Danny Kruger MP visited Chilton Foliat Primary School last Friday October 2 as part of a fact-finding mission. He was keen to learn more about the vital role small schools play in supporting rural community cohesion and to find out how staff and students had been coping with the pandemic restrictions.
During the visit he also learnt more about the power of the school’s Growth Mindset Model to “strive to improve heart and mind” and its Christian values of thankfulness, courage and love.
Before visiting classrooms and speaking to pupils, he was given a full tour of the school by the head girl and head boy, accompanied by Headteacher Katie Turner,
The pupils enjoyed the opportunity to showcase their school’s recently upgraded facilities, particularly the school’s new classroom and the new, much-loved Community Clubhouse which provides the school’s popular twice-daily wraparound childcare.
Pupils shared their enthusiasm at being back in the classroom and Danny was told about how the ethos of “Growth Mindset” played a key role in the months of home schooling earlier in the year. Other pupils told him about writing letters to their pen pals in France and the delicious home-cooked meals cooked on site.
The pupils had a number of questions to ask him too and the interview conducted by the children will be shared via the school website and social media, so tune in there!
Danny was impressed by the school, commenting in his constituency newsletter that: “It’s the sweetest school imaginable, with vast grounds and a lovely new clubhouse built with the generous support of the local community. The school has four classes which gives it a wonderful family feel, supported by its strong Christian ethos.”
Katie Turner, Headteacher at Chilton Foliat Primary School, said, “It was a privilege to showcase our school to Danny, who was very interested in the role that we play in our local community and the challenges that our pupils, parents and staff were faced with during the COVID-19 lockdown earlier in the year.”
Situated in the small but thriving village of Chilton Foliat, the school was awarded an Ofsted ‘Good’ rating earlier this year. The school welcomes children from West Berkshire and Wiltshire across all year groups. Visits can be arranged and Open Mornings will be held on Saturday 17th October and Saturday 14th November.
Please feel free to contact the school office for further information on admin@chiltonfoliat.wilts.sch.uk or tel.: 01488 682630.
After school classes offered face to face and on Zoom
