Pupils and staff at Queen Margaret Primary Academy were delighted to welcome a very special visitor — one of the 29 road gritters that help keep Gloucestershire’s roads safe during winter.
Earlier this year, the school took part in a county-wide competition to name the fleet of gritters. With nearly 500 entries submitted, one name from Queen Margaret Primary Academy was selected as a winner, the brilliantly creative “Queen Margritter.”
Although the visit had to be postponed several times due to the gritters being in high demand during periods of cold weather, pupils were thrilled when the long-awaited visit finally took place.
During the visit, children had the opportunity to see their gritter up close and learn all about how it operates. They discovered key facts such as the vehicle’s impressive weight, how up to 10 tonnes of salt are loaded into the machine, and the important role gritters play in keeping roads safe during icy conditions. Pupils were also particularly excited to hear just how loud the gritter’s horn can be.
The experience brought learning to life and provided a memorable insight into an essential public service.
Heather Evans, Administration Assistant and Clerk to the Academy Council, said:
“We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Queen Margritter to our school.
“The children were so excited to see the gritter they helped name and to learn more about the important work it does to keep our communities safe.
“It was a fantastic hands-on experience that they will remember for a long time.”
Queen Margaret Primary Academy recently took Year 1 – 6 pupils to experience wonderful events at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Years 5 and 6 heard author Christopher Edge talk about research undertaken for his Escape Room books.
During this enthralling event, some of our children went on stage and used their detective strengths to complete a challenge to solve the puzzle.
Year 4 became illustrators with the help of Joe Todd Stanton and author Kieran Larwood. They created a fighter and a Mage that Kieran then used to create their own personal Dragon Runner story.
Cressida Cowell entertained Year 3 by speaking ‘dragonese’ and younger pupils enjoyed storytelling sessions and laughed so much hearing Michael Rosen reading extracts from his new book, Oh Dear, Look what I got!
There was also the opportunity for everyone to enjoy free events creating puppets, exploring the sensory area and dressing up in a variety of costumes.
It was another fantastic week where pupils made memories, stretched their imagination, met amazing authors and were inspired in their writing and drawing.
A spokesperson said: “The Cheltenham Literature Festival never fails to ignite our pupils’ imaginations.
“This year, they had the unique opportunity to learn from incredible authors, create their own characters, and immerse themselves in the magic of storytelling.
“Experiences like these remind us just how powerful reading and creativity can be in shaping confident, curious learners.”
A two-day festival of dance, music and art has been held to mark Queen Margaret Primary Academy’s move to join the Cabot Learning Federation.
The Tewkesbury primary school celebrated its new era of collaboration and growth with dance and samba workshops for students, and the unveiling of a stunning mosaic commemorating the occasion.
The decision to join the CLF – a trust with a strong track record of school improvement across the South West – followed an extensive due diligence process by both the school and trust leaders to ensure a close values match and shared ambitions.
CLF CEO Steve Taylor and Education Director Susie Weaver joined Queen Margaret Headteacher Sara Bennion and other colleagues to witness the unveiling of the new mosaic. They then toured the academy and spoke to pupils and staff to answer key questions about the CLF.
School and trust leaders spoke of the significance of the move and the benefits it will bring for colleagues and students.
Headteacher Sara Bennion said: “Today marks a significant event in Queen Margaret primary School’s 68-year history as we transferred over to join the CLF family and become Queen Margaret Primary Academy.
“We have made sure that we have marked the event, by each child taking part in an international dance workshop or a samba drumming workshop, as well as the unveiling of a large mosaic at the front of school.
“We really feel that it has been a celebration and one that all members of our team enjoyed. We are so looking forward to the next part of our journey as a part of the CLF family.”
Queen Margaret was one of four schools joining the CLF this week, with three Bristol primaries making the same move. This brings the total number of schools in the trust to 35, all located in the South West between Tewkesbury and Taunton.
CLF Education Director Susie Weaver said: “It was a real privilege to meet Headteachers and their teams, meet with children, pupil leaders and have time to start to make and develop relationships with a range of people.
“My thanks go to you all for all the efforts made to make the visits such a success and for all the planned next steps too, over the coming weeks and months. It is really good to welcome you into our family of schools.”
We are immensely proud that our work with Tewkesbury library has been recognised and we have been awarded the Vaisey Prize for 2022 and a cheque for £5,000!
