19th May 2020 — A story telling initiative launched by a Prep School in Worcestershire is going from strength to strength. Winterfold Storytime is keeping pupils entertained and in touch with each other during lockdown. In fact, the School has received feedback from as far away as USA and Australia.

Following the Deputy Head (Pastoral)'s initial idea for the programme, there have been nine episodes to date, read by Headmistress Mrs Toms, the teaching staff and pupils. Each week, a surprise speaker narrates their favourite story, with stories such as 5 Minutes’ Peace, The Enormous Crocodile, All the Ways to be Smart, The Selfish Giant, Noah’s Ark, Oliver and the Noisy Baby, Room on the Broom and Supermarket Zoo. "One of the best things about it is when you have an idea at the beginning and it explodes into something as exciting as it has done" commented Mr Mitchell.

One of the stories, Fix-It Duck by Jez Alborough, narrated by three members of the same family has been enjoyed by many pupils, including the Phillips children's cousin Elise, who has been tuning in from her home in New South Wales, Australia. Other pupils have listened to the story with their Grandparents in Florida over FaceTime.

Winterfold Storytime has really captured the imaginations of the children and is a comfort to them in these uncertain times. During an interview with BBC H & W's Presenter Malcolm Boyden, he said it that it was a great idea which reminded him of listening to 'Jackanory' when he was younger.

A parent at the School commented “It’s been such a lovely experience putting our story together to share with the children at Winterfold and beyond. Zoom schooling has enabled our children to keep in touch not just with their teachers, class and friends but with family near and far”.

4th May 2020 — Talented young artist Macey Bassam, from Winterfold School, Chaddesley Corbett has produced some lovely street art in Bromsgrove to thank NHS staff for all they are doing to keep us all safe.

Speaking about the artwork, Macey’s mum Naomi Evis commented “Macey wanted to thank everyone on the frontline for all they are doing and sacrificing to help everyone. She loves art and as we are in the centre of Bromsgrove, she felt this was a way of getting her message of thanks across”.

31st March 2020 — On a beautiful spring day, pupils, staff, parents and governors of Bromsgrove School Winterfold assembled for the Opening Ceremony of their newly created outdoor learning environment, Forest School.

The ribbon was cut by TV’s Michael Collie, known from BBC Midlands Today and Countryfile, in particular. Michael is also a parent of four girls who went to Winterfold School, before going on to Bromsgrove School.

Speaking with his hands covered in mud, Michael said “It’s brilliant to see the children at Winterfold just enjoying nature and the environment – they’ve been showing me what they can do simply with mud and there’s a lot of it about!

“I love the fact that an old bomb crater, which has been covered in undergrowth for years, has now been re-discovered and turned into a fantastic natural water environment, for plants, animals and pupils to enjoy.

As he cut the ribbon with Reception pupil Grace McNaughton – picked because she was wearing the dirtiest wellies, Michael Collie joked with the children that he thought the hide that had been built, was for children to hide from the teachers. “They soon corrected me,” he said, “and told me it was to go birdwatching – thank goodness for that!”

Michael talked about his time on Countryfile, when he filmed all over the UK and abroad, going to places that were “wet, windy, muddy, sunny, snowy, blizzarding and wonderful”. He urged the pupils to enjoy and care for the environment, noting that perhaps we hadn’t always done that well so far.

Looking back on his reasons for sending his daughters to Winterfold School, he commented “This sums up what Winterfold is all about – letting children take risks, within reason, and have fun. This is a school that spends money on the things that matter and creates a brilliant environment in the classroom and outside – and the result is the confident and shining, happy, slightly muddy faces I’ve seen today.”

After visiting the new shelter, which will be an outdoor classroom, Michael Collie, together with the Chair of Governors Paul West, Governor Geoff Strong, guests and the Friends of Winterfold committee were treated to a tour of the new site which has been put back to nature. The Friends of Winterfold have funded a bird hide, tool shed and the new Forest School suits for the children. There will be sections for each year group, from Nursery, through to Year 8, with plans to plant a herb garden, vegetable patch and an orchard. The pond is already well established, with flora and fauna in abundance. There are plans to build a jetty, so that the children can enjoy lessons in pond dipping.

Sustainability is of paramount importance to everyone at Winterfold. One parent commented that it was great to see the School re-using the materials they already have for the project.

Denise Toms, Headmistress of the School said “‘Our new Forest School is an outstanding facility for our young pupils to explore the outdoors and enhance their learning and development. We were delighted to welcome Michael Collie, BBC broadcaster and father to four girls who have all been educated at Winterfold, to open our new site. We look forward to taking groups of children to explore the Forest School area with pond, orchard, bird hide, shelter and fire pit. We aim to motivate, inspire and give the children a positive outdoor experience”.

3rd February 2020 — Kind hearted bookworms from Winterfold School in Chaddesley Corbett have been awarded an “Outstanding School” certificate for their continued support of the charity Read for Good. The charity transforms the lives of thousands of children in hospital by providing them with new books, funded by Readathon donations. The regular supply of beautiful, brand-new books and visits from professional storytellers, offer children in hospital the chance to escape to other worlds in their imagination.

In a letter to Mrs Sarah Miles, Head of English at the School, the charity confirmed that the total amount donated to them since 1998 had reached a staggering £24,577.

Commenting on the certificate, Mrs Miles said “It is great to see that our pupils' hard work has been recognised. Reading for pleasure also benefits our children, from improving attainment and wellbeing, to promoting citizenship, character, resilience and empathy. We will be completing our next Readathon during February”.

24th October 2019 — Winterfold School pupils were treated to a day of African culture with the visit of the Pearl of Africa Children’s Choir. Made up of needy children and orphans from the Kampala area and auditioned from 7,000 eleven to eighteen year olds, the Choir visits the UK every year on tour to raise funds and sponsorship for the schools and orphanages in the area that exist due to voluntary contributions.

Following a ‘live lounge’ in the School’s Radio Room, the Choir led drumming, singing and craft workshops, culminating in two concerts for Pre-Prep and Prep children and parents of high energy songs and wonderful dancing. At the end of the concert, there was an opportunity to visit the craft market, find out about sponsorship and discover more about the various projects currently taking place in Ugandan schools.

24th October 2019 — GB Olympic Gymnast Kristian Thomas and Jack Rutter, Captain of the GB Paralympic cerebral palsy football team, visited Winterfold as part of a Sports for Schools initiative. Children from Year 8 to Reception joined in with exercise circuits, followed by an inspirational assembly for the whole School.

Kristian Thomas rose to fame when he was crowned senior British champion. In 2012, he was part of the British team that famously won Olympic bronze in London before he came back from a minor injury in 2013 to take bronze on vault at the World Championships. As Captain of Team GB's gymnastics squad for the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, Kristian helped the team finish 4th and made the individual floor final.

Following an enjoyable morning of exercises coached by Kristian and Jack, the entire School listened attentively as Kristian spoke of his life as a gymnast, culminating in his competing in two consecutive Olympics.

The ensuing gymnastic demonstration was breathtaking and the children's reactions were a fitting sign of how much they were enjoying it. They were particularly in awe of the children who were prepared to lie down for Kristian to somersault over them and Mrs Toms who, when asked to join them, was a very good sport and did so too.

Both sportsmen had advice for the children; Kristian commented “Dream big, work hard and listen to your Coach” and Jack’s recommendations were “teamwork, respect and self-belief.”

Mrs Julia Humfress, Director of Sport said “it was a wonderful morning. The children were thoroughly inspired. Kristian started gymnastics from the age of five and has achieved so much. His personal highlight was to win bronze at the London Olympics. It was lovely to hear his story and watch his gymnastics demonstration. It was great to show the children that there really is a sport out there for everyone”.

Following a very energetic morning, two pupils then interviewed the athletes in the School's Radio Room for a podcast which will soon be on Winterfold’s YouTube channel.