Class 1, the nursery and the toddler group at Blackawton Primary School joined forces for a festive fundraiser this month, taking part in a delightful Reindeer Run to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice.
After completing the course, all the children were awarded certificates for their efforts and enjoyed a well-deserved treat – a delicious reindeer-shaped cake. In total, the event raised an impressive £400 for the Rowcroft Hospice, a charity which supports adults living with life-limiting illnesses in South Devon.
The reindeer run was not just about raising money but also about developing key character traits, as the school’s ‘11 by 11’ initiative* – a comprehensive approach to character education – encourages pupils to explore and understand the world around them. Through this event, the children showed great perseverance, teamwork, and a festive spirit, all while supporting a local charity.
“We are so proud of our pupils for their incredible determination and enthusiasm in supporting such a worthy cause. This reindeer run wasn’t just about running laps, it was about teaching our children the importance of giving back to others and playing an active role in our community.”
Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:
“I am incredibly proud of the students and staff at Blackawton Primary for coming together to support Rowcroft Hospice in such a creative and festive way. This event highlights the true spirit of our ‘11 by 11’ initiative, encouraging our children to develop empathy, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility for others.”
Blackawton Primary School has welcomed author Emma Carroll for a visit this month.
Emma Carroll is a former English teacher and the BookTrust have named her the ‘Queen of Historical Fiction.’ She is one of very few authors to have had her titlesawarded Waterstones ‘Book of the Month’ twice.
The children were very excited to meet her as many had already read her books, which are in the school’s library. Emma captivated pupils by reading the introduction of her thrilling new book, The Houdini Inheritance. She also offered fascinating insights into her creative process and the world of Houdini.
Children in Years 3 – 6 then took part in a writers’ workshop, in which they were encouraged to reflect on their own likes and dislikes to spark imaginative ideas for their stories. After school, there was a special book signing session which made the memorable day even more special.
The visit from Emma Carroll was part of Blackawton School’s focus on encouraging children to develop a lifelong love of reading. The school is proud of its strong English curriculum which also focuses on oracy development. As part of building a love of literacy school, rich and diverse texts are carefully chosen in order to inspire pupils to read, and enjoy, the written word.
Liam Fielding, Headteacher at Blackawton Primary School, said:
“A heartfelt thank you to Emma for sharing her passion and creativity with us—it was a truly magical experience. The energy in the room was incredible, and it was wonderful to see so many budding authors brimming with enthusiasm and confidence in their writing by the end of the day.”
Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:
“It’s lovely to hear that Blackawton Primary School has again taken steps to bring literature to life for children. Not only do we want young people to read, we also want to inspire them creatively and having such a successful author visit to share not only her stories but her tips is a brilliant way to achieve this.”