Stay in the Loop

School pupils were overwhelmed by the generosity of local organisations who have supported their fundraising campaign to improve their outdoor spaces and to encourage more active lunchtimes.

Pupils worked with members of the staff team to find ways to raise funds for their school and decided to write to local organisations to see if they could help.

Donations have been generously received from a range of businesses including: JCB, Lewis Rodgers Solicitors, Leek School of Dance, MJS Transport, Moorlands Garden Furniture, Carol Holmes Childminder, Something Special, Natalie Allen and the school’s very own PTA.

The school, which is a founder member of the TMPF Trust, a family of 14 primary and first schools in the Moorlands and Uttoxeter areas, have taken delivery of personalised picnic benches, an array of play equipment, vibrant playground markings and will soon be also welcoming a canopy to offer a little more shade.

The launch celebration welcomed children, families and a selection of the donors, along with additional local businesses selling coffee, cake and ice creams to those in attendance.

Assistant School Leader, Hayley Bloor said, “The excitement on the pupils’ faces each time something was delivered, or installed, or the first time it has been played with is great and is a testament to their hard work and dedication and also the very caring community of local organisations who have been able to kindly support us."

School Wellbeing Co-ordinator, Andrea Eyre, continued, “As a staff team, we have been incredibly lucky to have been in the position to support their ideas and to help these to come to reality. The playground looks brilliant, the benches look brilliant and the equipment is brilliant."

Kenzie (11), a Year 6 pupil, said, “We are really grateful to everyone who has donated and are so happy with the new equipment. The new markings on the playground are helpful when we are playing games. The racetrack has been used by lots of children in school and the benches are very nice as they give us a place to sit, to be calm and to keep safely away from the sun!”

“We are all very thankful to the local businesses and our PTA who have given us the opportunity to have this new equipment, benches and the playground markings. It has made a very big difference to how active all the children here at St. Werburgh’s are at breaktimes and dinner time.”

Year 6 pupil, Tilly, continued, “Thank you so much to everyone who could support us. All of the children really appreciate your kindness.”

School Leader, Natalie Ainsworth, concluded, “Playtimes have been transformed courtesy of the kind donations from our community and beyond. We are now planning additional areas of activity and calm to continually support their school life.”

A group of pupils from St. Werburgh’s C.E. Primary joined friends from seven other Trust schools on 10th March to continue their journey of faith at the 2026 TMPF Trust RE Retreat.

Staged at Great Wood Hall in Upper Tean, the Retreat focused upon exploring Peace and being Mindful, which, alongside Trust and Friendship, make up the TMPF Trust values.

Led by staff across TMPF Trust, the sessions looked at peace and mindfulness through Bible stories, reflections, mindful crafts and art. They also built individual peace and mindfulness through 'Space Makers' – which is designed to help children improve their mental health and well-being through reflective practices.

Speaking of the retreat, TMPF Trust Collective Worship Leader, Chris Casey, said, “Exploring ways to achieve peacefulness, the children enjoyed a fun-filled day of activities and even made a few friends along the way!

“Children expressed how calming they found the day and how much they enjoyed being able to take time to still and reflect upon their own feelings. It was a very positive experience for all and allowed the children to build new connections across different schools.”

More than one hundred pupils from TMPF Trust’s family of schools joined together to sing in harmony to an audience of thousands at the UK’s largest indoor music venue.

Young singers from five TMPF Trust schools (Bishop Rawle C.E. Primary, Dilhorne Endowed C.E. Primary, Great Wood Primary, St. Werburgh’s C.E. Primary and The Valley Primary) rehearsed for several months prior to being part of a combined choir of 9,000 children at the event staged at Manchester’s Coop Arena on 13th February.

The concert allowed the children and staff from the five schools to follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest names in entertainment and perform in the arena which holds in excess of 20,000 people.

TMPF Trust Music Leader, Mandi Whiteley commented, “What an amazing experience we had at Young Voices. The children have been working hard since September to learn the songs and that all paid off when we were singing our hearts out alongside thousands of others and with a fabulous live band.

"We threw our best moves with the dance group Urban Strides and sang a rousing chorus of ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ with the rising Manchester-born pop star Alex Spencer. It was a long day but absolutely worth it!"

Many children were lucky enough to have received exciting presents for Christmas which offer them access to the internet and the online world.

As part of our commitment to keeping children safe, prior to Christmas we sent a link to all parents/carers for parental guides to many of these devices, just to offer a little more insight into how they are used, and also how they could be a risk if not managed properly.

Over the course of the year, we will share information on different online platforms and devices, including the necessary age restrictions, so parents and carers can be informed and continue to support their children with ways to stay safe.

Click here to visit our page containing parental guides to keeping children safe online.