Independent schools’ responsibilities

WE WERE delighted to read Erin Hudson’s letter with her kind congratulations on Moreton Hall’s nomination for Independent School of the Year in Performing Arts.

Like Ms Hudson, we believe passionately in the importance of the Arts as part of a young person’s education.

Music, art and drama should all be an integral part of both the mainstream curriculum and the extra-curricular opportunities offered to our young people.

Historical government performance measures, including ranking the percentage of pupils obtaining a full house of eBacc subjects, have unintentionally discouraged schools from promoting the study of non-eBacc subjects such as drama, art or music.

Such subjects make up the broad and balanced education all schools should be free to provide.

In the face of a tragic decline in the state sector, independent schools like Moreton Hall fulfill a key role in broadening participation in the arts.

We are proud of the fact that the nomination referred to in Ms Hudson’s letter includes our community partnerships with local primary and secondary schools.

The nomination revolved around the Holroyd Community Theatre, located in the grounds of the school.

As a county wide arts hub for north Shropshire Music, the Face2Face Performance Academy, the Creative Arts Project and the North Shropshire Big Sing, we have welcomed over more than 300 primary age pupils to participate in a variety of performance opportunities.

We have worked with pupils from Selattyn School, St Martin’s School, Weston Rhyn Primary School, Woodside Primary, Morda Primary and Trefonen School to share in the joy of the creative process. The Holroyd Community Theatre’s very first event was our Community Christmas concert which brought together pupils from a number of those primary schools.

The arts are about collaboration; we are proud that this award celebrates our community partnerships and we look forward to continuing to build on these special relationships to ensure the Arts remain accessible to all.

George Budd,

Moreton Hall principal

Safety first approach by town residents

I PAID my first visit to Oswestry since lockdown measures were eased last week and was pleasantly surprised to see everyone sticking to social distancing guidelines and making an effort to keep themselves and others safe.

It helped to put to rest any concerns I had before returning to the shops.

People helping to make the town a safe place to visit will no doubt help out the nearby businesses as we continue to recover from the crisis.

As a regular contributor to this letters page, I have made my affection for this town perfectly clear and I hope you all continue to look after each other while at the shops and wherever you need to be following the guidelines.

I am sure the town will also adopt the masks when they become compulsory, as it is the best way of working together across the whole of the Oswestry to ensure we will beat this.

I will always be keeping an eye on this for you.

Steve Jacobs,

Wrexham

Smile and sing as we are a miracle

IN NATURE everything sings, all the birds have their own distinctive song, even whales have a peculiar song.

So you are allowed to sing even if you haven’t got a great voice, just make a joyful noise. It is a fact that you can smile and sing at the same time and it sounds much more cheerful.

God knew us when we were in our mothers womb. Just think of the miracle of conception.

Two seeds invisible to the human eye come together in ecstatic joy and another person begins, with all the genetic ancestry.

There’s no one just like you the world over, no voice like yours. Should not we sing, because we are the only creatures who can know our creator, the one who made the stars and planets, what a privilege.

Ron Jones,

St Martins

Help us on a memory walk

Under normal circumstances, many thousands of people would have by now signed up to take part in an Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk.

These hugely popular events bring people together in a variety of stunning locations to unite against dementia, whilst raising vital funds to support those affected by the condition.

It would have been my 10th year attending such an event in Nottinghamshire. While it saddens me that we can’t all get together this year, I’m determined with my family to walk my own way in memory of my nana.

People with dementia have been the worst hit by the current crisis and need us more than ever – across the UK a quarter of those who have died of coronavirus had dementia.

Wherever you are, we can all still help make a difference and I encourage you to sign up either with your household – pets included – friends, or another household in line with current government guidelines. Create your own route, from lapping your garden or local park to revisiting somewhere special.

This year’s Santander-sponsored Memory Walk is free to register. Walks can be organised anytime between now and October – or you might choose to do it on 20 September to mark World Alzheimer’s Day.

Sign up now at memorywalk.org.uk and with every step, you’ll help change the lives of people affected by dementia.

Vicky McClure,

Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador

My thanks to you all

I WOULD like to thank all those who have adapted so well to the recent changes after lockdown began to scale back. Your work has been brilliant.

Terry Moore,

Oswestry