News & Events
Spring 2010
Our Healthy Schools Plus projects at Winsham, Castle Cary and North Cadbury Primary Schools is now under way. The Glastonbury Trust had initial consultancy meetings in December 2009 and early Ja
nuary 2010 and provided each school with an Outdoor Learning Audit and recommendations on how to expand the amount of the curriculum delivered outdoors.
In consultation with the teachers we devised activities that were designed to meet curriculum needs as well as meeting our Healthy Schools agenda of improving physical and emotional well-being.
At Winsham the theme was 'Changing Materials' and we 
addressed this through a series of activities involving fire-making, clay pot moulding, coin making, charcoal manufacture and pencil making.
The children were out all day and survived an icy wind that kept temperatures close to zero. As usual, it was the adults who complained about the weather, not the children. To warm them up in between activities we introduced our 'Blue Mat Challenge' and the ever popular 'Tug-of-War'.
In March we have a whole - school walk planned for the children, with a range of Science, English, Geography and Maths activities en route. The total distance to be covered is around 4 miles.
Consultancy - The Trust has also completed two consultancy sessions with staff at Winsham. Our session at the end of February had a focus on emotional well-being in the classroom and included a demonstration session of relaxation, breathing and stilling work with the children as well as a twilight training session with staff.
Making Mini - Bridges at Castle Cary - Pupils had been looking at structures. We developed a new activity to 
meet their needs based on making suspension bridges out of green willow sticks and twine. The pupils were told a story about the 'Mad Killer Frogs' that could jump 50cms high and the need to build bridges to protect local wildlife. The older children were already familiar with the concept of suspension bridges, having looked at the work of Brunel.
The bridges were built by teams averaging seven children and there was a strong emphasis on cultivating a team ethos and division of labour. The groups consisted of mixed ages with KS1 and KS2 children working together. The children did much better than expected. The education officer took an hour and a quarter to make the first bridge. The teams of children w
ere able to complete their bridges in the 'challenge' time of 30 minutes. All in all 24 bridges were built over the two days!
Changing Materials at North Cadbury - Pupils at North Cadbury Primary enj
oyed a fire-building and lighting activity. The work was themed on human use of fire and involved exploring ancient artefacts associated with tree-felling and fire-lighting. We also looked at modern methods of using fire, including piezo-electric ignition systems and gas burners. Fire-steel was used to light a fire, which prompted discussions about the Great Fire of London and how easily a few sparks can cause a fire!
G.L.O.W. (Glastonbury Learning OtherWise) - The Glastonbury Trust is in it's second term of supporting a group of teachers and parents who have begun supporting parents and children engaged in Home Education. Originally based in one of the teaching facilities at Glastonbury Abbey, its increased numbers means it has since moved to the Rowan Centre on the High Street. Meeting twice a week it offers a range of educational activities for groups of up to 12 children at a time. In the Autumn Term they completed a successful six week course based on puppet making and play writing. The outcome was a performance in the Abbot's Kitchen with parents and members of the local community attending.
The Glastonbury Trust is supporting with termly grants and burseries for families who are in receipt of benefits.
New Conference Date - Our full diary in June and July means we have had to make the decision to move our conference date. This will now take place at Abbey House on October 14th 2010. Literature will go out to schools during the Summer term.