With Royal Approval

by Rob Smith

Owler Brook Nursery and Infants school has officially been recognised in Parliament by this year’s Offstead report as one of the country’s most successfully developed infant and primary schools, raising standards and achievements for all its children.
March 21st 2002 marked a visit from many of the city’s dignitaries, invited to await the arrival of HRH Duchess of Gloucester GCVO. Along with my colleague Shaffaq, I went along to report on this minor royal occasion. 

In by 12:30 pm and vetted by security we assembled in the school hall along with a list of invited guests. The High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Mr and Mrs Staniforth, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor D Barker and Lady Mayoress Mrs Barker. Chief Executive of the City Council, R Kirslake and Mrs Kerslake. Deputy leader of Sheffield City Council, Ms M Beresford. The Master Culter of Hallamshire, Mr Priest and Mistress Cutler Mrs Priest. The Chair of the Education Committee Sheffield City Council, Councillor Mrs A Anginotti. Executive Director of Education, Sheffield City Council, Jonathan Crossley-Holland, Chair of NDC Partnership board Councillor Steve Jones, Owler Brook Chair of governors and vice chair of governors and the list went on. 

By 12.45pm the royal party had arrived and were shown around what is a magnificent school building before being entertained by a children’s performance of mixed Asian and English dancing and singing. 

After the official unveiling HRH made off for her next engagement, while we and other official dignitaries were given tours around what is a splendid nursery and infant education facility.

“ We have special English language classes and IT suite with up to date technology. The teachers here as well as parents have given a lot of commitment in making this school work”, 
explains head teacher Sue Graville. Achieving the recognised high standards means Owler Brook have begun breaking the myth, that so many are failing due to English being a second language. 

“The majority of children who attend Owler Brook Infants have English as an additional language and a significant number arrive through key 1 stage with little or no English at all. Therefore any successful work done here is a great achievement by all those involved, both parents and teachers alike”

Reminding me that we also have two other infant primary schools in our community I dared to enquire about Pye Bank, Firs Hill and Byron Wood. 

“We are linking our language suport with Pye Bank already” explained Sue.


Jonathan Crossley-Holland explained the recent focus on the appointment of new head teachers for the three before mentioned schools and talked of Owler becoming the flagship of improvement for the others to follow.

This is Rob Smith hopefully reporting on a positive wind of change for a future generation who live in and around the community we reside.

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