Devon County Council

From David Hutchings, Exeter 382594, November 14, 2008

PUPILS AND STAFF at an East Devon primary school badly hit by flooding haven't turned a drama into a crisis - they've used it as a learning opportunity.

The lower part of Tipton St John Church of England Primary School was washed out by the freak floods that hit the Ottery area last month.

Staff and governors pitched in over half term to rescue as much equipment as possible and school resumed with the younger pupils temporarily housed in the village hall.

But Tipton headteacher Penny Burnside said the school has been using the whole experience as a learning opportunity.

"All the staff thought: 'OK, we have had a flood. Let's make use of it'," she said.

"The staff have been really good and we have had excellent support from the children, parents and the wider community.

"We have sought ideas from Devon County Council's geography adviser on teaching about floods. We have appealed to the community for pictures of previous flooding.

"We have improvised some PE lessons and gone orienteering on the fields but combined it with river studies and The King's School have offered us the use of their all-weather games area.

"The Met Office has offered to come and talk about the floods and we are planning to send some of the older children into their headquarters.

"In fact we have had offers of help from lots of other schools and from our local community for which we are really grateful."

The school is intent on returning the favour as well. Every Friday the school is organising the chance for a cup of tea and a chat from 1.30 to 2.30pm for parents, friends and neighbours.

"We are particularly thinking of people who might have been affected by the flooding or who might welcome some company," said Mrs Burnside.

"It fits in with our whole school ethos of encouraging the children to look out for each other and other people.

"We've also said to them that although they may have lost possessions in the flood there are people in other parts of the world who suffer these sort of circumstances every day.

"Overall I do not believe the children's learning has been disrupted. This may have been a disaster for the school but it is proving to be a big learning experience and a stimulus for an already close community to pull even closer together.

"I am really grateful to everyone who has offered help and support and we are looking forward to being able to use our large classroom by the end of the month."

Devon County Council's Director of Learning and Schools, Judith Johnson, was one of the first visitors to the school after the flood.

She told the school: "I was so impressed with the air of calm and purposeful learning in such difficult circumstances.

"The approach you have taken is commendable and shows the best of our education system in seizing the learning opportunity from every scenario."

NOTE TO NEWS EDS: For more information and to arrange pictures, contact Penny Burnside on 01404 812943.

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