with pics to come.

PUPILS at Creech St Michael came up against some of their strongest sporting opposition this week.

They have swept almost everything in front of them on the sports field during the past year but competed against fellow youngsters from their own school at sports day on Monday.

The list of honours against other schools includes county champions at netball and futfall and third in athletics; girls football second and boys first in Taunton; an unbeaten rugby season; and a strong cricket team.

Head teacher Jan McCarthy said: "We've had a very good sporting year.

"We're very lucky because we've had a lot of support from staff and parents.

"The children were able to show their skills on sports day when they took part in the four houses.

"It was competitive but there were still events for the less sporty."

Creech St Michael is a medium-sized, nine-class school that is rapidly growing due to thousands of houses being built in the surrounding area.

There are good links with the parish church and also the baptist church in the village, while parents are supportive through a hard working PTSC, which raises money through a variety of functions to buy laptops.

Mrs McCarthy, who has been at Creech for six years after holding a similar role at Kingston St Mary, said: "We're very fortunate with our outdoor wildlife area on site and have a small garden where the children grow and dig their own potatoes.

"They do a lot of fundraising for charity. This year they were involved in Party in the Park, with the school ambassadors serving at a fish and chip lunch for older people in the village.

"The older people also came into school and we sang carols to them."

The children also showcased their music talents at a Beatles extravaganza.

The school's wings have spread far following a talk from former Royal Marine and adventurer Alan Chambers, who visited the school to give a talk.

"They made a flag which he took to the North Pole for them," said Mr McCarthy.

She added: "We're working very hard on resilience to help the children cope when things don't go their way.

"We have resilience Fridays with all sorts of activities designed to be challenging for them.

"They solve problems together with the focus on trying to help them cope by finding other strategies by working together and asking for help.

"You can't expect everything to be particularly easy. It's about keeping going."

FACTFILE:

Name: Creech St Michael Church of England Primary School

Address: Hyde Lane, Creech St Michael, TA3 5QQ

Phone number: 01823-442898

Website: creechstmichaelprimary.co.uk

Number of pupils: 275

Number of classes: Nine

Uniform: Navy and white

Ofsted report: Good

Head teacher: Jan McCarthy

Chairman of governors: Ruth Farrow

Motto: 'Together we love to learn and grow'.