighted.
Inspectors said: “The school mission statement, the mission prayer and the SPIRIT expectations have a significant impact within the school community: they are deeply rooted in the Word of God, and give clear expression to how the school must live out its daily activities. Staff commitment to the mission is absolute, and their enthusiasm and commitment to the Catholic mission is plain to see.”
The school’s welcoming culture was noted by inspectors who said: “A culture of welcome has been firmly established, embracing whoever comes to the school. The excellent behaviour of pupils is a result of the impact of the consistent modelling of staff members, significantly influencing relationships across the school. The pastoral care of pupils shows a concerted commitment to serve the most vulnerable, and this is outstanding.”
Amanda Greaves, Executive Headteacher, said: “I am delighted to share our pride in achieving an Outstanding grade from the Catholic Schools’ Inspectorate. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of our staff, leadership team, and governors, all of whom have worked tirelessly to ensure our school provides the very best education and nurturing environment for our pupils.
“The report highlights our pupils’ happiness, confidence, and strong sense of belonging within the school community. It is especially rewarding to see our shared Catholic values and mission being embraced so fully by everyone at St Mary’s. As we continue to build on the incredible progress made in recent years, I am incredibly proud of what our school has achieved through strong partnerships with parents, the parish, Trust, Diocese and the wider community.
“Our focus on providing a curriculum that is inclusive and meets the needs of all pupils, alongside the strong pastoral care we offer, underpins everything we do at St Mary’s. We remain committed to ensuring our school is a place where everyone is welcome and every pupil can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success, and I look forward to seeing our school continue to flourish.”
