200th birthday of Dedham Church of England Primary School

According to historical documents, Edward Betts donated some money in 1825 for a school in the village to help "educate the poor". The school continue to keep this founding principle at the heart of what they do with their school vision ‘Guide each of us to be a light to the world’, inspired by Matthew 5:14-16.

The school community has marked their 200th year in various ways. During the summer term, the children were excited to become pen pals with children across the Atlantic in Dedham, Massachusetts. Pupils in all classes wrote and received letters, and some even managed to navigate the five-hour time difference to meet their pen pals online!

Thanks to a generous donation from Dedham Parish Council, the school was able to install a pond in the school grounds for the children to use as part of their science and Forest School curriculums.

Class 6 has been learning about the history of schooling in Dedham as part of their history curriculum which included a village tour with Richard Hopkins, the Chair of Governors. The students then used what they had learned to write articles, some of which can be read on the school website.

Students have also drawn portraits of each other, over 200 of which have been exhibited in the village. In the autumn term, the celebrations will continue as the pupils plan to run 200 laps of their school field!