Sarah Ford looks at what is going on in the world of education
Sunflower Challenge is on!
Ferne Animal Sanctuary has thrown down the gauntlet to primary school children in Somerset to see just how green their fingers are by growing the tallest sunflower.
To help them on their way, Otter Nurseries is generously providing Ferne with free packets of sunflower seeds to give away to schools who’d like to take part.
“All you have to do to get started is get in touch with the Sanctuary and arrange to collect your free seed packets” says Elaine Hayes, Chief Executive of Ferne. “After that, it’s over to you to sow your sunflower seeds and nurture them through until the end of the summer term. Hopefully by then you will have towering plants!
“When you’ve got the tallest plant in your class or school, we’d like you to photograph and measure it and send in the winning photo and measurements to Ferne by 1 August. The winner will receive a free annual family pass for Ferne.”
Woodland library
Excited pupils from Lydeard St Lawrence Primary School have opened their wildly creative woodland library.
It has been an ambitious three year project by a parent at the school, Kate Stannard, and headteacher Janine Donovan. The project has seen creative input from one of the UK’s leading mural artists, Neil Wilkinson Cave, of Sacredart Murals, top bespoke furniture designers, Williams and Cleal, and award- winning bespoke furniture making studio, Byron and Gomez. The end result is an inspiring and dynamic space in which the children can grow their literacy.
Anne clocks up 30 years
The school stationery shop and photocopier were unusually quiet when Bruton School for Girls recognised the lady in charge of the pens and printing for her long service to the school.
Known for her impressive memory for pupils’ names, Anne Tuck, from Sparkford, joins an illustrious group of workers who have clocked up long service at the school, including Jean Warry, the fees manager.
Anne says: “I absolutely love working at the school; it’s like having an extended family.
Prestigious scholarship
Five Wellington School pupils have been offered places at Oxbridge in September, including Charlie Pemberton, who has won a choral scholarship at Cambridge University.
Charlie won the inaugural Taunton Young Singer of the Year competition and beat hundreds of hopefuls to gain a place in the prestigious Rodophus Choir. She sang Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria at Shelter’s Carol Service at St Martin in the Fields last year, before making an impassioned speech about the plight of homeless.
