On Friday 15 February 2019 teachers from Chesterton, Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools came together for a joint in-service training day. Meeting in Chesterton Primary School’s conference room, they focused on looking at a range of ideas and practical activities to support pupils’ learning in Maths, accelerate progress and stretch all learners in their classes.

The morning saw Maths specialist and consultant, Liz Hopkins, take the staff from nursery to Year 6 through a wide range of games and fun activities that could inspire both teachers and children in Maths learning. Teachers then shared good practice in the afternoon after a delicious lunch of lasagne and salad and chocolate brownies and ice-cream. These discussions were facilitated by the Maths leaders from each of our primary schools.

Carol Dougill, Executive Headteacher of Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools, commended the quality of the teachers’ discussions: ‘Great professional conversations were heard and there was a real sense of excitement about teaching Maths and trying out some of the new ideas.’

At the end of the Maths session, teachers viewed clips of outstanding teaching. This provided a further opportunity for teachers to reflect upon their own practice and think about how they may adapt what they do in the future.

Chiquita Henson, CEO, dropped in on the primary schools’ training day towards the end of the day: ‘I was impressed by the way in which teachers from our three primary schools were working together. There was a palpable energy in the room and is was fascinating to see how key concepts and skills such as fractions can be introduced to very young children.’

Teachers were provided with some new resources to help them adapt their practice and introduce new techniques into their classrooms. These were funded through The Corinium Education Trust’s successful bid to the MAT Development and Improvement Fund.

This joint in-service training day was well timed as Chiquita Henson and Trustees have commissioned our first MAT-wide review. This will focus on Maths and is scheduled to take place on Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 February 2019.

Within The Corinium Education Trust we actively encourage reflection. There is so much that we can learn from each other and the world around us.

 

At Siddington Church of England Primary School, Carol Dougill, Executive Headteacher and her team, held a special Spirituality Day on Thursday 17 January 2019 so that children and staff could think about what spirituality means to them. This followed a themed Science Week from Tuesday 8 to Friday 11 January.

 

After an assembly led by Felicity Dawson, the school’s RE leader, the children engaged in different activities that enabled  them to think about spirituality and described the impact of ‘wow moments’. At the end of the day the following definition was put together using ideas from all classes:

 

‘Spirituality is something personal, it is not something physical and doesn’t have to be to do with religion. It is about finding a purpose or meaning to life. It is thinking about our connection to the people around us, the world around us in all its beauty and it can involve our relationship with a God or a higher power than ourselves.’

 

Since joining The Corinium Education Trust in April 2018, pupils and staff at Siddington Church of England Primary School led by Carol Dougill have revisited their vision, aligning it and their core values of caring for everyone to the parable of ‘The Good Samaritan’.

 

‘It was wonderful to join the pupils at the end of the day and hear how they define spirituality. There were some very ‘touching’ moments from the children. Special days like this are important to us as a Church School and a time when we can come together and celebrate how special we are!’ Carol Dougill, Executive Headteacher.

 

In November 2018 Siddington C of E Primary School invited Claire Mould, a Foundation Trustee, and other members of the school’s local community to celebrate their Prayer Space Day. This followed a similar event in 2017-18 and creating space for quiet reflection is now embedded within the school’s calendar and curriculum.

 

‘It was an absolutely wonderful experience. I think there is the potential to extend the principle of reflection to other schools in The Corinium Education Trust as part of a joint response to supporting children and young people's wellbeing and mental health. Thank you all for making me feel so welcome.’ Claire Mould, Foundation Trustee. 

 

Pupils from all schools in The Corinium Education Trust came together to mark World Peace Day on Friday 21 September 2018. During this day of reflection pupils learnt about peace symbols, made paper cranes and peace tiles and researched activists before joining forces to attempt a world record which required trust and effective collaboration!

All schools within The Corinium Education Trust promote participation in sport within and outside of school. Our primary schools are members of Cirencester Deer Park School’s family of schools and pupils engage in a range of individual and team events coordinated by Alex Cumming, Deer Park School Sports Coordinator, and facilitated by our team of Young Sports Leaders.

 

Sport is a very important part of life at Kemble Primary School and the children, supported by staff and parents, often attend tournaments at local schools. One of Kemble’s keen footballers, Matilda, is an ambassador for the school at Forest Green Rovers. We are very proud of her commitment to the team. This is reflected in her most recent report (January 2019):

 

‘I am Kemble School’s Forest Green Rovers’ Football Club Ambassador. This is a mid-season update on the team and my work representing the school as an ambassador. FGR are doing really well this season. They have not lost away since last October and are sitting 5th in the league which is a playoff place!

 

As ambassador I have had the opportunity to meet the players and the manager and to be ball girl for matches against Mansfield, Oxford Utd (an FA Cup match), Northampton Town and Crewe. I had the opportunity to throw the ball back to Theo Archibald, James Montgomery and Farrend Rawson. I also got to go onto the pitch and wave the flags to bring on the team for FGR vs Oxford Utd. I have written a match report on FGR vs Swindon Town which was published online. My questions to Lee Collins were published in the match programme.

 

Recently I took part in a vegan cooking evening (FGR is a completely vegan and carbon neutral ground) with the FGR chef Jade, who was on Jamie Oliver’s programme ‘Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast’ when they visited FGR in the summer. We cooked spicy bean burgers. I did try it, but it wasn’t my favourite, my mum liked it though!

 

I’m off to Swindon on Saturday on an ambassador’s trip for an away match and I’m looking forward to representing Kemble and FGR for the rest of this season and the next.’

 

Children at Chesterton also enjoy playing football and individuals and teams at Deer Park have achieved success in local competitions.