Pates students have visited our school for many years, to hear readers and talk to our pupils about their “love of reading” and comprehension of texts. We have also liaised with Pates in catering, with some of our pupils and their parents/carers having cookery sessions, in their kitchens. Our pupils have watched performances, attended a Languages Day and look forward to other community links in the near future. These events allow our pupils to experience a local grammar school and all that it has to offer. Pupils can aspire and aim high – this offers greater choice for our more-able pupils who may want to attend a grammar school, as well a building community links and positively sharing resources. https://www.patesgs.org
Community Links
Forest School
Our children thrive in our on-site Forest School. We use the skilled and experienced staff from ‘Forest School Learning Initiative’ to lead our sessions. The children are trained in basic life skills, through outdoor learning and play. Mindfulness is observed in all sessions, along with important health and safety reminders. Whilst in the Forest area, pupils and staff can forget that we are in a built up, residential area and focus on nature and all of its wonder! As a school we want to prevent nature poverty, as being and learning in nature is so important for our well-being. The pupils demonstrate our school values: ‘perseverance, positivity and pride’ as they build dens, create areas, create nature art, work in a team and much more….
Oakey Bear Outdoor Learning
Chris Oakey taught the children how to weave using willow. The whole school contributed and made a beautiful fox head hut. We will use it to shelter in the rain and sunshine. Everyone is so proud of our teamwork and the perseverance it took to complete the wonderful dome.
Wentworth Court
Wentworth Court is our local dementia residential home. The Everyman Theatre have commissioned projects since 2016 and we have close links through our inter-generational programme. The children learn through listening to stories “‘keeping history alive” and building relationships. The elderly residents keep “young at heart” singing, dancing and completing art projects with our pupils. The pupils work was highlighted on ITV News, as part of National Carers Day (featured on our Home Page). More recently, we have collaborated on the “Lions at Large” project to raise money for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals.
Please click on these links to see newspaper articles:
Gloucestershire Echo 23 October 2025 – Cubs return Children and home residents celebrate sculptures
Gloucestershire Echo 30 January 2025 – Building links across generations
The Everyman Theatre
Our pupils work with The Everyman Theatre as part of the Wentworth Court Intergenerational Programme. In the past, small groups have taken part in “Project Zebra” , a drama project, led by the Everyman Theatre, based on key issues such as respect, with finale shows held at All Saint’s Academy.
We have been extremely fortunate to have been invited to the pantomime, to experience the wonderful acting, musical theatre, setting, costumes and ambience. The children were amazed by the performance and theatre itself, sitting in the balcony with a great view of the stage!
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/
Gloucester Rugby Club
We are fortunate to have Gloucester Rugby Club join us for weekly sessions teaching values such as resilience and respect, whilst the children also learn the skills of tag rugby and how to be a positively, competitive sports person. They invite the children to matches and events. We are very grateful of our strong links.
Pates Grammar School
We are proud to be working with Pates Grammar School, to support our Year 4 and 5 pupils in preparing for Grammar School Admission requirements. Identified pupils are mentored by Year 12 Pates Grammar students. They have visits to the school and use an online tutoring programme to access the revision and work units. In 2023-24, 4 of our pupils passed the 11+ test and 3 chose to attend Denmark Road and Ribston Hall Grammar Schools in Gloucester. In 2024-25, 2 pupils passed the 11+ with one attending Pates Grammar School and another attending the Crypt in Gloucester. Another Year 6 pupil has gained a place at Pates Grammar School for September 2026. We are proud of our pupils efforts and determination to aim high and achieve! We look forward to further collaborations, to inspire our pupils to aim high and achieve places at Grammar Schools.
Knights Essential and Robert Hall Business donated a laptop for our Pates Grammar pupil.
Gloucestershire Travel Team
We have been supported by the GCC Travel Team with bicycles for our children to practice riding skills. We have annual bike ability sessions for Year 6 children, who learn to ride safely on the local roads. We have also received a bid for a new bike shed and scooter racks. We liaise with The GCC Travel Team and The Big Walk and Wheel scheme to promote healthy and sustainable ways of getting to and from school.
PGL Residential
Our Year 6 class went on their annual residential, in the autumn term. They have matured, grown even more respectful and caring as a group, negotiating and building their team. They enjoyed raft building, zip wires, climbing walls, archery and more!
Cheltenham Town Football Club
Cheltenham Town Football Club invite us to matches and have worked with our Girls Football Team. Our pupils had the opportunity to tour the stadium and meet the players. Parents and carers watched as the girls played a match with another team. Our pupils and their families are invited to support weekend matches. We look forward to CTFC teaching sessions at our school again.
Play Rangers
The Play Rangers, worked with our school on a three-year funded project, promoting active play at lunchtimes and in the local park. They encourage, promote and train our children to be active and lead their own play. We have continued this work, with links to our mental health and well-being work, giving KS2 pupils the opportunity to support Reception/KS1 pupils at lunchtimes with games, activities and play.
https://playgloucestershire.org.uk/community-play-rangers-gloucestershire/
Park Activists from Springbank attended the “No Child Left Behind” awards as part of the “My Park” project. They won the #CelebratingChildhood category and the kids were so excited to get up on stage and meet Dame Janet Trotter to receive the award!
Read for Good and Donated Books
We are so grateful to Read for Good and other local businesses such as SOHO Coffee Co. and bookshops, for donated books. Our children have had assemblies and have been introduced to the Read for Good tracker. They can log when they have read outside of school. This can include leaflets, library books and school books.
Cheltenham Festivals
We are fortunate to receive free tickets for the Literature, Science and Music Festival, as well as travel bursaries. Our pupils have participated in Cheltenham Festivals “Across the Sky” Community Opera. They spent a year writing and composing the Opera, with Author Miranda Walker and Composer and Musical Director Michael Betteridge. This work involved collaboration with a local choir, another local primary and secondary school. The opera was performed at the Town Hall to the local community and their families. Please see the link below to watch the highlights – it was amazing!
https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/education/take-part/community-opera/
St. Edwards A Levels Students - Enterprize Day
The sixth form students at St Edwards planned an Enterprize Day for our Year 6 pupils. They learnt business skills from the A Level students. The day was full of collaborative work, promotion of debate and negotiation as well as improving communication and presentation skills. We look forward to the next planned event.
Boys Brigade
The Boys Brigade group meets, every week, and has a considerable number of our male students in attendance. Our children have wonderful experiences and opportunities such as sporting competitions, visits to the beach and summer camping trips. Mrs Boyer, who runs the group, is constantly fund-raising and received an award
Creed Food Services
Our Catering Manager, uses Creed Supplies for food ensuring local produce is sourced for our pupil’s school dinners. They also provide staff at Christmas to make our Christmas Dinner, a special event, as well as lending their onsite diner as a venue for cooking.
Open the Book
Open the Book are Christian Volunteers who lead our fortnightly Christian assemblies. They perform Bible stories. Our pupils enjoy the assemblies and often participate.
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/open-the-book/?source_code=99012_openthebook.net
Police, PCSOs and the Ambulance Service
Positive links with the local police mean that the children get to see the police in and around school. PCSOs and the PC School Beat Officer have talked to the children about topics such as: Road Safety, E-Safety, Respect, County Lines, Keeping Safe in the Community, Diversity and any other issues that may become a current need for education. In 2025-26, the PC Beat Officer role has changed to that of a Youth Officer, we will continue to be appreciative of the collaborative work they do in our school, in relation to personal development and our PSHE curriculum.
Reception children also meet other “People Who Help Us” like the ambulance service.
The NHS give flu vaccinations in September, before the flu season, to those with parental consent. Height and weight checks are made in Reception Class and Year 6. In PSHE, KS2 have careers lessons online from NHS nurses and doctors.
We are grateful for all that the NHS do for us.
Dream Scheme
We are fortunate to be the chosen benefactors of the local Dream Scheme. They have recently received an award for their work. They raise funds through bids and charity work, as well as being sponsored by local businesses for free events and resources. Children are identified who would benefit from support with social, emotional, mental and health support, as well as developing friendships, and experiencing activities that they may not normally get to do. The impactful outcomes not only help and support the child in these areas but also in their school relationships and achievements.
National Star College
