In the Community

Elizabeth Michael Associates and Berridge Junior School

Wednesday 24th,January 2007 is marked in my diary as a very important date when Berridge Junior School began its relationship with Elizabeth Michael Associates. Like any other relationship, you begin by dealing with the here and now, but cannot predict how it will develop over time. Within a very short period of time, I can now report that that first meeting with John Hyde and Marie Williams has opened up dimensions far beyond our expectations.

To put this into perspective, Berridge Junior School (photograph attached) is an inner city school, situated in a deprived area of Nottingham. The school serves a very multicultural community combined with inherent problems associated with low socio-economic status, high levels of unemployment, an under-class of drugs, prostitution and low-level crime etc.

Amidst all of this, we are a very happy school. The staff are privileged to work in an environment where all their efforts and hard work are appreciated by the children and their families. It is to the school’s credit that a significant number of children (29%) live outside the catchment area, but their families choose to send them to Berridge. Our mission is to give children the best start in life, not just academically, but also socially and emotionally. The core curriculum is enhanced by a vast range of additional activities both inside and outside the school’s environment, often managed by the voluntary efforts of staff.

However, we cannot stand alone in our endeavours. It is so gratifying for us when companies such as Elizabeth Michael Associates take an active interest in the school. Already we have benefited from the services offered by this company in respect of supply cover for administration staff. This has been taken to another level with the gift of a full drum kit which will support the development of music at Berridge and in particular develop the talents of specific children who have been identified as talented in this field (see the photograph of Charlie and Hanieh attached). Plans are also being laid to support the total financial cost of our annual trip to the seaside in July, when we take all of our Year 5/6 children (about 140) for a special day out, just before the Year 6 children move on to secondary school.
Schools such as Berridge need local businesses to support them, so our relationship with Elizabeth Michael Associates is an excellent example of good practice. We can look forward to the future with optimism, working in partnership to provide the best opportunities for children.

Bryan Mallows
Head Teacher – Berridge Junior School