My First Term: Planting Seeds of Change at Co-op Academy Grove

 

Hello everyone!

As my first term as your new Academy Community Pioneer (ACP) wraps up, I wanted to share a snapshot of the incredible work that has been happening across our school grounds and within our community. It’s been a whirlwind of activity, but seeing our plans take root has been truly inspiring.

 

The Secret Garden is Not-So-Secret Anymore! 

 

Our biggest project this term has been the incredible transformation of our neglected 'Secret Garden.' This was a huge undertaking, but thanks to some fantastic help, the space is now clean and ready to become a beautiful, peaceful hub for our students.

A massive thank you goes to:

• Wickes: For their generous donations of essential clean-up supplies.

• Our Dedicated Staff: Who rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in with the heavy lifting.

• Councillor Adrian Knapper: For lending a crucial hand and offering local support.

• Paula from Birches Head Get Growing: For sharing her expertise and helping us develop a planting plan!

This truly showed the power of community, and we can’t wait to watch this garden bloom in the spring!

Creating a Welcoming Hub: Our New Community Room 

 

We've begun laying the groundwork for a dedicated Community Room! This space will be a fantastic resource, designed to bring students, parents, and staff together for meetings, workshops, and support. It’s all part of our goal to make Co-op Academy Grove a central, supportive pillar of the local area.

Supporting Our Superstars 

 

A key focus of this role is ensuring every student has what they need to thrive. I’m proud to report progress on several essential student support initiatives:

• Funding for Educational Trips: We have successfully secured initial funding to help ensure that all students, regardless of background, can participate in enriching educational trips and experiences.

• The School Uniform Shop: To help our families manage the cost of school life, we are setting up a central system to provide affordable or donated uniform items. More details on how to access this will follow soon!

• Hygiene Deliveries: We have also established a process for discrete delivery of essential hygiene supplies, making sure every student can feel confident and prepared every day. My car was packed full and Mr.Murphy came to assist in the mini bus!

 

What’s Next?

This is just the start! I look forward to working closely with our students, staff, and local partners to grow these projects and launch new ones. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in my first term—I can’t wait to see what we achieve next!