St Osyth Priory is no stranger to turbulent times: it has withstood Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, bounced back from a Viking invasion and risen from the ashes of the English Civil War during its eventful 900 year history. So what better place to launch a new education centre during a global pandemic?
Flippancy aside, we know it has been an incredibly tough year all round and that teachers and schools have borne the brunt of much of the disruption. We take off our hats to everyone in the classroom who has managed to keep the show on the road this year. It's something we feel so strongly about that we decided to express our admiration through actions, not words, hosting our first annual Rose Garden teacher appreciation tea party in August. It was one of the highlights of the year as dozens of teachers joined us on a sunny day to relax and recharge in the Priory's beautiful grounds. It was an absolute pleasure to meet so many committed and inspiring teachers.
And despite the pandemic doing its best to derail our plans, there have been so many highlights. In the summer term alone we welcomed 700 children from 14 schools onto the estate. We braved Storm Barra to launch our new Vikings v. Anglo Saxons! programme. Our pond dipping platform made its debut at Seal Pond and we took countless trips up the Darcy Tower to marvel at the view over the coastline. We also opened our doors to the public during the holidays, hosting successful summer and Halloween programmes.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it's obvious how much students are benefitting from a school trip that gets them outside and active. We know that a huge amount of work goes into getting a trip off the ground from risk assessments to permission slips and bus bookings but we also know it's worth it from the smiling faces we meet at the gates. We're so grateful to everyone who has helped us to open the Priory up to school children this year.
What next? In September a baby Little Owl was discovered on the ground, scooped up, and cared for by the Estate team. The owlet became known as Spud and he has gone on to thrive and fly the nest, but not before inspiring our latest programme: Owl Box Building which launches in spring.
There are more new school programmes to come in 2022, along with further events for the public to get involved in. Although the future is uncertain, we know that with acres of parkland and captivating, rare breed animals the Priory will always offer students a chance to get out of the classroom to experience a memorable and inspiring setting.
We wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and look forward to a new year full of school trips, adventure, and exploration at St Osyth Priory.
