Stars of the Theatre Royal Bath pantomime paid a special festive visit to the Children’s Ward at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, spreading Christmas cheer to young patients and their families. Cast members from The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook took time out from their performance schedule to meet children and...
Category: General news
Green light for safer school walking routes in Midsomer Norton
New funding has been approved to improve walking routes in Midsomer Norton, helping children travel to school more safely. The Clapton Road and Redfield Road improvement scheme, consulted on earlier this year, is scheduled for construction in 2026. It will strengthen pedestrian links between Longvernal Primary School, St John’s Church of England Primary School and...
Royal High supports future lawyers with prestigious sixth form scholarship
Royal High Bath is inviting aspiring lawyers to apply for the Johnston Memorial Scholarship 2025/26, a prestigious award supporting students who hope to study Law at university. The scholarship provides £1,500 a year to a Sixth Form student who is already in receipt of a bursary or scholarship with significant financial assistance, helping to remove...
Bath MP raises concerns in Parliament over school’s access to grassroots cricket
The MP for Bath has called on the Government to invest more in grassroots cricket, warning that children in state schools continue to face significant barriers to taking part in the sport. Speaking in Parliament on December 16, Wera Hobhouse referenced findings from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which highlighted class-based discrimination as...
Bath School of Ukulele offering parent & child music lessons
Finding time to properly connect with children can feel increasingly difficult for busy families. For many local parents, learning music together is becoming a joyful way to slow down, share experiences and build confidence side by side. Bath School of Ukulele is seeing growing interest in its Parent & Child Music Lessons, which invite parents...
Deep Connexions recognised for specialist therapeutic work supporting families
Deep Connexions, a Chippenham-based therapeutic practice founded and led by Jacqui Ellis, has been recognised at a regional awards ceremony for its work supporting parents, babies and families across the South West. The practice has been named Specialist Therapeutic Practitioner of the Year in the South West 2025/2026 by the Prestige Awards. The award followed a nomination...
Primary school pupils enjoy hockey taster day with Team Bath Buccaneers
Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club has welcomed more than 100 local primary school pupils for a fun-filled day of hockey as part of its growing Community Outreach Programme. The Primary school taster day took place on Friday 28 November and brought together pupils from years 4 and 5 at clubs facilities in Bath. Children attended...
Marksbury Primary School pupils shine in camel-themed nativity
Pupils at Marksbury Church of England Primary School near Bath brought plenty of Christmas cheer to the village hall when they staged their festive play on 9 and 10 December. Reception, year one and year two pupils performed Camel-Ama-Ding-Dong, a lively musical nativity told from the perspective of the camels who carried the wise men...
Partnership launches New Year’s Day Dip to support men’s wellbeing
A unique partnership between hospice charity Dorothy House and cold-water therapy charity IceBreakers will launch on 1 January 2026, aiming to increase men’s awareness of, and access to, therapeutic nature-connection activities in communities across England. The two organisations share an ambition to create positive mental health benefits for men. They will begin the year with...
Kingsbury Green Academy pupils spread festive cheer across the Calne community
Pupils at Kingsbury Green Academy have been spreading festive cheer this term by collecting gifts to support local charities and community initiatives. Students, their families and members of the wider Calne community worked together to donate presents for some very worthy causes, helping to ensure vulnerable residents feel supported this Christmas. Earlier this month, Calne...
Wiltshire College & University Centre celebrates student progress with new PACE Awards
Wiltshire College & University Centre is marking the end of term by celebrating student progress, resilience and engagement with the launch of its new PACE Awards. Introduced this term and delivered on a quarterly basis, the awards recognise students across all campuses and curriculum areas, celebrating effort and development alongside attendance and achievement. One of...
Persimmon donation helps Chippenham RFC kit out its young players
Chippenham RFC’s Under 11s have received a welcome boost thanks to a £1,000 donation from Persimmon Homes Wessex. The funding, provided through the developer’s Community Champions programme, will help kit out the team for the 2025/26 season. The club, founded in 1898, has around 400 members and plays its home fixtures at Allington Fields. The...
Hayesdown pupils shine on iconic Cheese and Grain stage
Hayesdown First School pupils took to one of Frome’s most famous stages, performing their Nativity at the iconic Cheese and Grain – a venue that has welcomed artists such as Paul McCartney and the Foo Fighters. In total, 240 children brought the Christmas story to life with a modern twist. Years One to Four performed...
Wiltshire families reminded to apply for September 2026 primary school places by 15 January
Wiltshire families are being reminded that there is just over a month left to apply for primary school places for children starting school in September 2026. The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026. Applications can be submitted online via Wiltshire Council’s website or by using a paper form available from the council’s Customer Services Team...
St Benedict’s Primary School pupils enjoy a host of Christmas activities
Pupils from St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, have been overflowing with festive cheer. Children and staff at the Midsomer Norton school have taken part in a host of Christmas activities, celebrating the season, supporting good causes and spreading community spirit. The celebrations began with a fun-filled pantomime organised...
Funding confirmed for new specialist education schools in Bath
Families across Bath and North East Somerset are set to benefit from long-awaited investment in specialist education, following confirmation that government funding has been secured for two new schools on the Culverhay site in Bath. The announcement comes as part of a national commitment to create at least 50,000 new places for children with special...
Then Now When – Helping families shape sustainable, future-proof homes
Introducing Then Now When – the Bath-based practice blending heritage, sustainability and family living Families across Bath and Wiltshire are increasingly looking for ways to make their homes work harder for them, whether that’s creating better space for growing children, improving energy efficiency or protecting the character of an older property. One practice helping them...
Dementia wellbeing programmes and activities helping to transform lives
Many families across Bath and Wiltshire are part of a ‘sandwich generation’, juggling the needs of children while also caring for ageing parents and grandparents. For those supporting a loved one with dementia, finding reliable, local and compassionate help can be life-changing. A new programme from ReMind UK, the Bath-based dementia charity, will be welcome...
Malcolm Bond appointed permanent Head of The Paragon School
The Paragon School in Bath has appointed Malcolm Bond as its permanent Head, who will be taking up the post in January 2026. He succeeds Rosie Allen following a highly competitive recruitment process. Malcolm brings extensive experience in independent education. He joined Prior Park College in 2012 and has progressed through a series of leadership...
Bath Literature Festival announces first 2026 event with The Rest is History’s Tom Holland
Bath Literature Festival 2026 has unveiled its first headline event, confirming that Tom Holland – award-winning historian and star of the world’s most downloaded history podcast, The Rest is History – will appear at The Forum next May, with tickets available from 10am on Friday 12 December. Holland will take audiences deep into the world...
Introducing Flowerpot – a colourful, multilingual AI companion at Stonar
Stonar’s prep school pupils have welcomed a very unusual new classmate this week: Flowerpot, a colourful, multilingual AI companion created to spark creativity, curiosity and environmental action in young learners. Stonar is one of only four UK schools – and more than 40 across nine countries – taking part in the pioneering Globeducate initiative. Schools...