On Wednesday 13 November 2019, pupils at Siddington C of E Primary School were delighted to welcome Pudsey Bear when he dropped in on his cheese rolling tour of Gloucestershire! Pudsey and his aides led an assembly which complemented the school’s caring Christian ethos and, after spending some time talking with the pupils, Pudsey and the team even joined them in running The Daily Mile!

‘It was a very special day and the pupils learnt more about where the funds they raise for Children in Need go.’ Carol Dougill, Executive Headteacher, Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools

‘There were lots of microphones and cameras filming us. It was really good fun and we all enjoyed it.’ Elsie and Skye (Siddington C of E Primary School)

On Friday 15 November 2019, pupils at all three of our primary schools - Siddington C of E Primary School, Kemble Primary School and Chesterton Primary School - enjoyed a Non-Uniform Day and many children chose to wear spotty or yellow clothes to show their support for the event. The teachers joined in too!

‘It was fun not wearing school uniform so that I could help Children in Need’. Peter (Kemble Primary School)

Owing to an Inset Day on 15 November, it wasn't until a week later, on Friday 22 November, that pupils at Cirencester Deer Park School raised over £1,200 for Children in Need with their Non Uniform Day.

As a result of pupils' efforts across the Corinium Education Trust, donations of over £1,625 were went to Children in Need.

‘This is an impressive achievement. I am always impressed by the efforts staff and pupils go to ensure others benefit from their endeavours!’ Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive.

Pupils across The Corinium Education Trust are encouraged to think of others before themselves and each school supports a number of different charities. For example,

• Pupils at Chesterton Primary School have had a presentation by the Dog’s Trust on how to care for our own animals as well as approach dogs we don’t know. Later in the year the children have decided to hold a cake sale to support the work of the charity.
• Children at Siddington CofE Primary School recently raised £54.60 for Save the Children by wearing their Christmas Jumpers and £84 for the Little Princess Trust, when Paris in Year 6 donated her hair to charity and organised a cake and goodies sale at school.
• At Kemble Primary School, children raised £149.85 for the Alzheimer's Society through a cake sale and non uniform day.
• Pupil members of Deer Park’s School Council select three charities to support in each traditional term, one local, one national and one international. The collection at the Carol Service was for Watershed RDA in Coates; through Christmas Jumper Day the school raised money for Save the Children and collected food items for Cirencester Foodbank.
• Many Deer Park pupils also participate in an annual Readathon and, while being sponsored to read all day, they raise money for the locally based charity Read for Good. In 2019 pupils raised £2,100 through their Readathons. Also, this year, the school was delighted to learn it had been formally recognised as an ‘Outstanding Readathon School’ and received a congratulatory certificate which commended the pupils’ efforts in and commitment to 13 Readathons! Read more...

• Also at Deer Park, you may have seen an article in the local paper about Year 7 pupil Angel P who saved her pocket money and filled shoeboxes with gifts for the homeless in Cirencester. Hannah J in Year 10 has, with the help of baking friends, raised close to £100 for packages she is putting together for The Big Yellow Bus Project. Tutor group 7JE also held a bake sale recently, and raised £36 for The British Heart Foundation. These young active citizens are an inspiration to us all.