St Edward’s Headteacher Says a Green Goodbye

St Edward’s Primary School’s headteacher has been given the best retirement present she could hope for after the announcement of the school’s highest ever Key Stage 2 results.

Pupils in 2013-2014 achieved an attendance rate of 97 percent and 82 percent attained at least a Key Stage Two Level Four in their reading, writing and maths. In addition, 78 percent of students achieved at least a Level Four in their grammar, punctuation and spelling, which is four percent above the provisional national average.

Lynne Coxell, who joined as head in 2005, credits St Edward’s strong environmental policy with helping it improve year-on-year.

Since joining, Lynne has ensured that every new Year Six class is given funding to start an environmental project, which has resulted in the school developing an outdoor classroom, a vegetable garden and even a donkey sanctuary.

This policy has seen St Edward’s become one of the most ecological schools in Greater Manchester.

Lynne said: “St Edward’s had already started its ecological journey when I arrived, but introducing the environmental projects really helped improve the school’s attendance and attainment. It was about giving the children some responsibility – giving them a reason to want to come to school.

“Our pupils are expected to cost-up each project to make sure it’s sustainable and make contact with the right people to get it off the ground. They are responsible for looking after a host of animals, including pygmy goats, micro-pigs, tortoises, bearded dragons, as well as rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.

“The pets provide a tremendous amount of joy for our children, and we have therapy sessions for our most vulnerable pupils where they can interact with animals to help them learn.”

The children also take responsibility for feeding and mucking out the animals, and can often be found helping out during the weekend or in the holidays.

A series of mini-enterprises provide some of the money necessary to maintain the upkeep of the school’s numerous pets, with grants making up the remainder. The school sells manure and hen’s eggs to the surrounding community, and even the local vet gives his time for free to help with the smaller animals.

Lynne added: “St Edward’s is an absolutely fantastic, unique school. It has given me some wonderful memories and I consider my time there the happiest I have been in my 36 year career. I have always had an interest in ecology and I plan on continuing in retirement by volunteering with the RSPCA.”

Linda Fisher, Acting Chief Executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “I was blown away by the level of dedication shown by Lynne, her staff and her pupils when I visited St Edward’s. Lynne is an inspiration and will be sorely missed, but she has left behind a permanent legacy of environmental and academic achievement – something she can be truly proud of.”

Cllr Donna Martin, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “Lynne and the teachers at St Edward’s have been so creative with their approach to engaging pupils. It is lovely to hear that the trust that the staff place in the children with the animals and other projects is so clearly repaid through the enthusiasm and care that they show throughout their time at school.”

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