Our celebrations for the coronation of King Charles III got underway this week with a number of events to mark the occasion.

All year groups have learnt about King Charles III and the significance of his coronation in year group assemblies this week. A range of activities have also been held in the library for students to join in with at break and lunch times.

Today, students have enjoyed a fantastic coronation themed lunch in our school dining hall, and have also been able to enter our coronation quiz. The winning student will be awarded a free breakfast and the tutor group with the most correct answers will win a breakfast muffin for each of their form.

In tribute to his Majesty the King’s public service, the ‘Big Help Out’ on Monday 8th May is an opportunity for everyone to try volunteering in their local areas. The aim is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy – all Longdendale students and staff are encouraged to take part.

Inspired by the Big Help Out, we are also challenging our students to plan an activity either as a tutor group, small group or as an individual to pledge to help out or volunteer in the community before the May half-term. Form tutors will verify that the activities have been completed and specially designed coronation badges will be awarded to students to commemorate their efforts and mark the coronation. We are really looking forward to hearing about all the activities the students have planned.

To mark the occasion and create a lasting memory, headteacher Andrea Jones, Stamford Park Trust executive principal Mel Wicks and trust CEO Anton McGrath will be joined by students, visitors and school governors next week to bury a time capsule and plant a tree on the school grounds. The capsule will contain a coronation poem that has been written by our Year 7 creative writing club as well as memories of the Queen and mementos from the coronation celebrations in school. It will also provide future generations with an insight into life at Longdendale in 2023.

We hope everyone has a fantastic Coronation weekend.