Tag: Griffin Schools Trust

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Inspirational Chivenor Teaching Assistant runs marathon in aid of Motor Neurone Disease research

Claire Almond, Teaching Assistant at Chivenor Primary School, at the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon 2026 / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Words and photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Usually found guiding the youngest learners at Chivenor Primary School, teaching assistant Claire Almond demonstrated a powerful lesson in perseverance by completing a half marathon on Sunday, 10 May.

Almond tackled the gruelling 21-kilometre Leeds Marathon course to raise vital funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research, a cause close to her heart.

The challenging route began and ended at Headingley Stadium, the hallowed home ground of the late rugby league legend Rob Burrow. For Almond, a dedicated women’s rugby player, Burrow’s courageous battle with the neurodegenerative condition served as a profound inspiration.

Runners running in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon 2023 / Photograph from Adobe Stock Images

After witnessing the impact of the disease on the sporting community, she felt compelled to trade her rugby cleats for running shoes to make a difference.

Almond’s journey to the finish line, which she completed in an impressive two hours and twenty minutes, is particularly remarkable given her recent start in the sport.

Having only begun running last summer through the NHS ‘Couch to 5K’ program, the transition to a half marathon represented a monumental leap in distance and endurance. “I never even thought I’d be able to run 5 kilometres, let alone 21K,” Almond shared, reflecting on her rapid progression from novice jogger to long-distance fundraiser.

Her grit and determination have resonated throughout her community.

The children and staff at Chivenor Primary School are incredibly proud of Claire’s fantastic achievement.

By pushing her physical limits, she has not only raised essential funds for MND research but also provided an inspiring example of dedication for her students.

For advice from the NHS about Motor Neurone Disease visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/motor-neurone-disease

For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom. If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: edking@erdingtonlocal.com

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Chivenor to Welcome “mini Griffins” as Department for Education greenlights new nursery

Chivenor Primary School main entrance / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Words and photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

The Chivenor school community is celebrating a major milestone following official confirmation that the Department for Education (DfE) has approved funding for a brand-new, on-site nursery facility.

The announcement, which reached parents and staff via email this week, marks the culmination of months of dedicated “behind the scenes” advocacy and strategic planning. School leadership expressed immense pride in the achievement, noting that the successful bid represents a significant investment in the area’s early years provision.

This new addition will allow the school to support its “mini Griffins” from the very start of their educational journey.

“This achievement is the result of months of hard work,” shared Lisa Guest, Executive Head, who extended gratitude to the staff and partners involved in the complex application process.

While the funding is now secured, the work is far from over and the school is now entering a rigorous phase of preparation to ensure the environment is ready for its first cohort. The project will involve several months of detailed planning and infrastructure development to meet the specific needs of the youngest learners, with the nursery doors opening in September 2026.

Local families have welcomed the news, with many places already being snapped up.

As the school community looks toward the future, this initiative stands as a testament to Chivenor’s commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality local education for the next generation.

If you would like more information or to request an application pack, please contact the school office or email nursery@chivenor-gst.org

For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.

If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: edking@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Legacy and logbooks – Chivenor alumni revisit a bygone era

Chivenor alumni holding logbooks (centre) with current pupils / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Words supplied by Chivenor Primary School

History leaped off the pages of dusty logbooks, as two former students returned to Chivenor Primary School, marking a nostalgic start to the school’s heritage project. The alumni, who first entered the school over fifty years ago, provided a living link to a vanishing era for today’s local youngsters.

Current head boys and girls bombarded the past pupils with questions, eager to compare childhoods across the decades.

While football was popular then and remains a firm favourite today, the visitors explained to the pupils that they also used to play “marleys” – a traditional game of marbles. When asked about the teachers, the men fondly described Miss Palmer and Mr. Fletcher as “kind and fun”.

Chivenor alumni holding logbooks (centre) with current school staff / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

However, they noted that Mr Fletcher also had the job of disciplining the pupils, recalling classmates receiving “the slipper” for misbehaviour. This contrasted to the nicer memory of a birthday biscuit during assemblies.

The highlight of the day was when the gentlemen looked through the school archives, delighted to find their names in the official register. They also read the school logbook, which chronicled milestones including the time they were filmed for a television segment regarding energy conservation.

They also spoke warmly of school trips to the farm, laughing as they remembered constructing a giant papier-mâché cow.

Chivenor Primary School was originally opened in 1965 before an official opening in 1967. If you attended in the 60’s 70’s or 80’s please contact the school to share your stories and take part in their heritage project: heritage@chivenor-gst.org

For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.

If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: edking@erdingtonlocal.com

 

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Chivenor pupils captivated by West End spectacle

Chivenor Primary School pupils outside Lyceum Theatre in London / Photograph supplied by Chivenor Primary School

Words and photograph supplied by 4Cadbury — Chivenor Primary School’s Junior Correspondents

On Wednesday 7 January, students from Chivenor Primary School swapped their traditional classroom lessons and books for a “dazzling, once-in-a-lifetime experience” in London’s West End.

Departing by coach early in the morning, the group journeyed to the capital, where they were lucky enough to catch glimpses of iconic landmarks including the London Eye, Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben, and Trafalgar Square.

The highlight of the excursion was a visit to the Lyceum Theatre to see the world-renowned production of The Lion King. As the “heart-beating drum beats” began and the r curtain rose, the atmosphere became “spine-tingling”.

Students were fascinated by the “magnificent” giraffes, enormous elephant and various other animals in hand-crafted masks that brought the African savannah to life.

The performance was a powerful retelling of Simba’s journey from childhood to king of the Savannah. Pupils watched intently as the story unfolded, from the “animal parade” at the start to the darker moments where the villainous Scar led Simba toward a “disgusting” hyena-filled trap.

Despite the complexity of the plot, one student noted that the “captivating” production ensured even those at the back of the theatre felt like they were part of the action.

After the final curtain closed, the group began their long journey home enjoying the lights of London as they passed.

While the day was long, the students returned with “dazzling” memories of a ‘soul-stirring’ performance that perfectly complemented their current studies on the continent of Africa.

For more on Chivenor Primary School visit www.chivenor-gst.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of Griffin Schools Trust, for more information visit www.griffinschoolstrust.org

Chivenor Primary School is part of the Erdington Local BACK TO SCHOOL programme, working together to celebrate school life from staffroom to classroom.

If your school would like to know more about going BACK TO SCHOOL with Erdington Local, please email: edking@erdingtonlocal.com