Over the past month, some of the students at Almondsbury C of E Primary School have been busy preparing for a monumental fundraising event.

Amelia Griffiths, Dilly King, George Wrigley and Gabi White have been creating an impressive amount of potted, colourful slime. Using ingredients bought with the support of others and with their very own pocket money, they have spent many hours of their time, just to support a worthy cause.

All of the money raised from selling the slime will be put towards making a sensory room, so that children with additional needs can benefit from their own purposefully designed space. Leading this forward-thinking idea is the school’s special educational needs coordinator, Mrs Jo Duffy.

On the last week of term 4, these inspirational students sold their handmade, creative products outside the school library, where other students were able to purchase them for various prices.

Headteacher Mr Smith commented:

“We are so proud that the children are using their initiative to support our fundraising efforts in this way.”

Photo: Slimefest fundraisers (l-r) Dilly King, Amelia Griffiths and Gabi White.

This article originally appeared in the April 2018 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine (on page 18). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,200 homes in Bradley Stoke and Little Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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Local accountancy firm Dunkley’s has partnered with Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) to launch a new programme for Sixth Form students.

The ‘Young Enterprise’ company programme runs throughout one academic year and enables students to make all the decisions about their enterprise, from deciding on the name and product to creating a business plan, managing the student company finances and selling to the public at trade fairs.

All this takes place with the support of a volunteer business adviser (BA) who brings a wealth of business knowledge and expertise. Dunkley’s marketing manager Nicole Crompton has stepped up to be the school’s advisor for 2017/18.

The company, made up of thirteen Year 12 students, started their enterprise last September. Over the first few months, the students have been making big decisions from company structure and company name to the product they are going to sell and their individual roles within the board of directors.

The enterprise the students have formed, Phonic Farm, is a literary company which sells phonic inspired cookbooks and recipes to encourage children to learn whilst having fun. Each of their recipes link to a character and, in their newest product launch, some of the characters go on adventures to give the children an additional opportunity to learn and let their imaginations grow with a themed story. The group have chosen an animal theme for the books as they are supporting a local animal charity by giving a proportion of each sale’s profits to them.

During the first term, various milestones were achieved, such as deciding to produce a Christmas cookbook with accompanying festive cookie cutters for their first trade fair experience at St Nicholas Market in Bristol. This took place on a crisp Saturday morning in December. Despite the cold start, the company did extremely well selling over £130 worth of product, being placed third within the overall Young Enterprise company competition on the day.

More: Hopes of progressing to the Young Enterprise area heats »

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Staff and pupils at Baileys Court Primary School in Bradley Stoke are celebrating after receiving a  positive report from Ofsted.

Inspectors visited the school in December 2017 for a ‘short inspection’ and awarded an overall rating of ‘good’. This was the first inspection carried out since the school was judged to be ‘good’ in March 2013.

The report praised the school’s leadership and management, stating: “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the previous inspection. The school’s action plan is precise and leaders, including the governing body, monitor each action to ensure that it is bringing about the necessary changes.”

It also noted that the areas for improvement identified at the last inspection have been addressed effectively.

Inspectors found that staff spoke very highly of the school, noting: “Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the school and feel proud to work there. They report that leaders are supportive and help them achieve their best. Consequently, teachers are highly motivated and respond positively to initiatives and well-planned professional development.”

The report also recognised praise from parents: “Parents especially appreciate the extra support and care given to those pupils who may struggle, with one parent reporting how well staff ‘make so much extra effort to help my child grow’.” Another parent stated: “I can’t recommend this school highly enough! My three children have been through the school. The teaching is and always has been excellent. My children have all thrived there.”

More: School "delighted with the report and outcomes of inspection" »

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Winterbourne International Academy (WIA), currently placed in special measures by Ofsted, has been approved to join the Olympus Academy Trust in February 2018.

The school is currently being led on an interim basis by CEO Dave Baker from the Olympus Academy Trust and headteacher Peter Smart on secondment from the Castle School Education Trust. The school currently has approximately 1,820 students on roll including 370 in its sixth form, making it one of the largest secondary schools in South Gloucestershire.

The school is one of the highest-attaining in South Gloucestershire, earning it a place in The Times top 250 schools in the country during 2017. Significantly, however, student progress was lacking, with pupils leaving between 2015 and 2017 making “well below average” progress compared to national averages.

Last year, the school was told it needed to improve financially by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, based on financial projections that the school would be £1 million in deficit by September 2017.

Olympus CEO Dave Baker commented:

“We are pleased to be able to share news that the uncertainty surrounding the future for Winterbourne International Academy has been resolved. The school community is in a strong position to push forward on all fronts for a successful future and we are delighted to welcome them into the Olympus family of schools.”

More: "The widely reported £1 million deficit no longer exists" »

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