Pizza all round as Pine Ridge and Lorraine Federation joins the GLF family

Pupils at Pine Ridge and Lorraine Schools in Camberley enjoyed school dinners with a difference the other week as they cooked their own pizzas as part of festivities to mark their joining the GLF multi-academy Trust.

​The schools and Pine Ridge Children’s Centre had a special celebration day, including a gymnastics display at Pine Ridge before decamping to Lorraine for the official unveiling of the new cob oven. This was funded by the Parent and Staff Association, and was built by the children and parent volunteers throughout the week, ending with pizzas being cooked and served on the Friday.

“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to join GLF,” Pine Ridge executive headteacher, Trish Sangwine, said. “Partnership working is at the heart of the Federation’s success and this will enable stronger links to be forged with other local schools who are already part of the GLF group – Cordwalles, and Lightwater and Hammond Schools.”

In just five years GLF, a supportive family of schools where children ‘Grow, Learn and Flourish’, has grown from a partnership between two schools in Surrey to now running more than 20 schools across five counties, from new-build primaries to 90-year-old secondary schools. Pine Ridge and Lorraine are the newest members, with other schools in the process of joining.

GLF’s management style encourages collaborations between its schools and it was this ethos that attracted the Federation to the Trust. In recent months the group has been lucky enough to have secured funding from the Ogden Trust to open state of the art Phiz Lab specialist science teaching facilities at three of its schools – including Cordwalles Junior School.

Recently other GLF schools have sent their choirs to sing at the Royal Albert Hall and O2 Arena, and produced award-winning composers and national gymnastics champions.

“The GLF approach is one of strongly encouraging and supporting staff to make a positive difference to every child, regardless of his or her starting point,” added Mrs Sangwine. “Schools aim to offer a broad, balanced curriculum and with the exceptional outdoor facilities we have here, and the valuable role they play in the curriculum, we’re looking forward to adding that to the GLF family.”