Schools News (Including top performance from Beechwood ‘mathletes’)

Chaulden Junior’s touching war tribute could become permanent memorial

Chaulden Junior School in School Row, Hemel Hempstead has made the final shortlist in a national competition to design a permanent memorial to the football matches played along the Western Front during the Christmas Truce in December 1914.

The competition is part of the ‘Football Remembers’ project organised by the British Council, The Football Association, Football League and Premier League.

The judges are HRH The Duke of Cambridge, President of The FA, and Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott, with guidance from the British Council and the National Memorial Arboretum.

In all, 34 schools across the country made the final shortlist – and the winning school will be announced in September. The chosen design will then be made into a permanent memorial to be housed at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Cherry Newby, of Chaulden Junior School, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in this memorial competition. The children enjoyed designing their contributions and learning about the importance of the football match.

“It was incredibly difficult to choose a winner from our school competition as we had some fantastic entries. We are very proud that Natacha’s design has made the top 34 entries.”

Sir Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: “Along with our partners The FA, the Football League and the Premier League, we are delighted that young people have submitted their designs for the Football Remembers memorial competition in association with the National Memorial Arboretum.

“The football matches played in no man’s land weren’t organised or official, but they are remembered and offer inspiration to this day. We would all like congratulate the young people whose designs have been selected for this special exhibition.”

All the shortlisted designs have gone on display along with the other finalists at an exhibition at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, which is open daily and free to enter.

As part of the Football Remembers project, more than 30,000 schools across the UK received an education pack with resources to help children learn about the Truce – including eye-witness accounts, photos, drawings and letters from soldiers, some of which have never been published before.

Success is a numbers game for Beechwood Park School

Beechwood Park School’s mathematicians have really been getting their sums right this year!

Year 8 pupil Thomas has topped the UK Mathematics Trust’s Junior Maths Olympiad, scoring 100%.

Oliver Bullock, Head of Mathematics at Beechwood Park commented, “We are obviously delighted that Thomas has come top of the whole competition! Only the top scorers in the Junior Maths Challenge are invited to progress to the Olympiad.

“A total of 35 Beechwood Park pupils from years 7 and 8 entered the Junior Maths Challenge along with 240,000 pupils from other schools - 83% of Beechwood pupils won medals. Most impressive is the fact that, whilst nationally only the top 6% of competitors gained Gold Certificates, 46% of the Beechwood team were awarded Gold, and six of these pupils were invited to enter the Olympiad.”

Thomas was also part of the successful Beechwood Park team which won a place at the National Final of the UK Mathematics Trust team competition where the top 80 teams in the UK, selected from more than 1,700 schools, compete.

With the competition open to pupils up to year 9, and the Beechwood Park team made up of boys from year 8, this was an outstanding achievement.

The Final consisted of an action-packed day of mathematical problem-solving where the Beechwood team exceeded all expectations - finishing 25th overall, nationally, and an incredible 2nd in the annual poster challenge.

The Reddings’ new build all spick and span for new term

The Reddings Primary school in Bennetts End officially opened its new build on Monday 14th July, with a host of current and past Governers present to celebrate the event.

Former Chair of Governors, Jean Hewison officially opened the building saying that it was testament to the school to provide its learners with such a great facility.

The Reddings required the new build as the continuing improvement in reputation and results of the school has led to the school becoming a one form entry as from September 2014.

The two-classroom building is fitted with state of the art technology to aid the students learning along with solar panels to lower the carbon footprint of the building.

Headteacher Tracy Prickett said: “Having our official opening has marked an important milestone for The Reddings.

“It was made extra special by those in attendance as they all have played a significant part in making The Reddings the place it is today.”

Employee Ownership celebrations at Lime Grove

Breaking out the balloons and home-made decorations, staff, children and parents at Lime Grove Day Nursery in Hemel Hempstead joined nation-wide celebrations for Employee Ownership Day.

While politicians championed the idea in London celebrations, Lime Grove staff owners invited staff, children and parents to a garden tea party at their Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ nursery.

Lime Grove’s Manager, Charlotte Lucas said:“We are a unique partnership of shareholders invested in giving each and every child in our care the very best start in life. We are enormously proud of our nursery and our company.”

Wearing special commemorative T-shirts and caps, the staff created a display to explain what employee ownership meant at the nursery and helped children craft lasting reminders of the special day.

Staff members and children worked together on creating a jigsaw puzzle piece – with photos and art work of the children – which was sent to company headquarters to join pieces from 46 sister nurseries.