by Kelly Earls | Mar 28, 2025 | Uncategorized
Alex Ballinger MP came to visit The Earls today to commend students for their work out in The Gambia and the fundraising that had taken place prior to their visit. He awarded them his Community Champion Award for outstanding service to the local community. He also took the time to chat to students about their trip and his work as an MP.
We are very proud that he raised an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to highlight our longstanding support for Project Gambia. Bev Hodt, the founder of the Project Gambia charity, has also written to us to praise the fantastic commitment and compassion shown by our students. It is wonderful that this has been recognised so widely.
by Nic Earls | Mar 7, 2025 | Uncategorized
Well, all good things must come to end and our trip to Gambia is no exception.
This morning, the students packed up and had a rather casual morning. We did manage a quick walk on the beach, a short awards ceremony and some final games of table tennis and pool.
Students received their batik work back too, so they will be able to share their afternoon of creativity with you when they return home!
We are at the gate, the plane is visible, and we are looking good for a punctual take off, I have a sneaky suspicion that the return journey may be slightly quieter than the outbound one!
A final thanks from the staff to students for such an amazing trip! I personally feel very privileged to have shared this trip with the students and I continue to be immensely proud of the students I get to work with at The Earls High School!
Mrs Sevier
by Nic Earls | Mar 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
The last full day is always an emotional one and today was no exception! After the excitement of last night’s meal students were a little slow stirring this morning, but once they were in the land of the living, they were certainly busy bees!!
At 9am we left the hotel; we had a squad of 6 artists who returned to Bright Minds to do the very final little bits of art before playing balloons and bubbles with the children, 5 students went to omega nursery and the rest returned to The Spring of Life School.
The students engaged in an array of craft activities as they did this afternoon when we returned to omega school. It was lovely to start and end the week working with the children from The Omega school. After the session this afternoon, Famous, the headteacher of Omega took us to the site where the new school is being built. It was a hugely powerful moment for our students to see the construction of a school which is being funded with the money they worked hard to raise.
They hope that the school will open in September when our students return as year 11 students in their final year of secondary schooling, what an immense legacy they are now a part of!
We popped to the supermarket and had a final detour to the ice cream parlour. A delicious end to the afternoon. This evening, Mr Butler organised a quiz for the students and ‘The Table’ were victorious in winning the competition with 59 points.
The students are watching the live band and relishing the final evening of being in a country which I truly believe has had a profound impact on many of them.
It was definitely a thrilling Thursday!
Mrs Sevier
The incredible paintings:
Morning school activities:
Afternoon fun:
Videos from the day:
by Nic Earls | Mar 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
The students and staff have all had a wonderful evening meal, please enjoy the pictures that were sent through late last night!
by Nic Earls | Mar 5, 2025 | Uncategorized
An action-packed day as always! We started with a rather subdued breakfast (anyone would think the students are tired out!) and then set off to our morning schools. Ten students went to Bright Minds Nursery and the rest to St. Peter’s school. The activities were a roaring success in both schools and the students relished the opportunity of continuing to work with the young children.
After lunch we went to Bright Minds for a final afternoon of painting. Six students will return to the school tomorrow for the very final touch ups, but the results of the students’ hard work is looking fantastic. Blank white walls turned into exciting teaching and learning opportunities.
We detoured on the way back to the hotel to call in at Kotusilo village to hand out hygiene packs and mosquito nets. The gratitude of the villagers was quite overwhelming, and it is so eye opening for our students to see how fortunate they are.
The students are enjoying some pool time and then will be getting ready to have a meal all together at the restaurant just down the beach.
Wednesday has certainly proved to be a wonderful one!
Mrs Sevier
Morning school-based fun:
Painting projects:
Handing out supplies:
Today’s videos:
by Nic Earls | Mar 4, 2025 | Uncategorized
Well, the table tennis tournament provided much entertainment last night and Harry O was crowned the champion in emphatic style.
This morning, students devoured yet more pancakes for breakfast (it is a firm favourite) and it was rather fitting considering today is Shrove Tuesday!
Following breakfast, 6 students went to bright minds nursery to play with the children, whilst the rest of the students went to spring of life school. Both had eye opening experiences, especially when realising the tin shack attached to the building was actually a classroom. Arts and crafts, singing and dancing, face painting, duck duck goose and football were enjoyed by all.
We returned to the hotel for lunch and then this afternoon we have been to Neneh’s for the students to take part in a Batik activity.
This morning, several members of the public commented on the exemplary behaviour our students, I couldn’t have been prouder! 😊
This evening students are spending some time relaxing, enjoying another excellent live band and chatting with the birthday girl, Summer!
I hope your Tuesday has been as terrific as ours!
Mrs Sevier
Last night’s competition:
The morning’s fun:
Batik making:
Videos from today:
