During this period of Spring 2020 lockdown, staff across The Corinium Education Trust are finding new ways of keeping in touch with each other and with their pupils.

In addition to assigning tasks for their classes though a range of online tools, including their school websites (Chesterton Primary School), Class Do-Jo (Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools), and both Show my Homework and Microsoft Teams (Cirencester Deer Park School), staff are also rising to new challenges and many of these have caught the attention of local and social media.

‘I have been impressed by the creativity of our teachers and other members of staff across The Corinium Education Trust and the imaginative ways in which they continue to reach out to our pupils and their families. Their endeavours are definitely sparking interest and are helping to keep everyone engaged and entertained!’ Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, The Corinium Education Trust.

At Deer Park, school leaders and teachers have tried to maintain the rhythm and momentum of learning and this has included virtual events in place of those originally scheduled in the school’s calendar. These have included the school’s annual Young Singer of the Year Competition which took place in Zoom on Wednesday 29 April 2020 and a programme of online challenges as a part of the school’s Humanities Faculty in Focus.

Had the school been open as normal, staff and pupils would have marked the 75th commemoration of VE Day on Friday 8 May in school, but instead, by working remotely, staff and pupils recreated the era and celebrations in a short video which was even shown on BBC’s Points West!

Future online events at Deer Park include a series of Lockdownload Conversations beginning Wednesday 13 May, a Key Stage 4 Learning Conference on Monday 18 May and the school’s annual Year 9 Key Stage 3 Celebration of Achievement on Thursday 21 May. Read more...

Staff at Chesterton Primary School have worked collaboratively to tell their pupils stories. Together they have retold Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo and Michael Rosen’s Chocolate Cake. However, their rendition of Mr Pent’s Balls even caught the attention of its author David Walliams on Twitter! One fun staff challenge involving a toilet roll led to an unexpected response from pupils in Reception, who, with the aid of parents, dressed as key workers, passed a piece of paper and sent a message to thank key workers!

Pupils attending the in-school provision for children of key workers at Siddington C of E Primary School have been joined by their peers from Kemble Primary School. They and their work during the lockdown were featured in the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard on Thursday 7 May 2020. Read more...

Pupils and staff at Kemble Primary School also took part in the school’s annual Talent Show on Thursday 7 May 2020. Again this event moved online and staff are to be commended on their special finale which was definitely appreciated by everyone watching!