Thurston CE Primary Academy, near Bury St Edmunds, opens reflection garden at Pond Field Road site
A primary school has officially opened a new outdoor space that gives pupils the opportunity for quiet reflection during play and lunch-times.
Thurston CE Primary Academy, in the village of Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, has been developing its outside areas since it opened at the new site in Pond Field Road in 2021.
On Wednesday, there was a grand opening for the school’s ‘reflection garden’, which features a metal tree created by Designs on Metal, in Stowlangtoft, and planting in the shape of a cross.
The metal tree sculpture features the 12 Christian values on the leaves; for example, compassion, generosity and perseverance.
Amanda Wigzell, deputy headteacher of Thurston Primary, said: “The area of reflection is really making sure we don’t overlook the benefits of quietness for our pupils; making sure they have the opportunity to reflect in silence.
“This is somewhere for them to be able to reflect in the outdoor space at play-times and lunch-times.”
The Church of England school has areas for quiet reflection in each of its classrooms, and Mrs Wigzell said, as the children are not in the classrooms all day long, there was a need for a reflection area outside.
During the grand opening ceremony, the leaves featuring the Christian values were brought up by individual pupils from each class who then said a quote from the Bible related to that value, and the leaves were then placed on the tree.
In his opening speech, the school’s headteacher, John Bayes, said: “This area has been a long time in the making and we are very thankful to many for making it possible.”
The Friends of Thurston School (FOTS) has fundraised for the area, and the ongoing project to develop the playground.
And teaching assistants Sarah Hutchens, our Bury Free Press TA of the Year, and Jane Topikha and their gardening club have planted up the reflection garden, with parent volunteers helping as part of a working party at the beginning of September.
There are flamingo and robin trees and a selection of grasses, as well as three planters, each featuring a word from the school vision: trust, perseverance and aspiration.
The wider playground project has included the introduction of a LEGO pit area, a drawing area and table football.
Mrs Wigzell said: “Play is so important for the pupils. They spend a lot of time outside over the course of each week – six hours a week they are out there for play and lunch-times – so it was really important for us to develop that area and make sure there are lots of things for all different personalities of children.”
The grand opening ceremony of the reflection garden was led by Mr Bayes and Mrs Wigzell, as well as Year 6 collective worship leaders, and Reverend Ben Edwards from St Peter’s Church, in Thurston, did a blessing at the end.
