Staff and pupils are celebrating at Chirton Primary school near Devizes which has just been rated as excellent in a recent inspection.

Chirton, which is a small school in a small village was praised for the positive relationships between staff and students, a ‘strong and nurturing’ leadership from the headteacher, and the partnership with EQUA Multi-Academy Trust which supports the school.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

According to the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection which took place in March: “Pupils and adults flourish due to the impact of the vision and the extremely positive relationships that it engenders.”

The school’s headteacher Amy Bekker Wrench stated to this newspaper that there are a number of reasons why she believes the school is special and has been doing so well.

She said: “As a community, we have always believed in nurture-led provision where every child’s own talents and abilities are fostered; as a result, our school vision to ‘love, learn and flourish together’ has evolved.

“It was really no surprise as we have worked tirelessly to ensure that, as the report states, no child, member of staff nor parent goes unnoticed, and all are cherished.”

Reflecting on the impact which Covid-19 has had on the school, Ms Wrench added: “This emphasis on heartfelt care for one another enabled us to remain at our absolute best during the pandemic and really does continue to shine through in all that we do.”

The school has taken on different kinds of initiatives such as the Forest School provision, which Ms Wrench feels is one of the reasons why they stand out.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Collective Worship takes place daily in the outdoor ‘Classroom of Wonder’ where they sit in a round ensuring all contributions are highly valued.

Ms Wrench said: “The relatively new space has led to moments of deep spirituality and has become a focal point for the whole community; pupils lead learning both confidently and thoughtfully when in this space.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

“There is no question how powerful our rural location has been in supporting mental health and well-being over the last few years.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

‘The little school with a big heart’ motto also reportedly evolved after the headteacher began her post in 2013 when there were just 19 children and families in the school.

Since then, Ms Wrench has worked to turn it all around, and was even invited to attend one of the Queen’s Garden Parties by Buckingham Palace, for her ‘Outstanding contribution to Chirton School and fundraising efforts.’