Main Edition
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Students earn praise for their work at event
Youngsters at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School have been growing, making, and selling their own market produce
St Nich’s pupils are the pick of the bunch By Michael Holmes
michael.holmes@jpress.co.uk @MikeGazette
Young entrepreneurs have landed a Blackpool primary school an environmental award. Youngsters at St Nicholas CE Primary School have been growing, making, and selling their own market produce - including soup and jam - landing it the Blackpool Civic Trust Environmental Award for
Primary Schools 2015. Headteacher Andy Mellor, who launched the after-school gardening club so pupils could learn about how food ends up on their plate, said: “There’s more to education than maths and English. “As far as I’m concerned this is part of a good all round education. This is learning for life.” The historic school, which dates back to the early 1800s and was once known as the Moss school, traditionally
taught pupils core subjects in the morning before teaching them practical gardening schools in the afternoon. That tradition has now been revived, with youngsters tending to six chickens before selling their eggs, and growing a wide range of fruit, vegetables and herbs in raised beds at the front of the school, in School Road, Marton. Mr Mellor said: “I have a garden at home and I wanted the kids at this school to experience the same pleasure from growing things from seed and seeing them grow. “At the end of the year we had eggs, potatoes, and peas that were either grown or came from within 100 yards of the school.”
Myerscough College farriery students have been recognised for their work during the industry’s recent registration ceremony. The Worshipful Company of Farriers and the Farriers Registration Council recently presented diplomas to newly qualified apprentices from across the country at a ceremony held at The Honourable Artillery Company, in London. As part of the ‘passing out’ ceremony, a handful of specially selected students were given extra prizes for outstanding performance during their course, with apprentices from Myerscough College dominating the awards, winning four of the prizes on offer. Alex Ridgeway, 27, came from Norfolk to study at Myerscough College, was named as having the best exam practical and best theory paper. 21-year-old Tom Holliday, who hails from Lincolnshire, won the prize for Best Shoes on Block and Jon Tyldesley, 30, from Northants, won an award for best portfolio.
Alex Ridgeway with his award
Principal Ann Turner said: “This is great news as we establish ourselves as the go to college for farriery and the awards reflects the hard work and commitment of staff to our students, with high standards and quality of the teaching. “Well done to all involved.’” And tutor Craig D’Arcy added: “It was great to see our young farriers graduate and also celebrate with their proud partners and parents too.”
St Nicholas CE Primary School headteacher Andy Mellor
Some of the children are now growing their own produce at home, Mr Mellor said, while they have also been in the school kitchen helping to turn their raw ingredients into jams and soups. Profits from their sale to parents will go towards buying more seed. “They have been brilliant and have learned so much,” Mr Mellor added. The children are set to attend the Civic Trust’s awards ceremony, due to be held in the Paradise Room at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, on Friday, February 26, and were described as ‘over the moon’. The trust was set up in February 1975 to ‘encourage and support’ the town and its people.
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