150 Years of Education in Shavington-cum-Gresty commemorated in 2025
There are few things more powerful than a community coming together to celebrate its shared history—and in July, our Parish did just that. To mark 150 years of education in Shavington-cum-Gresty, the Parish Council, in partnership with Shavington Primary School, organised a weekend of events filled with nostalgia, learning, laughter, and connection.
With families, former teachers, pupils, volunteers, and neighbours from across generations all taking part, the weekend was a heartwarming tribute to our Parish’s long-standing dedication to education and community spirit.
School Tour for Former Staff
The weekend began with a very special school tour, welcoming back former teachers and staff members to Shavington Primary School. Led with warmth and enthusiasm by Mrs Young, the current Headteacher, the tour was more than a walk through the building—it was a walk down memory lane.
Many of the former staff members were visibly moved as they stepped back into the familiar corridors, recalling the joyful noise of classrooms, school plays, sports days, and the hundreds of young lives they had helped shape over the years. They pointed out where their classrooms once were and reflected on how the school had grown—particularly the impressive Key Stage 2 extension built in 2020.
One of the most special parts of the visit was the interaction with current pupils. The children were eager to hear stories of ‘what school used to be like’ and proudly showed off their learning spaces. Conversations sparked across generations, and it was truly moving to see.
The Parish Council extends its thanks to Mrs Young for her care in organising and leading the tour and for making everyone feel so welcome.
Exhibition of Memories: A Glimpse Through the Years
At the heart of the celebration was a remarkable exhibition that brought together photographs, artefacts, and memorabilia from as far back as 1890. The display transformed the Village Hall into a living museum of educational heritage, capturing everything from school uniforms to learning games, handwritten logbooks, class photos, and artifacts from decades gone by.
Over 400 visitors explored the exhibition, many pausing to point at familiar faces in old class photos or to share stories sparked by long-forgotten items. There were moments of laughter, reflection, and even a few tears as the display stirred memories for so many.
A big thank you goes to Andrea Gibbs for her organisation of the exhibition, Helen Lea and Mark Potts for their assistance with the Parish Council. Also, thanks to the Woodnoth-cum-Shavington Women’s Institute, who served refreshments with their signature hospitality—keeping conversations flowing over cups of tea and biscuits.
School Talks
At the exhibition a series of talks took place in the packed Hall, where chairs were filled and extra standing room was needed—proof of the community’s deep affection for the schools and the people within them.
Former Headteacher Tom Weston took the audience on a journey through the evolution of education in Shavington, speaking with great affection about the joys and challenges of teaching and the privilege of leading the school.
Former teacher Helen Lea shared her memories of classroom life, as well as her dedication to fundraising for the Guide Dog Association—an initiative remembered fondly by many in the room.
Andrea Gibbs, a shining example of our community’s strength, spoke of her own time as a pupil at Shavington Primary, and how it eventually led her to return as Assistant Headteacher. Her stories brought both laughter and quiet reflection as she painted a vivid picture of school life in both the old and new buildings.
Tour of the Old School Building
A highlight of the weekend was the rare and generous opportunity to step inside the original Shavington School building, now beautifully converted into three homes. The current owner kindly opened the doors to allow guided tours of the site.
Visitors marvelled at how the building’s character had been preserved—with familiar shapes still visible beneath the tasteful renovations. Those who had once taught or learned there lingered in doorways, quietly recalling moments from their own school days.
The Parish Council is deeply thankful to Steve the owner for opening their doors and their hearts to help us celebrate this historic milestone.
150 Years of Education Film
To ensure the weekend would live on in memory, a commemorative film was commissioned—one that tells the story of Shavington’s educational journey through the voices of its people.
The film begins at the Old School site, where Mr Astbury, a much-loved former teacher, reflects on his teaching days and the sense of family that filled the school. We follow him to the modern-day Shavington Primary School, where Mrs Young and current pupils share what school life looks like today—full of energy, creativity, and curiosity.
The journey continues to Shavington Academy, where Mrs Casewell and students talk about how the legacy of the primary school carries on into their secondary years.
Produced by the very talented Little Forest Films, and featuring great drone footage by Dave Cage, the film includes a beautiful shot of pupils forming the number “150” on the school field and chanting ‘Shavington’—an image that perfectly captures the unity and pride of our Parish.
Legacy in Artwork
As a lasting tribute to this celebration, pupils from Key Stage 2 have begun work on a special commemorative artwork. They have explored how education has changed over the past 150 years, and their drawings will be part of a larger installation created in collaboration with a local artist this Autumn.
Once complete, the artwork will be proudly displayed to remind future generations of the strength and heart of the Shavington-cum-Gresty community.
Additional Contributions
Among those who contributed to this legacy is Mrs Yvonne Williams, the first Headteacher of the Infant School when it opened in April 1972. Although she was, sadly, unable to attend the commemorations in person, she wanted to share her memories and be part of the celebration for a school that held a very special place in her heart.
She recalled how, when the new Infant School opened, Cheshire Council made the decision to allow all seven-year-olds to join for a term. This allowed the school to begin with a full range of ages before the children returned to the Junior School in September as first-year juniors. Mrs Williams led this new school with a pioneering approach to open-plan learning, supported by Deputy Head Mary Sherratt, and a team that included Muriel Mathews, Shelia Barnett, and Lou Barnett—wife of the then Junior School Head.
As one of only two open-plan infant schools in the county at the time (alongside The Dingle at Haslington), Shavington’s new Infant School quickly became a showcase for innovation in early years education. Teachers, Councillors, and education authorities from far and wide came to tour the school—and eventually, older pupils were even trained to lead the tours themselves.
Mrs Williams fondly remembered how some people were unsure about this new teaching style at first, but her team embraced it wholeheartedly—and it proved a great success. She also paid tribute to Councillor Theo Steele, Chair of Governors, whose incredible support, encouragement and pride in the school was, in her words, “a rock” to her as Head.
The school was so popular that two mobile classrooms were added to accommodate demand—clear signs of a thriving and growing school. As the Infant School took on more pupils, numbers at the Junior School declined, and the decision was made to amalgamate both schools. An extension was built in 1986/87, and the two schools finally came together on a single site.
Mr Tom Weston, then Head of the Junior School, became Headteacher of the newly unified Shavington Primary School, with Mrs Pat Griffiths as Deputy Head. Many staff remained and helped build the school into the much-loved hub of our Parish that it remains today—firmly at the heart of community life.
Thank You
This celebration was made possible through the shared efforts and commitment of our community—from the Parish Council and the school, to families, residents, volunteers, and former staff. Whether you donated a photo, gave a talk, served tea, returned to visit, or simply came to share in the joy—we thank you.
Together, we honoured the past, celebrated the present, and looked forward to the future of education in our Parish.
