Corkboard

Advertising features Corkboard Free 11+ Support! Applying for grammar school

Sea and sound can cause confusion and anxiety. How best can we prepare our child for the 11+ Test to give Although the historic SS Great them the skills to approach the Britain in Bristol will never sail test with confidence? again, a new installation brings Cotswold Education provides the ocean back to the historic the complete 11+ preparation steamship this September. The programme including an assessship, housed in the dry dock ment test, 11+ mock tests and a where it was built, is already range of courses and revision surrounded at water level by sessions to develop your child’s laminated glass to simulate the ability to understand and solve sea, and this project adds to the grammar school test questions. effect by projecting the sights Their learning community of and sounds of the undersea educators, parents and children world onto the ship’s bow and meets regularly to discuss areas dockside. of concern, such as ‘Is tuition Created by design studio Lim- necessary?’ and ‘How has lockbic Cinema, the spectacle treats down affected 11+ preparation?’. visitors to scenes of icebergs, Membership is free, open to all jellyfish shoals and dolphins pass- and offers exclusive discounts ing the boat as it cuts through and support services. the water. The sounds of nature Cotswold Education is a are accompanied by a poem by well-established local business Saili Katebe. The installation, run by highly qualified and exruns until Sun 19 Sep. perienced educators who have been through the grammar Ffi: SS Great Britain W: www. school application many times ssgreatbritain.org with their own families.

Ffi: Cotswold Education W: www. cotswoldeducation. co.uk T: 07976 218062 E: cotswoldeducationuk@ gmail.com.

Parents’ and teachers’ news, education and contacts

Spuds-u-pick

It’s pumpkin and potato picking time over at Cotswold Farm Park

It’s the perfect time of year to wrap up warm, throw on your wellies and get muddy at Cotswold Farm Park. This autumn sees the return of its ever-popular harvest events, the potato, and pumpkin patches.

Roll up your sleeves to join the hunt for Spudzilla! Then pick up a plump pumpkin ready for spooky crafts and pies.

Located near Cheltenham, Cotswold Farm Park is a popular attraction where you can meet rare breed animals, take in views on the wildlife walk and tuck into our delicious menu at The Ox Shed restaurant onsite.

The potato patch is open from Sat 11 to Sun 26 Sep and the pumpkin patch opens at October half term.

Visits to the pumpkin and potato patch are included in the price of Farm Park tickets.

Ffi and to book in advance: Cotswold Farm Park W: cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

TFG continued

classic ‘The Railway Children’, set in the present day. 10.15am

SAT 16 OCT DAVID BADDIEL: (THE BOY WHO GOT) ACCIDENTALLY FAMOUS (CLF) The Garden Theatre, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UZ, www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ literature/whats-on/grid • Comedian David Baddiel previews his new blockbuster, featuring the unexceptional Billy Smith, whose life is turned upside down with laugh-out-loud results. 12.15pm.

SUN 17 OCT MADDIE MOATE: STUFF (CLF) Inkpot Auditorium, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UZ, www.cheltenhamfestivals. com/literature/whats-on/grid • CBeebies presenter Maddie Moate’s fun-filled event about how people across history have made, used and re-used stuff. 12.15pm.

SUN 17 OCT LENNY HENRY: THE BOY WITH WINGS (CLF) The Garden Theatre, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UZ, www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ literature/whats-on/grid • Comedian and author Lenny Henry chats to host Nadia Shireen about his first, action-packed adventure story ‘The Boy With Wings’. Twelve-year-old Tunde’s life is turned upside down when, playing football, he leaps for the ball and stays airborne on an enormous pair of wings. He discovers new found powers and a secret past and finds out just how an average kid can become an extraordinary hero. 10am

SUN 17 OCT MICHAEL MORPURGO WITH GEORGE BUTLER (CLF) Inkpot Auditorium, Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UZ, www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/ literature/whats-on/grid • Master storyteller Michael Morpurgo introduces his new novel ‘When Fishes Flew, featuring unsung heroes of World War Two. 10am.

THU 21 OCT BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS WWT Slimbridge, WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Bowditch, Slimbridge GL2 7BT, www.wwt. org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge • Get to grips with bird identification with the help of one of the centre’s experienced reserve wardens. 8-10.30am, £18 per person.

MON 23 & THU 28 OCT CREEPY OCTOBER HALF TERM FUN Robinswood Hill, Reservoir Rd, Gloucester GL4 6SX, www. gloucestershirewildlifetrust. co.uk/events • Get up close and personal with some of the park’s slimiest and squirmiest inhabitants. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust event. 11am-3pm

Advertising feature Support and high achievement at Newent Community School

Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre is a caring and supportive 11 to 18 mixed comprehensive serving Newent, surrounding villages and, thanks to excellent transport links, Gloucester City, the Forest of Dean and Herefordshire. The school operates dedicated bus services for students living in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean.

It is a high achieving school at the very heart of its community with a strong tradition of academic success within a positive and caring learning environment based upon mutual trust and respect.

It continues to be a ‘Good’ school, confirmed by Ofsted following their visit in March 2018, offering a high quality of education. Its recent observations recognised that Newent Community School’s students are making strong progress in the majority of subjects. In addition it was rightly observed that the students feel - and are - safe, in school. This is achieved by the school’s culture of care and vigilance.

The report is a real vindication of the school’s drive to develop confident, well informed and caring young adults who have self-belief and fully participate in their local, national and international communities. Newent provides a wealth of additional opportunities for students to achieve these aims.

Its next open days are on Tue 5 and Thu 7 October and the school looks Newent principal Rhys Phillips with pupils forward to welcoming parents and prospective pupils to see it in action, take a tour around the facilities and discuss options with Senior Leaders. (See also The Family Guide for more open event details.)