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Sacred Heart School<br />
Sacred Heart School Year 5 went on a rock-climbing<br />
trip to Highball Climbing Centre in Norwich.<br />
We learned climbing skills including using autobelays,<br />
belaying for each other (holding someone’s<br />
climbing rope to keep them safe) traversing, and<br />
bouldering – which is climbing with no ropes or<br />
harness! Everybody enjoyed everything, but the<br />
auto-belays were very popular because we could<br />
jump off at the top of the wall and fly back down.<br />
We had pizzas, chips and apple juice for lunch<br />
and we also got the chance to look at climbing<br />
equipment like ice axes and crampons, and to<br />
watch new climbing routes being set.<br />
Nicola and Archie Year 5<br />
New Primary School in <strong>Swaffham</strong><br />
New Primary Voluntary Aided Catholic School<br />
(3 - 11 years) in <strong>Swaffham</strong><br />
The Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia<br />
consulted on a proposal to establish a new primary<br />
VA school for 210 pupils, on the site of the Sacred<br />
Heart School, in <strong>Swaffham</strong>, with a 25-place<br />
maintained nursery class, from 1 September 2019.<br />
The Local Authority Decision Maker, Sara Tough,<br />
Executive Director Children's Services, considered<br />
the school organisation proposal and approved the<br />
opening of a new primary VA Catholic school from<br />
1 September 2019.<br />
7<br />
<strong>Swaffham</strong> Infant and Nursery School<br />
Vandalism to Forest School<br />
Since September we have been running Forest School<br />
sessions throughout the week, enabling each pupil<br />
of the school to access the Forest area at the School,<br />
These sessions enable the children to connect with<br />
nature, experience the seasons, learn about flora<br />
and fauna, construct dens, climb trees, problem<br />
solve, use real tools, fire lighting and building. These<br />
sessions are invaluable to the children as not only<br />
are they learning about their natural world their<br />
self-esteem and confidence is increasing. The Forest<br />
School was set up through the teaching assistants<br />
fundraising, parents and local company donations<br />
and the Friends of <strong>Swaffham</strong> Infant and Nursery<br />
School raising funds. It took a lot of effort and hard<br />
work. It is as such a community project for the<br />
children of the community.<br />
Since opening the Forest School in September 2018,<br />
we have received three break ins. The first break in<br />
items were damaged and stolen. Over the Easter<br />
holidays we have received two further break ins. The<br />
first which happened between the close of school<br />
on Friday 5th April and Saturday 13th April. During<br />
this break in, a tree was forced down and chairs were<br />
smashed on the play bus on the field. This incident<br />
was reported to the police by myself on Saturday<br />
13th April as I found the damage. On return to School<br />
yesterday, Tuesday 23rd April, I was absolutely<br />
devastated to find that the forest school area had<br />
suffered yet another mindless attack. This time it<br />
was the worst. The swing had been ripped down<br />
and broken, the wooden see-saw broken in half, the<br />
willow tunnel and willow dome had been ripped/<br />
pulled up in places, the forest boundary fence had<br />
been forced in three places, a bird table had been<br />
smashed to pieces, the compost bin overturned,<br />
and cider cans left over the forest floor. It is so<br />
heartbreaking as we have worked so hard to make<br />
this area into a rich learning environment for the<br />
children. It has taken us two days to clear the mess<br />
and destruction left so far, but there is still a way to<br />
go. All incidents have been reported to the police.
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