CATHERINE Wayte is a gem of a school, according to its headteacher.

Laura Brierley, who has been headteacher since January 2007, is very proud of the school which has been in Abbey Meads for 13 years.

Named after the daughter of the owner of Manor Farm and the land on which the school is built, Catherine Wayte established a school in Haydon Wick in 1806 to provide basic education for local boys and girls.

Now the school is ‘outstanding’ according to Ofsted and as the motto says, they all work together to strive for the best results.

The school talk a lot about gems as a way of looking at positive attributes in its students and these are represented around the building, including in the art work that hangs in the reception area.

The children and staff have also been working hard to support the building and development of a school in Doudou, a small village in Burkina Faso, for the last three years.

In January last year teacher Mrs O’Neill visited and got to see the first brick of the new school being laid, and this year Catherine Wayte are donating bikes, clothing and money.

The school also boasts successful sports teams in football, netball and tag rugby, run by the staff, with the football team winning the PSFA Shield competition last year.

Children get their hands dirty working in the garden to produce their own fruit and vegetables, with the school achieving the Healthy School Plus Award and last week received a £1,000 grant to go towards their work.

Mrs Brierley said: ”I am really proud of the school and coming here every day is a pleasure. The children are always friendly and positive and they are really interested about all of their learning.

“The staff are also lovely and we have a really good team.

“We use treasures as the way to talk about positive attributes, each one of us is full of treasure and we can show people our gems whether it is being brave, or being friendly and then as the children get older it is things like being independent or being responsible.

“This is a school where all of the children have lots of opportunities to do lots of extra curricular activities.”

School Focus - Catherine Wayte Primary School

Address: Elstree Way
Abbey Meads
SN25 4TA
01793727405
Website: catherinewayte.swindon.sch.uk
Headteacher: Mrs Laura Brierley
Chair of governors: David Cassidy, six years.
Number of pupils: 391
Uniform: Navy blue jumper and white polo t-shirt
Year school was founded: 2000
Motto: Many working as one, striving for the best