In February 2020, Cirencester Deer Park School put on this immensely popular show. With a cast of over 130 and pupils involved in every aspect of its production, tickets for ‘Grease’ were quickly sold out.

However, pupils from The Corinium Education Trust’s primaries and other local schools in Cirencester had a preview when they were invited to watch the final dress rehearsal on Tuesday 25 February. Karen Venner, Headteacher of Chesterton Primary School, reported that pupils returned to their classrooms singing and dancing to the songs from the show and they were especially excited to see former pupils from their school on stage, something many of them now aspire to achieve!

‘Please pass on our thanks and our congratulations to the staff and students involved in the Grease production. 120 pupils from Years 5 and 6 at Cirencester Primary School attended the dress rehearsal and we were absolutely blown away by the quality of the singing, the live music, the acting, the direction, the costumes and the scenery. This is by far the best production Deer Park have done yet and I hope you feel very proud of the children and staff involved - what an achievement!’ Year 6 Teacher.

While ambitious, the decision to ‘double cast’ the show and perform it over four nights was inspired; it gave a wider group of pupils the opportunity to share the lead roles engendered a real sense of camaraderie and there is no doubt the friendships forged will last a long time.  

‘It was about this time last year that Mrs Gleed, Head of Expressive Arts, came to see me about doing Grease The Musical. She was very persuasive and she needed to be! For sixteen years as a headteacher, I resisted the show, but given her and the team’s determination to make it work and our commitment to addressing the issues it raises through our wider curriculum, I finally caved in and agreed and I am incredibly pleased I did.’ Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive and Headteacher, Cirencester Deer Park School.

Directed and supported by Deer Park’s Expressive Arts’ team, pupils demonstrated tremendous team work and resilience. They were rewarded with great acclaim and standing ovations.

‘Wow! Wow! Wow! What a show, we all had such a lovely evening my 10 year old son and his friend loved every minute and can’t wait to come to Deer Park in 2021. Well done to each and every one of you, you are all awesome.’ Parent of Year 5, Year 8 and Year 10.

‘Please pass on our praise and admiration to your amazing young actors who performed the Grease production. My friend and I took our daughters to let them see what the school could offer in the Drama department, should they get into the school. I am really pleased to say that my daughter now has a place in September and cannot wait to start! The children were totally amazing and it was a great example to set showing that amongst all the homework and hard work, these individuals still make time to learn all of those lines, songs, dances etc and still have fantastic fun by the looks of things along the way. They were absolutely amazing.’ Year 6 Parent.

Staff and pupils across The Corinium Education Trust are working together to recycle single-use plastics.

All our schools currently recycle plastic bottles. Cath Brace, Assistant Head, at Cirencester Deer Park School expressed her gratitude to The Friends of Deer Park, who in response to pupils’ requests funded some bottle bins to facilitate recycling at Deer Park.

In February 2020, all schools in the Corinium Education Trust began to recycle pens. There was a recognition of just how many consumable plastic stationery items end up in our bins and, ultimately, landfill sites.  

This new initiative began at Deer Park and a collection box has been set up in the school’s library and pupils, parents and staff are encouraged to bring in and donate their disused, empty pens. The target is to salvage pens that have run out and recycle them. ‘We are aiming to collect 15 kgs: we can recycle anything that comprises of a plastic tube: biros, board markers, felt tips and even propelling pencils.' Mrs Bond, Librarian.

Pupils have taken the lead at Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools. Members of Siddington C of E Primary School’s Vision in Action group put together an assembly and provided each class with a collection box. Grace and Victoria in Year 5 and Year 6 made a poster about recycling pens, which is attached to the lid of the recycling boxes. On a recent visit to Siddington, Chiquita Henson, CEO, was delighted to see the pen recycling in action: ‘I was impressed when in one lesson a pupil whose pen ran out knew precisely what to do!’

Pupils from Siddington commented: 'We are recycling pens that do not work. Any money raised will be going to charity. There are so many pens in our box!'  Sophia-Mei (Year 1). 'We've been putting pens that don't work in the box rather than putting them in the bin. The pens in the box are going to be recycled.' Elsie (Year 6).

Children at Chesterton Primary School have also joined in the collection.  

The pens from the 3 primary schools will be added to those at Deer Park and then, once we have achieved our goals, we will be depositing all of the pens at Cirencester College, who act as a local repository and collection point for TerraCycle UK. TerraCycle are a recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling typically hard-to-recycle waste. Cirencester College have elected to support the following two charities with monies raised from the pen recycling: Children with Cancer UK and The Hollie Gazzard Trust.

Sustainability is an important element within The Corinium Education Trust’s broad curriculum. All schools follow the National Curriculum and OECD’s model for education and skills in 2030, which aims to help every learner develop as a whole person, fulfil his or her potential and help shape a future built on the wellbeing of individuals, communities and the planet.

With a prominent and brightly decorated box in the school office, pupils at Siddington C of E Primary School are already recycling crisp packets. This represents their active stewardship and care for our planet. Following their lead, members of Deer Park’s School Council are considering further recycling initiatives. They are planning to set up further recycling points for bottles and crisp packets around the school. If we all take these small steps, we can make a big difference!

‘We know that lots of small marginal gains supporting and sustaining our environment stack up to make a big difference. Deer Park is committed to recycling so that we reduce our waste and make a difference to our surroundings both now and for the future.'  Liz Lang, Head of School at Cirencester Deer Park School

At the invitation of Lord and Lady Bathurst, pupils from The Corinium Education Trust proudly planted trees in their schools’ names along Cirencester Park's Broad Avenue as a part of The Bathurst Estate’s restoration project.

On Thursday 6 February 2020, pupils from Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools were joined on Broad Avenue by Cirencester Deer Park School’s Year 10 Horticulture class. They were all welcomed by Lord and Lady Bathurst who explained the background to the restoration project and why the Small-Leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) trees, an indigenous British species, were chosen to replace the iconic ancient Horse Chestnut trees that were felled last summer. Pupils also met Lord Apsley and The Bathurst Estate’s Head of Forestry, Keith Mills. They learnt about the simple irrigation systems set up to give the saplings the best start.

‘It was a real privilege to be invited to take part in the tree planting. We all appreciated the experience and I am sure the pupils will watch with interest as their young trees grow.’ Chiquita Henson, Chief Executive, The Corinium Education Trust and Headteacher, Cirencester Deer Park School.

Pupils from Kemble and Siddington C of E Primary Schools were first to plant their trees and it was just as well everyone was wearing their wellies as it was very muddy. A Siddington parent accompanying the children commented 'It was an amazing opportunity to be a part of History.'
 

Grace (Siddington, Year 6): 'It was an incredible experience and I enjoyed planting the tree on behalf of our school.'

Darcie (Siddington, Year 2): 'I liked the planting and meeting Lady Bathurst.'

Paris (Siddington, Year 6): 'It was brilliant.'

"Planting the tree was hard work but it was really fun. I enjoyed talking to Lord Bathurst, he was very inspiring about the trees." Henry (Kemble, Year 5).
"I was happy the spades were so big and I enjoyed putting the soil over the roots." Jack (Kemble, Year 3).
"It was fun because I enjoyed planting the tree and getting muddy!" Charlie (Kemble, Year 1).

Deer Park pupils then planted two trees, one for Deer Park and one in the name of Chesterton Primary School who were unable to join the group. Mrs Mackew, who currently teaches Horticulture at Deer Park, and was herself a pupil at both Chesterton Primary School and Deer Park, joined three former Chesterton pupils in planting the tree.

‘It was a wonderful opportunity for my Horticulture class to represent the school within the local community. It was also fantastic to be part of Cirencester's history, leaving a legacy for our children and our children's children. Encouraging younger generations to be more responsible and more environmentally aware is essential and community projects like this one really instils the importance of this.’ Mrs Mackew, Cirencester Deer Park School.

‘It was an interesting and new experience. It was lovely to be involved in helping the local community.’ Kelsie (Year 10)

‘A fun opportunity to make our mark in the Town's history.’ James (Year 10)