Pupils at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham have been praised for their kindness, exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm for prayer and worship following the school’s latest Catholic Schools Inspection. St Mary’s, part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, was judged ‘Good’ overall, with inspectors highlighting its strong sense of belonging and the commitment of...
Category: General news
School Streets trial begins at four Wiltshire primary schools
Families at four Wiltshire primary schools will see new traffic restrictions outside the school gates from Friday 4 September as Wiltshire Council launches its School Streets pilot. The trial is being introduced at Aloeric Primary School in Melksham, Fynamore Primary School in Calne, Minster Primary School in Warminster and Queen’s Crescent Primary School in Chippenham....
New SEND resource bases open in Wiltshire schools
More children and young people with SEND will be able to access specialist support closer to home following the opening of new resource bases at schools across Wiltshire this September. Among the new provisions are bases at Kingsbury Green Academy in Calne and Noremarsh Junior School in Royal Wootton Bassett, part of Wiltshire Council’s continuing...
Baby and Toddler mornings return to St Margaret’s Calne this autumn
Families with babies and young children are being invited to enjoy farms, fairytales, music, autumn activities and plenty more as St Margaret’s Calne brings back its popular Baby and Toddler Mornings this autumn. Hosted by the school’s Nursery every Friday during term time, the free sessions are open to children aged 0-4 years and their...
Wiltshire mum of five launches natural body mist for tween and teen girls
A Wiltshire mum of five who created her own natural deodorant after struggling to find a suitable product for her young daughter has expanded her award-winning blossom & beau range with a new body mist for tween and teen girls. NHS paramedic Amanda Johnson founded blossom & beau after looking for a natural, age-appropriate deodorant...
Five racing dates to look forward to at Castle Combe Circuit
For families looking for an exciting day out in Wiltshire, Castle Combe Circuit has plenty to offer over the coming months, with five race meetings taking place between the August Bank Holiday and November. The famous Wiltshire venue makes a great family day out, giving visitors the chance to enjoy the racing, explore the paddock...
New Kumon Bath South owners bring top-performing experience to the city
After helping to build one of the fastest-growing Kumon centres in the South West, Colin Gillespie and his wife Susan have now brought their experience to Bath with the launch of Kumon Bath South. Kumon provides individualised maths and English study programmes for children of all ages and abilities, helping students progress at their own...
School place applications open for Wiltshire families
Parents and carers in Wiltshire can now apply for primary and secondary school places for children starting or changing school in September 2027. Applications are open through Wiltshire Council’s online school admissions service, with families encouraged to apply well ahead of the national deadlines. The deadline for applications for Year 7 secondary school places is...
Trowbridge youngster takes on year-long parkrun challenge for air ambulance
A nine-year-old Trowbridge schoolboy is running a different parkrun across Wiltshire and Bath every month throughout 2026 after being inspired by lifesaving training delivered at his primary school. Harrison has set himself the challenge of completing 12 different parkruns, covering a total of 60km, to raise money for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity. He...
Champagne and Tissues returns to support Bath parents on first day of school
Bath toy shop My Small World is bringing back its popular Champagne and Tissues sessions this September, offering a friendly place for parents and carers to gather after dropping their child off for their very first day at school. The annual event recognises that starting school can be a big moment for parents as well...
Wiltshire College art students gain work experience in Porto
Art students from Wiltshire College & University Centre have put their creative skills into practice alongside professional artists and traditional craftspeople during a two-week work experience trip to Porto. A group of 20 Level 3 Creative Practice and Foundation Art and Design students from the college’s Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury campuses travelled to Portugal for...
Wag Walk returns to Bath to raise funds for rescue cats and dogs
Dogs and their owners are being invited to put their best paws forward this September as Bath Cats and Dogs Home brings back its annual Wag Walk fundraising challenge. Taking place on Sunday 27 September, the sponsored walk will start and finish at the charity’s rescue centre in Claverton, with organisers hoping to welcome more...
Showtime approaches with Westonbirt’s autumn colour
Westonbirt Arboretum is preparing for one of its most spectacular times of year, with its famous Japanese maples set to provide a dazzling display of autumn colour alongside trails, family activities and seasonal events. From 7 September, Westonbirt will explore the theme of The Magic of Maples, inviting visitors to experience the internationally renowned tree...
Dorothy House to host world premiere light installation for 50th anniversary
Dorothy House hospice will mark its 50th anniversary this autumn with the world premiere of Moments of Light, a major immersive installation by internationally renowned light artist Bruce Munro. Running from 1 October to 31 December, the three-month installation will transform acres of the hospice’s grounds at Winsley, near Bradford on Avon, with thousands of...
Affordable Family Law Group offers accessible support for separating families
For families facing separation, understanding child arrangements, finances and the legal process can add another layer of stress at an already difficult time. The Affordable Family Law Group (AFLG) is working to make that support easier to access, particularly for families dealing with issues involving children, domestic abuse or special educational needs and disabilities. The...
Bath SEND specialist launches InclusionFirst Education to support families
A Bath education specialist has launched a new service to help families navigate the often complex world of SEND support, EHCP applications, school meetings and appeals. InclusionFirst Education has been founded by Georgia Morris-Boyce, an experienced Inclusion Lead who has spent more than a decade working in education and SEND. The service works directly with...
Performing arts group helps sisters find confidence, friendship and a place to belong
As the summer holidays draw to a close and families begin preparing for a new school year, local mum Quen Geuter has shared how discovering a Bath performing arts group has transformed life for her two daughters, helping them build confidence, friendships and a real sense of belonging. For her oldest daughter, who is now...
£9.5m Abbeyfield School expansion moves forward as building work begins
Work is beginning this week on a major £9.5 million expansion of Abbeyfield School in Chippenham, which will create space for hundreds more pupils and provide new sixth form facilities. Wiltshire Council is investing in the project, which will be delivered over three phases and will eventually create teaching space for an additional 450 pupils...
Kingsbury Green Academy students celebrate improving GCSE results
Students and staff at Kingsbury Green Academy (KGA) in Calne are celebrating further improvements in GCSE results, with the school continuing its upward trajectory across key performance measures. This year saw a 3% increase in the proportion of students achieving a strong pass, Grade 5 or above, in both English and Mathematics, alongside a similar...
Sheldon School students celebrate GCSE results above national average
Students at Sheldon School are celebrating another strong set of GCSE results, with attainment at grades 9–5 rising again and results remaining significantly above the national average. Overall, 74% of GCSE entries achieved grades 9–4, compared with a national average of 67.3%, while 60% achieved grades 9–5, ahead of the national figure of 55%. The...
Bath educator launches Friday Brain Building Club
Disadvantaged pupils in England are now 19 months behind their better-off classmates by the time they sit their GCSEs, according to the recently published Education Policy Institute’s 2026 annual report. It is a gap that Bath-based educator Joey James has spent 15 years watching widen from the inside, and this month she has launched something...