In each of our schools, headteachers and their teams were determined to restore summer activities as best as they could. Working within the guidance, all schools found creative ways to ensure pupils could engage in outdoor sport, participate in enrichment or reward activities and celebrate the end of term.

While different to normal with the absence of parents at our primary schools, all schools were able to organise their sports days and pupils across The Corinium Education Trust enjoyed participating and cheering each other on.

The children at Siddington C of E Primary School enjoyed their Sports Day in the last week of term. Each House Team made a banner to parade around the track to begin the event. The children moved around the sports field, with their House Team, to a range of sporting activities. The older children were supporting the younger children to develop their skills as well as competing themselves. Each child received a certificate for something that their House Leader had noticed they had excelled at. The winning House Team was Avon, followed closely by the Thames House team.

At Cirencester Deer Park School, their special sports events for each year group took place over four morning or afternoon sessions. Pupils were able to take part in a range of track and field events. Other pupils also took part in the school’s first outdoor concert, Picnic in the Park, on Wednesday 14 July, before entertaining the whole school at Deer Park’s annual Party in the Park on the last day of the summer term, which this year, owing to the extremely hot weather was live streamed across the school! Read more...

To give everyone a lift at the end of a challenging year and to share some joy, pupils were rewarded with special activities. In the absence of the normal school residentials or enrichment weeks, staff pulled together and organised alternative events.

At Cirencester Deer Park School pupils had the opportunity to go to either Thorpe Park or West Midlands Safari Park, depending on their year group, or to take part in different activities in school including bushcraft, ‘Capture the Flag’, human table football and swimming at Cirencester’s outdoor pool.

'I would like to extend my thanks to all staff who took the new Year 11s to Thorpe Park. My son had the most wonderful time and has been full of stories since he got back. It was lovely for them to spend time with friends, just having fun together. I would also like to thank the school for continuing with the trip, despite the difficulties facing the school currently. It has certainly been a huge year for all teachers to face and thank you to you and all your staff in school for getting through this most challenging of years, yet still continuing to deliver first class lessons to pupils. It has been most appreciated.' Deer Park parent

Schools took care to celebrate the achievements of everyone. Siddington C of E Primary School’s Leaver Assembly welcomed the Reverend McKenzie. She spoke to the children about the different feelings they may have moving on to a new class or new school, before concluding with a prayer. The Year 6 children were presented with their certificates and Bibles, and they each read out a poem they had written about their time at Siddington. The Headteacher’s award went to to Toby who had made outstanding progress both academically and personally this year. Two Owl awards for ‘resilience, reflection and teamwork’ were given to Iris (KS1) and Wyatt (KS2). Toby said, ‘I didn’t know I was getting that.  My mum will be very proud’.

Pupils in Year 6 across The Corinium Education Trust were also given a good send off as they prepare for the transition to their secondary schools. Year 6 pupils at Kemble Primary School were involved in their very own production of Shakespeare’s play, ‘The Tempest’, which was streamed live to parents.

Our congratulations also go to Siddington C of E Primary School, who, on the last day of term, found out that they had achieved the Gloucestershire SACRE Reaction Bronze Award.  The school was part of the first cohort to achieve this award.  The letter from Matthew Morgan (Chair of Gloucestershire SACRE) acknowledged: ‘We recognise that no two years in school are ever the same and each season brings new challenges, yet due to the pandemic, the past eighteen months have been unprecedented and to achieve this Award despite all that is happening makes this an even more significant achievement’.