Author: nallen

Pupils and parents are already feeling the benefit of a ban on traffic near their school at peak times so that they can get there more safely.

Motorists cannot use Oakleigh Avenue and Ismay Road, and some surrounding roads, near St Alban’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Chaddesden, between 8.30am and 9am and from 2.45pm to 3.45pm during term time.

The scheme has been running for five days and barriers are currently manned by staff from Derby City Council, which has been trialling the ‘Safe Haven Zones’ at schools across the city.

Cameras will be introduced shortly and any vehicle that does not have an exemption and enters the area during the restriction periods will be fined.

The zones are put in place for around 18 months on a trial basis to try to relieve parking problems around schools and improve safety and air quality for pupils and parents. A decision is then made on whether the scheme will become permanent depending on its success and community feedback.

Headteacher Tim Brogan said that the scheme had been a year in the planning and although it was early days, he could already see the benefits.

He said: “A feasibility study was carried out looking at how this could be beneficial for the community and there was a consultation with parents and residents and there will be a further consultation with local councillors.

“Air quality will be monitored and there will be a comparison between this year and last year so as well as making the walk to school safer for our children, it also has benefits in terms of their health and around sustainability.

“We love it, there’s a feeling of safety around the school and we’ve noticed the difference when we see children walking to school. It’s much better and a much calmer start to the day. We are also developing an active travel plan to encourage more children to walk, cycle and scoot to school. That will be much easier to implement without traffic on roads that the children use.

“We are really grateful to the community for their support and to our parents and pupils who have responded so well. The local residents have been great too.”

The city council launched the ‘School Safe Haven’ scheme last year, with the aim of freeing up roads near schools at busy times to make them safer to use.

Residents and businesses who have a vehicle or vehicles registered to an address located within the School Safe Haven Zone can apply for an exemption. The exemption will give a legal right to drive the registered vehicle into the zone during the scheme’s operating times. Special exemptions will also be available for blue badge holders requiring access to the zone and carers for vulnerable residents living within the zone.

A Year 11 student at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy has been appointed as Derby’s new Youth Mayor.

Sam Thiruvathilil, 16, said he was thrilled to win the vote and hopes to make a real difference during his one-year tenure.

The teenager heard about the opportunity to become Derby’s Youth Mayor at school and decided to submit an application.

He had to outline three areas in which he wanted to make an impact and he said they were mental health, job opportunities and advocating for the rights of young people.

Sam was invited to give a speech in front of Derby’s Youth Council and councillors and this was recorded and sent to schools across Derby, along with three other candidates. Students across the city were then asked to vote and Sam came out on top.

He said: “I was really pleased when I found out I’d won the vote. As part of the role I have to attend Derby City Council cabinet meetings, there will be meetings with the people in charge of services for children in the city and I also have to assist the Mayor. There will also be lots of events where I will be representing young people.

“The three main areas I would like to focus on are improving job opportunities for young people in the city, mental health and advocating for young people’s rights in schools. I will be looking to make small changes which will hopefully all lead to bigger changes.”

Sam officially starts his new role in May and will be supported by a Deputy Youth Mayor.

He said: “A lot of my time is taken up with council meetings and it will depend on how much I can take on but I’m focused and determined and I’m looking forward to it.”

Hazel Boyce, Headteacher at Saint Benedict, in Derby, congratulated Sam on his achievement.

She said: “We are thrilled Sam has been elected as Derby’s Youth Mayor. It is a reflection of his hard work and passion and a very proud moment for Saint Benedict.”

A teacher’s fight against cancer inspired St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Buxton, to ‘go blue’ and raise over £400 for a local hospice.

Kelly Collinge, Head of Humanities and History teacher, was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2023 and was able to access a range of services and support at Blythe House hospice in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

The hospice has also supported many other families at St Thomas More which have been affected by cancer.

Mrs Collinge was keen to raise money for Blythe House and staff and pupils at the school were quick to rally with the whole school wearing blue in exchange for a donation, raising a total of £408.

Mrs Collinge said that Blythe House had been an amazing support to her and her family since her diagnosis.

She said: “They provide all sorts of services, completely free of charge, such as counselling, physiotherapy, complimentary therapies, support groups, and practical help. We are so lucky to have this service in the High Peak, and not have to travel into Manchester. Fortunately, I am on the mend, and have returned to work.

“Everyone at St Thomas More School has been incredibly supportive, and rallied around me when I got sick, as we really are all part of the ‘Tommy’s Family’. I saw the opportunity to raise some funds for Blythe House, and when I mentioned it to the Headteacher, David Redfern, he, without any hesitation whatsoever, said that we would 100% get on board with their ‘Go Blue for Blythe’ campaign.

“Amy Shaw (the Head of English) and her husband very kindly donated sweets for a sweet sale at breaktime to raise as much as we could on the day. They sold out in under 5 minutes! The amount of pupils and staff in blue made me feel quite emotional, as we all, as a whole community, stand together in our fight against cancer.”

David Redfern, Headteacher at St Thomas More, said: “I’m delighted that St Thomas More has raised money for such an special local charity. Blythe House provided invaluable support to Mrs Collinge throughout her cancer journey, and numerous families in our community have also benefitted from their care. I extend a heartfelt thank you to Blythe House for their exceptional care of Mrs Collinge, and I am confident that the funds raised will help them in their mission to support others facing cancer in the High Peak area.”

Pupils and staff in all year groups have been reunited under one roof at St Edward’s Catholic Voluntary Academy after being split across two sites for almost six months.

In September 2023 Years 3 to 6 at St Edward’s, in Swadlincote, had to move temporarily to their partner secondary school, Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary, in Burton.

The move followed a Government announcement about issues in schools where Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) had been identified.

St Edward’s was forced to delay the start to term in September by a week whilst alternative arrangements were made. Children in Nursery to Year Two were able to be safely accommodated at St Edward’s.

Since then, various investigations have been carried out at St Edward’s, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, and this month a large-scale operation to install a mix of horizontal and vertical props across the school began.

Four classrooms have been propped along with internal walkways, toilets and the staffroom. Props are currently being installed in the school hall. Once this is completed the whole process will have taken 5 weeks.

The school has recently 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. No further details have been given at this stage.

Headteacher Kay Methven received news about the partial closure of St Edward’s on her first day of headship in September 2023.

She said: “We are delighted to have everyone back at St Edward’s. The staff have worked really hard to get the school ready and it looks amazing. The children have settled back in beautifully and it’s nice to see the older and younger children together again. As well as thanking staff, we would also like to thank our parents who have been so understanding, patient, supportive and so positive. We would also like to thank the Trust’s Estates Team for all of their hard work and the staff at Blessed Robert Sutton for making us feel so welcome.

“The children aren’t bothered by the props and the teachers have been quite creative, decorating some with ivy and butterflies and creating a camouflage area.”

Naz Prabatani, Acting Assistant Headteacher and Year 4 teacher, said: “It feels like being back at home again, it’s absolutely amazing, that feeling of being back together. When we came through the doors it still has that family feeling even though the building looks different. The children have adapted so well. I think some of them miss being at Blessed Robert Sutton, because their siblings might be there, but I don’t think they miss travelling there and back on the coaches. It’s been great to have the older children back with the younger children, they have loved seeing each other.”

Pupil Anna, eight, said: “It was strange because at the end of the first day I was thinking that I had to get a coach back to school but I didn’t! Being back at St Edward’s felt like being back at home, it was really calm and really beautiful. I don’t care about the props in the classrooms. It’s been lovely to be able to see my sister in Year Two and brother, in Nursery, again.”

Pupil Leo, nine, said: “It was strange in September when all of a sudden we couldn’t come to school at St Edward’s. Going to Blessed Robert Sutton was fun and I got to see my older sister. It’s nice to be back at St Edward’s, some things are a bit different with the props being here but it’s better to be here.”

Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to see pupils and staff back together at St Edward’s and we would like to thank staff, pupils, parents and the whole school community for all of their hard work, dedication and support through such a challenging period. We would also like to thank our Estates Team centrally for everything they have done to support St Edward’s over the past six months and all of the staff at Blessed Robert Sutton.”

A new member of staff at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is playing a vital part in Children’s Mental Health Week – Arthur the school dog.

Labrador Arthur is well and truly part of the Saint Joseph’s family and he even has his photo displayed on the staff board as well as his own page on the school website.

He is also playing his part in Children’s Mental Health Week this week as he is instrumental in the school’s approach to wellbeing; he provides a calming influence and children are allowed to walk him as a reward for good behaviour. Children also learn what is involved in caring for a pet.

A full risk assessment was carried out by the school before Arthur was introduced to staff and pupils.

Stacey Carr, Headteacher at Saint Joseph’s, in Matlock, said: “At Saint Joseph’s we believe in providing a nurturing and caring environment for our pupils. Arthur is an important member of our school community who holds a special place in the hearts of our students.

“Arthur is more than just a furry friend; he is an essential part of our school’s wellbeing initiatives. He provides comfort, companionship and unconditional love to our pupils. Research shows that interaction with dogs can reduce stress levels and increase happiness.

“Our pupils adore Arthur and regularly look forward to spending time with him. The opportunity to walk him not only brings joy and excitement but also helps to build a sense of responsibility and empathy among our students.

“Arthur helps children who struggle to regulate their emotions, he can really help to calm them down. He’s really settled in school now and will go in and out of classrooms. The other day he was asleep on the carpet while the teacher was reading to the children. I’ve also seen him outside with the children when they are playing football.

“He has his picture on the staff board and he’s part of our Saint Joseph’s family now. He’s such a calming influence and it’s been good for any children who might have had a fear of dogs because they are seeing Arthur and interacting with him which is a real milestone for them.

“Everyone loves Arthur.”

Pupil Bridget, 11, said: “It’s really nice having Arthur in school, it’s so lovely because he’s so calming but having him in school is exciting at the same time. We can also trade in points that we earn as rewards and one of the rewards is taking Arthur for a walk.”

Pupil Orlaith, 11, said: “I love having Arthur in school, it’s really fun and he’s really cute. A lot of my friends are jealous of all of the things happening in our school, like Arthur. He even has his photo on the staff board. I think he comforts staff as well as children.”

The importance of looking after your mental health was the focus of a performance by an upcoming Indie band at St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy in Buxton.

The Mercians performed for the whole school over two sessions and discussed the importance of looking after your mental health, who to talk to and how to be there for each other.

The band also spoke about discrimination and how to be careful online, not just with what you post but what you are engaging with. The overriding message from the talks was to always be kind and make the world a better place.

The Mercians have already sold out the O2 Leicester on their first headline tour date, have over half a million streams on Spotify and have been number 1 in the Alt Charts.

Harriet Lichfield, teacher at St Thomas More, said that having The Mercians perform in school was fantastic.

She said: “As a new member of staff it was so lovely to see this type of event taking place, where students are treated to some amazing music whilst key messages about mental health and wellbeing are part of the show. Students absolutely loved it- an event to remember.”

Cleona, a student at St Thomas More, said: “The Mercians were amazing. I enjoyed the fact they spoke about their own mental health problems. The music was fun to listen to and it was a great morning.”

“It was interesting to hear about how engagement online can possible affect your future opportunities and to be careful what posts you’re liking and sharing. Their song ‘Oxygen’ was really good and thought provoking”, said David, student.

Student Leo said: ‘I really liked the energy on stage and it was really nice to meet them and have a photo afterwards. I can see them being a really successful band.”

David Redfern, Headteacher at St Thomas More, said: “I am delighted that The Mercians could join us at St. Thomas More to impart such a significant message to our pupils. The children truly relished the experience, and I am confident that the band has gained numerous new fans. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs Kerry Taylor and our wonderful Parent Association (FOSTM) for their invaluable support in making this event possible.”

Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy, in Derby, continues to be a good school, according to Ofsted.

Inspectors visited the school in November 2023 to carry out an ungraded inspection. Ungraded inspections are usually carried out every four years once a school has been judged to be good. Saint Benedict was judged to be good in 2018.

Inspectors who visited in November said: “Pupils feel safe and cared for at this school. They know who they can talk to if they have a problem. Most parents speak positively about the pastoral and academic care that pupils receive. Parents say, ‘The staff at the school truly care about all aspects of our children’s learning.’ Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive a high level of support.”

The report said that the school’s curriculum identified the key knowledge that pupils will learn and teachers were knowledgeable about the subjects they teach.

Pupils’ personal development was described as “impressive” and inspectors said that pupils had a deep understanding of equality and diversity.

The extensive wider personal development programme was praised along with the “well-developed” careers programme at the school, which is part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust.

The support given to pupils with Special Educational Needs was praised by inspectors.

They said: “Staff know their pupils well, including those with SEND. Staff identify any pupil with additional needs quickly. The school puts in place any extra support that pupils may need. Extra support is well matched to pupils’ needs and is regularly reviewed. Staff who work with visually impaired pupils are extremely knowledgeable about the needs of these pupils. They provide expert support. The school provides support for pupils with SEND beyond the academic provision. For example, the school provides a focus on independent living skills for some pupils.”

Inspectors said that pupils behaved well in lessons and that behaviour around school was calm, including at lunch and break times. The report said that pupils were happy in school and that they were kind and respectful to each other. Classrooms were described as calm and inspectors said that pupils could focus on their work, free from interruptions.

They said that sixth formers actively participated in school life and acted as mentors for younger pupils.

Inspectors said that governance was a strength of the school and that those with responsibility for governance provide support, challenge and expertise. They also said that staff were happy to work at the school and feel well cared for and that safeguarding arrangements at the school were effective.

Hazel Boyce, Headteacher, said: “We are delighted with the report and especially proud of the fact it recognises our strong pastoral care and personal development programme. The report is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of all the staff and pupils at Saint Benedict.”

Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Saint Benedict on this report and thank you to all of the staff there who work so hard every day to improve the life chances of so many children. This is a fantastic achievement.”

Children from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy were given the opportunity to sing with the largest children’s choir in the world.

Twenty children from Years 3 to 6 at the school in Matlock signed up to take part in Young Voices, which is the largest school choir in the world where thousands of children perform as a single choir to capacity audiences of family and friends.

Events are held across the country in large arenas and children from Saint Joseph’s took part in a concert at Sheffield Arena, which was filled to its capacity of over 4,500 people.

Emily Coxhead, Year One and Two teacher at Saint Joseph’s. ran workshops with the pupils in the lead up to the concert, during which they learnt songs and dance moves.

She said: “It was amazing, the children absolutely loved it. We had a great view and when we saw people walking on to the stage the children were so excited, they were just loving life. It was so lovely to see their faces.

“We learned eight or nine songs and dance moves, one of the songs was in a different language and the children learnt British Sign Language for another song.

“A lot of the children have never been in a venue that big before. It was an incredible experience for them to be with so many people, all singing together. It will really help to build their confidence as a lot of them were quite nervous before the concert.”

Miss Coxhead said she is hoping that the school can be part of Young Voices again next year.

Stacey Carr, Headteacher at Saint Joseph’s, said: “This was a unique opportunity for our children which will help them to grow and learn and it will also help to boost their confidence. We are always looking to enhance the life opportunities of our students and this is a perfect example of that. I would like to thank Miss Coxhead and the staff who worked so hard to make this such a wonderful experience for our children.”

A Headteacher at St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy has taken the Elf on the Shelf Christmas craze to a whole new level.

Stacey Carr has been dressing up as a real-life Elf on the Shelf every day in December at the primary school in Matlock.

Mrs Carr has been making mischief at the school and this has included drawing funny faces on staff photos, cancelling homework and setting off the fire alarm.

Other pranks have included causing festive chaos by emptying lockers and cloakrooms at home time and hiding bags and coats around school and spraying pupils with a super soaker.

The whole school was also treated to a snow party complete with snow machine and fake snowballs.

Mrs Carr said that that the children were loving the real-life Elf on the Shelf.

She said: “Our staff and pupils are always focused on learning at St Joseph’s so it’s nice to have a bit of fun alongside that.

“We want our children to take away fantastic memories of their time at St Joseph’s and so many of them have said they will never forget this.

“I think the teachers have been wondering what has been going on but it’s been magical, the children are loving it. Some of them don’t realise it’s me, they think it’s my twin sister!

“We’ve been sharing photos on social media and parents are loving it too, one of them asked whether the elf could stay all year!”

The inspiration for the real-life Elf on the Shelf came from Amy Taylor, a teacher in Years Three and Four. Mrs Taylor saw something similar online last year, which involved a school in America that had a real-life Elf on the Shelf and suggested that Mrs Carr tried it out this year.

Pupils said that they can’t wait to see what the real-life Elf on the Shelf does next.

Betsy Lynn, 10, said: “We are all excited to see what the elf is going to do next and when she has done something everyone goes crazy. I loved the snow party; we had no idea that was going to happen.”

Kimche Robinson, nine, said: “We’ve really enjoyed it. It’s given everyone a great experience and it’s something that we will always remember.  Lots of us have been saying how much we love it and how we’d like to do it all year round.”