{"id":8427,"date":"2024-09-11T13:54:29","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T12:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/?post_type=case-studies&p=8427"},"modified":"2025-01-03T13:17:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T13:17:22","slug":"all-saints-church-in-wales","status":"publish","type":"case-studies","link":"https:\/\/cornerstoneseducation.co.uk\/case-studies\/all-saints-church-in-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"All Saints Church in Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Curriculum Advisor for Wales Sandra reflects on her visit to All Saints Church in Wales Primary School<\/a> to present their Cornerstones Curriculum Award. Sandra takes a closer look at their award-winning curriculum work using a project from Maestro, which formed a lasting impression on the children and led to community action.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Journeying to Wales<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

A last-minute entry into the Cornerstones Curriculum Awards paid off for All Saints Church in Wales School, Barry, South Wales; they were selected to be a winner of the award plus \u00a31,000 prize money. As one of the Curriculum Advisers<\/a> for Wales, I was tasked with the delightful role of visiting them to deliver their award in person.<\/p>\n\n

Headteacher Aled Williams proudly welcomed me to the school and introduced me to Sue Thomas, the Year 1 teacher he gives all credit to for the activities deserving of the award. Sue explained it was the work they had done through the project Cardiff Tales<\/em> on Maestro <\/em>for Wales that led to them applying.<\/p>\n\n

\u2018I love the way it offers a springboard\u2019, she said. \u2018The resource pack was excellent. I loved using the resources about Cardiff Bay and seeing how it linked to previous work we had done on Grace Darling, which opened up a whole wealth of learning more about the RNLI.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

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Customising the curriculum<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

After using the project resources to establish what they already knew about Cardiff Bay, the class developed some background knowledge about the history of the local area and thought about things they would like to learn more about. As part of this, they took a trip out of school, enjoyed a cruise of the bay and even interviewed the captain of the boat! Back in class, the children made posters advertising Cardiff Bay and developed their mapping skills, even putting this into practice in their PE lessons by mapping routes around the apparatus. Through talking about the life rings and safety aspects down on the Bay, the class went on to learn about the RNLI<\/a>. Sue described how \u2018when they realised it was just volunteer work, one of the little ones said, \u201ccan\u2019t we give them money?\u201d, which was the springboard into the fundraising event that we did, involving the whole school.\u2019 Their Mayday Mile raised \u00a3163.53 for the RNLI, which was later presented to an RNLI volunteer visiting the school.<\/p>\n\n

Sue described how the project had supported the children\u2019s knowledge and skills within the Welsh curriculum. \u2018In order to advertise the Mayday Mile, they made posters using their writing skills, and the language work that came from using the correct wording on the posters was great. In terms of the Four Core Purposes of the Welsh Curriculum<\/a>, they were hitting every target \u2013 all Areas of Learning, the LNF and DCF \u2013 just tick, tick, tick!\u2019 She also explained how she used the Lesson Builder in Maestro to add lessons that were \u2018predominantly led by the children. It was very much a child-centred approach.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

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Meeting the children<\/h5>\n\n

Following my chat with Sue, I had the pleasure of meeting the class, a delightful group of children with plenty to say about their learning. After posing for presentation photos, we sat in a quiet area, and I asked them some questions.<\/p>\n\n

\u2018What was your favourite part of the project?\u2019 I asked. Hands shot up everywhere, and we went around them as they enthusiastically shared their learning:<\/p>\n\n

\u2018When we went on the trip.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Learning about the RNLI<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Going on the cruise.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2019Lunch outside the Senedd.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Exploring the bay.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Making the posters.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Learning about Tiger Bay before it was Cardiff Bay.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Visiting the RNLI.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018When we did the mile.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Learning about safety.\u2019 (The little girl told me about the different flag colours and what they meant).<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Wearing all the clothes.\u2019 (They had tried on the RNLI gear!)<\/p>\n\n

\u2018Saw fossils in Cardiff Bay.\u2019<\/p>\n\n

It was clear this project had made an impact on the children. Although Sue said it was \u2018all inspired by the Tiger Bay PowerPoint resource in Cardiff Tales\u2019, it was clear that her interpretation of the resources and the incorporation of Pupil Voice had taken these children along a learning journey that was inspiring, long-lasting and had even led to community action.<\/p>\n\n

Most importantly, when I asked, \u2018did you enjoy your learning?\u2019, the resounding chorus of \u2018YES\u2019 was undeniable!<\/p>\n\n

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Clear winners<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

The ways in which All Saints used Maestro<\/a> to support their curriculum gave our judging panel clear reasons for selecting them as a winner:<\/p>\n\n