Devoran School celebrated its First Birthday with a special ceremony including the official unveiling of the school’s new two metre ceramic mural, dance, poetry and musical performances by pupils and cream teas for guests. Staff, pupils and governors from the school moved into their new £3 million building in September last year. Now, twelve months on, they staged an Open Afternoon to celebrate the move and enable local residents and invited guests to look around their new school. Guests included former headteachers, staff and governors, members of local scouts, guides and brownie groups, members of Feock parish council and the local Parochial Church Council.
A tour of the school and a cream tea was followed by speeches not least from chairman of governors Richard Williams.
Artist John Dyer cut a ribbon to mark the official opening of the colourful ceramic mural made by pupils with support from the school’s art club teacher Lucie Fitton and local potter and parent Jacqueline Clark at the end of last term. The design for the mural, which has been erected at the front of the school, was inspired by John Dyer’s work and incorporates themes of the local environment as well as the many circular architectural features found around the new school building. Pupils later performed dance, poetry and music and ended in a huge firework display.
Headteacher Carol Breakwell said: “The move to the new site has been very exciting for Devoran School. The original building housed a superb school and it is our team spirit and ethos for creative and enjoyable learning that we have brought with us to the new building.
“We are still very much at the heart of the community and so it seems right that our celebrations include everyone because they have made all this possible for our future learners.”
Mr Williams said: “This special day was an opportunity to thank everyone who had made a significant contribution to the excellent facilities which the school now benefits from and to celebrate the creativity that is at the heart of everything the school does.”
The new school, which includes seven classrooms, an special educational needs room, hall, kitchen, a resources room for IT and library work, hard play area, ball court, playing field and a special habitat area with an amphitheatre, was positioned to take advantage of the natural light, sun paths and views. Each of the classrooms is south west facing with views across the creek and open countryside and has direct access to a quiet teaching area.
