Education

School proud of inspection

Archbishop Wake CE Primary School in Blandford Forum are celebrating a successful SIAMs inspection from the Church of England. All Church of England schools are routinely inspected through the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMs) and Archbishop Wake’s took place just before half-term. The school has been judged to be ‘Good’ overall and provision in RE and collective worship both ‘Good’ as well. The report says: “The school’s uplifting Christian vision runs like a golden thread through every aspect of school life. As a result, parents trust school staff and greatly value the

GOOD WORK: Pupils at Archbishop Wake in Blandford pastoral care and practical assistance on offer. Pupils experience school as a place of calmness, security and happiness, increasing their resilience and selfconfidence.” Headteacher Daniel Carter said: “This report provides the validation of the amazing work that everyone contributes to the school. The pupils are an incredible group of children to work with and they make the school the place it is. I feel very proud and privileged to be a part.”

Word mightier than the pen

Pupils at Yewstock School in Stur put down their pens to take part in No Pens Day Wednesday; a national speaking and listening event organised by I CAN children’s communication charity. Some 160 pupils experienced a day of learning through speaking and listening or communication devices, rather than writing. Head teacher Clive Padgett said: “We believe speech, language and communication skills underpin everything and directly affect our pupils’ life chances and for this reason we have been delighted to take part. We have seen pupils and teaching staff taking part in storytelling using our narrative approach of who, where, when and what happened.”

SO KIND: Children at St Nicholas in Child Okeford Pupils’ lesson in kindness

Children at St Nicholas Primary School in Child Okeford have been remembering and thinking of others. To celebrate the Harvest Festival children brought in food and hygiene items to donate to the local food bank. Children made poppy wreaths to lay at the memorial in Child Okeford during the Remembrance Service. The school councillors and Acers class walked to the memorial and took part in the service with representatives from the school council laying wreaths to represent the young people of Child Okeford, Manston and Hammoon. Later in the month the school took part in Odd Socks Day, which is part of AntiBullying Week. And children raised £121.10 for this year’s BBC Children in Need. Children came to school dressed in sparkling fancy dress and Pudsey outfits in their very own Strictly Sparkle.

A good sign at Old Ship

The painted Old Ship sign which hangs outside the popular Mere pub has been reinstated thanks to a collaboration between Mere Town Council, fabricator Jeffery Paul and roofer Dan Weeks. Historic England suggest the sign and ornate bracket is the work of Kingston Avery, the clock maker and blacksmith who lived at Mere between 1730 and 1763. The painted sign of the Old Ship, which has survived since the mid-18th century, is small compared with the elaborate supporting bracket, which incorporates a golden coronet with fleur-de-lis, an ornate bunch of grapes, flowers and leaves. There is also the head which depicts a sea-like creature with a spring-like body. Care home residents are enjoying a smashing Christmas tree this year –thanks to Sherborne Sunday Markets organiser Jules Bradburn. Jules had a big tree growing in her garden, which she offered to Barchester’s Trinity Manor care home. Jules also helped organise the home’s recent Christmas Fayre. Home services advisor Rebekah Goddard, activities co-ordinator Joe Stratford, deputy manager Paul Pippard and three residents went along to watch Jules’ husband cut it down. Paul said: “Everyone shouted, ‘Timber!’ as it fell to the ground. The best bit was watching on as Rebekah tried to squeeze what turned out to be a nine foot tree (not the six foot we had been led to believe) into the boot of her car!”

TREE-MENDOUS: The Christmas tree at Barchester’s Trinity Manor Care home gives festive tree a new home

CPRE urging opposition to Local Plan

By Karen Bate

newsdesk@blackmorevale.net CPRE, the Countryside Charity, is urging Dorset Council to acknowledge ‘overwhelming public opposition’ to the Local Plan, which they claim will change the county’s unique landscape forever. Some 56% of Dorset is designated as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and much of the housing proposed in the draft Dorset Local Plan will be built either in or very close to AONB land – changing forever the county’s unique landscape and rich biodiversity. Research carried out by CPRE reveals that housing that has been approved in AONBs nationally since 2017/18, is overwhelmingly for large executive homes, with only 16% allocated as affordable housing. And CPRE claims Dorset Council is one of the main authorities regularly surrendering green fields as opposed to brownfield sites. Rupert Hardy, chairman of North Dorset CPRE, said: “Dorset Council admits that the public interest test used to justify the release of AONB for major development is necessary to meet its excess housing target and Cllr David Walsh concedes it is ‘likely’ that protected areas will be affected by development. “This means that town and parish councils who believe themselves protected from development are enjoying a false sense of security. Town and parish councils who responded to the draft Dorset Local Plan, represent 287,000 voters. “Of these, 88 per cent do not agree with the plan, which proposes just over 4,500 homes in or within 250m of an AONB. “Dorset CPRE now calls for Dorset Council to acknowledge the overwhelming public opposition to the Local Plan and to accept that its findings put at risk the special areas of Dorset’s countryside. “Accordingly, we believe it is now timely to revisit the whole plan, especially in the light of recent statements by Michael Gove, who clearly signalled a shift towards greater recognition of AONBs as meriting special consideration in future development plans.” Natural England has criticised parts of the plan. With reference to development at Blandford Forum, it states: “The scale and location of the development will inevitably result in residual adverse impacts on the Cranborne Chase AONB.” Dorset Council was approached for comment.

SPARKLING: Enjoying the Newstone House dance afternoon are residents, from left: Joyce Ware, Rita Clay, Linda Porter and Doreen Webb. Behind them are, left and right, Companionship Team members Sam Hurst and Kate Seck. Left: Don Skilling dances with Companionship Team Leader Karlene Duffy. and, right, Doreen Webb with Sam Hurst, Companionship Team member

It’s a 10! Strictly fans out on the floor

A pair of lifelong dance fans enjoyed a chance to trip the light fantastic once again thanks to staff at their Dorset care home. Residents Doreen Webb and Don Skilling enjoyed an afternoon on the ‘dance floor’ at Newstone House in Sturminster Newton. Knowing both of them have an interest in dancing, team members transformed the dining room into a Strictlystyle ballroom complete with lights, sparkle and smart speaker. Companionship Team Leader Karlene Duffy said: “Don was a ballroom instructor at his father’s dance school in Blackpool while Doreen also has a passion for ballroom. “She loves all things Strictly and used to dance regularly with friends and family. “She asked recently if she could go to a dance. We wanted to make that wish come true for both by holding a special afternoon in recognition of their love for sparkles and beautiful dance moves. “It was amazing. Don took great delight in showing us what to do. He certainly let us know if we put a foot out of place. Everyone loved it.” Doreen said afterwards: “I had a wonderful day. I laughed, danced and enjoyed an afternoon with everyone. I will never forget it. Thank you!” Don said: “I just went with it and the moves came back to me straight away. It was wonderful to dance again.”

Wish you were here: Postcards reveal pilgrims’ progress

Historian Helen Baggott gave an illustrated talk on The Mayflower Connection to members of the Blackmore Vale Group of the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society at their recent meeting at the Exchange in Sturminster Newton. Helen enjoys collecting postcards and researching the families involved – of both the sender and of the recipient. By using the route of the Mayflower ship from Leiden to America as a skeleton, Helen had found postcards related to various ports of call. The postcards were sent 90 years ago and, as well as providing ‘then and now’ photos of various postcard scenes, there was some fascinating insight into bygone lives – including several links to the original pilgrims who travelled out to America on The Mayflower! The Blackmore Vale Family History Group is a friendly group which meets monthly at The Exchange with a variety of talks and presentations, mostly with an historical connection. Members are always happy to assist people getting started on your own family tree or to advise on your research if you reach a ‘brick wall’. The group will be meeting again in February 2022. For more information email blackmorevalegroup@gmail.com or contact Felicity Harrison on 01258 472942.