Shapwick School

Shapwick School closed the summer term in traditional style with Speech Day. 2008-09 has been a highly successful year for all pupils at the specialist school for dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

The event began with Joint Headmaster, Mr Walker, introducing the leavers from Year 11 who would be going onto further study in a range of subjects including childcare, land management, sport and forensic science.

The guest speaker was Ann Norcott from Canine Partners. Shapwick School has raised funds for this charity since November 2002 and topped the £2,000 mark in March. Seven years ago Mrs Walker’s tutor group was inspired by a newspaper article about the work of Canine Partners and used it as the topic for their tutor assembly. The dogs are specially trained to help disabled people live independently, e.g. help them make their bed, withdraw cash from a cashpoint and pick up items such as keys from the floor when dropped. The rest of the school was so impressed by the work of the dogs and the difference they make to their owners’ lives that the pupils have worked hard, and had lots of fun, fundraising via Easter Egg raffles, donations to a collecting tin, proceeds from a Christmas disco and sponsored spells.

Ann was accompanied by one of the dogs who demonstrated some of the ways he helps Ann to live independently.

Shapwick School is particularly looking forward to the 2009-10 academic year as it marks the school’s 35th anniversary.