Farmborough Church Primary School near Bath has received a glowing inspection report, praising its caring and inclusive environment, supportive school community and commitment to helping every child flourish. The school was inspected in September as part of the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) programme, with inspectors concluding that Farmborough is ‘living up...
Category: General news
Acorn Education Trust plants 350 trees to celebrate new Reception pupils
Acorn Education Trust has planted 350 trees in Tanzania, one for every new Reception pupil joining its schools this September, as part of a new environmental initiative that will grow alongside the children throughout their education. The trust comprises 21 schools – 17 primary and four secondary – across Wiltshire, with schools in and around...
Bath Film Festival returns with cinema, special events and opportunities for young filmmakers
Bath Film Festival returns to the city from 16-25 October, bringing more than 50 films, special events and immersive cinema experiences to venues across Bath. Now in its 36th year, the festival will feature new releases, award-winning international films, documentaries, filmmaker Q&As and live performances, alongside opportunities for young people interested in pursuing careers in...
Young readers inspired by authors at Bath Children’s Literature Festival
Pupils from four local primary schools have enjoyed meeting award-winning authors and illustrators, taking part in creative workshops and discovering a new love of reading at this year’s Bath Children’s Literature Festival. Children from Weston All Saints Primary School and Roundhill Primary School in Bath, Castle Primary School in Keynsham and Pensford Primary School near...
Kingswood Prep pupils develop confidence in public speaking from the age of three
Eight out of ten Year 6 pupils at Kingswood Prep School in Bath say they feel confident speaking in front of an audience, following years of opportunities to develop their communication and presentation skills. A recent survey of 71 Year 6 pupils found that 80% felt confident or extremely confident speaking in front of an...
Children invited to become nature detectives at Dyrham Park this autumn
Families are being invited to explore the great outdoors and uncover the secrets of nature with a new autumn trail at the National Trust’s Dyrham Park, near Bath. Running until Sunday 1 November, the There’s No Deer Around Here trail is inspired by the popular children’s picture book by Andy Hussey and Rosie Venner and...
A new chapter for The Bath Massage Company
Bath has drawn people seeking healing for more than two thousand years and The Bath Massage Company has been the city’s trusted home of expert massage since 2010. This summer it began a new chapter under new owners at a new venue, opposite the Apex hotel. Offering everything from deep tissue, lymphatic, sports and holistic...
St Mary’s pupils skip into action for national kindness campaign
Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham have been putting kindness into action by taking part in a special skipathon as part of the national Great British Skip campaign. The school, which is part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, joined the campaign to support Captain of Kindness Krish Patel, who has completed...
Bath community groups offered £1,000 grants to help families get online
Community groups and charities in Bath that help families and local residents access online services are being invited to apply for grants of up to £1,000 through a new Digital Inclusion Fund. The funding could help organisations support parents struggling with school communications, families accessing online healthcare and education services, and older residents who need...
Wiltshire College Motorsport team celebrates back-to-back championship success at Castle Combe
A Motorsport lecturer at Wiltshire College & University Centre has raced to championship victory for the second consecutive year, with students playing a hands-on role in his success. Sam Williams, from Melksham, secured the Castle Combe Racing Club Hot Hatch Championship title on Saturday 3 October, successfully defending the crown he won in 2025. Competing...
MarshFest raises record £23,000 for local schools and community groups
The family-friendly MarshFest music festival has raised a record-breaking £23,000 for local charities and community groups, following its most successful event yet at Marshfield Cricket Club in South Gloucestershire. Around 2,000 people attended the sixth MarshFest on Saturday 12 September, enjoying a full day of live music, family entertainment, food and drink. The £23,000 raised...
Royal High Bath students begin their Leiths Confident Cookery journey
Sixth Form students at Royal High School Bath have begun their Leiths Confident Cookery 30 course, making an impressive start as they develop their culinary skills. Looking smart in their new chef whites and equipped with engraved knives, the girls are excited to immerse themselves in the renowned Leiths programme. The 30-week course is designed...
King Edward’s School appoints new bursary and educational partnerships lead to widen access
King Edward’s School (KES) in Bath has appointed Freya Geary-Smith to a newly created role aimed at helping more young people benefit from the school’s educational opportunities, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. As Bursary Support and Educational Partnerships Lead, Freya will work with families throughout the means-tested bursary application process, while also developing partnerships...
Motherhood and mental health: What every mum needs to know
To mark the lead-up to World Mental Health Day, Bath Mind Ambassador Meera Phull shines a light on an often overlooked aspect of mental health: the experience of motherhood. From pregnancy to the postpartum period and beyond, mothers can face emotional and psychological challenges, including anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, intrusive thoughts and feelings of overwhelm....
REME Museum gets families engineering this October half term
Families can put their engineering skills to the test this October half term with four days of hands-on workshops and a Halloween trail at the REME Museum in Lyneham. Running from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 October, the museum’s half-term programme gives children the chance to build with everything from recycled cardboard and junk materials...
Royal Victoria Park improvements aim to make family visits safer and easier
Families visiting Bath’s Royal Victoria Park are set to benefit from a package of improvements designed to make the park safer and easier to get around on foot, by bike, with pushchairs and for people with limited mobility. Work is due to begin this autumn on upgraded pavements, new accessible crossing points, improved lighting and...
St Edmund’s Primary in Calne celebrates progress across all five improvement priorities
Saint Edmund’s Catholic Primary School in Calne is celebrating positive results from its latest school improvement review, which found that all five of its improvement priorities are on track. The school, which is part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, received Green ratings across all five areas assessed through the Department for Education’s RISE programme,...
Parents invited to help shape future early years services in Wiltshire
Parents and carers of babies and young children across Wiltshire are being invited to share their experiences to help shape the future of early years support and services in the county. Wiltshire Council has launched a new survey aimed at parents and carers of children aged from birth to five, as well as people who...
Bath College apprentice wins bronze at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
A Bath College engineering apprentice has won bronze on the international stage after competing against some of the world’s best young professionals at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Oliver Coombs claimed bronze in the Additive Manufacturing category, which tests skills including 3D printing, scanning and rapid prototyping. He was one of 28 young professionals representing the UK...
Wiltshire College apprentice named South West’s top landscape student
A Wiltshire College & University Centre apprentice who swapped engineering for horticulture has been named the South West’s top landscape student after winning a prestigious BALI Chalk Fund Award. Finlay Lisk, 18, from Bath, has won the South West regional title in the 2026 BALI Chalk Fund Landscape Student of the Year Awards, recognising his...
Weekly Forest School sessions introduced for every pupil at Amesbury school
Every pupil at Christ the King Catholic School in Amesbury will now take part in a weekly Forest School session following an expansion and revamp of the school’s outdoor provision. The school, part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, has improved its Forest School area and trained a member of staff to lead sessions, giving...