--- title: "Blog by Alex Cotterill" url: "https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/author/acotterill" school: "Grove Vale Primary School" --- Be Ambitious Be Resilient Be Creative Be Curious [![Grove Vale Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/logo/logo-2.png)![](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/logo/logo-2.png)](https://grovevale.co.uk/) - [ About Us](https://grovevale.co.uk/about-us) - [ Curriculum](https://grovevale.co.uk/curriculum) - [ School Life](https://grovevale.co.uk/school-life) - [ Parents](https://grovevale.co.uk/calendar) - [ Our Classes](https://grovevale.co.uk/children) - [ Virtual School](https://grovevale.co.uk/virtual-school) - [Calendar](https://grovevale.co.uk/calendar) - [Contact Us](https://grovevale.co.uk/contact) # Blog by Alex Cotterill ## [Plas Gwynant 26 - Update ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-18-08-52-plas-gwynant-26-update) 18 June 2026 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 26 - Update ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/plas/processed-60B62AAC-309F-47B7-9159-38EA7EAD2DBD.jpeg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-18-08-52-plas-gwynant-26-update) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) Hi All, We have had a fantastic week so far and have been very busy soaking up all that Plas offers! Throughout the week we have been bouldering, canoeing, gorge walking and have been exploring the beach along with lots more really fun activities. We have absolutely loved seeing all of the… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-18-08-52-plas-gwynant-26-update) ## [Plas Gwynant 26 ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-15-23-06-plas-gwynant-26) 15 June 2026 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 26 ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/watkin_path.jpg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-15-23-06-plas-gwynant-26) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) Evening Everyone, We have had a lovely first day at Plas Gwynant! This afternoon, we settled into our new surroundings, met the Plas staff for the week and enjoyed our lunch while taking in the fantastic views! After lunch, we went and gathered all our kit for the week and explored the… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2026-06-15-23-06-plas-gwynant-26) ## [Safeguarding Team End of Year Round Up ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-16-19-54-00-safeguarding-team-end-of-year-round-up) 16 July 2025 [![Image of Safeguarding Team End of Year Round Up ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/GV_Safety_Team_.jpg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-16-19-54-00-safeguarding-team-end-of-year-round-up) [The Safeguarding Team](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/the-safeguarding-team) This week, the online safety group met with some of the members of the safeguarding team to discuss recent actions within school, reflect on the year and consider next steps. The team have worked really hard in school to raise the profile of safeguarding in all areas and support their peers. We… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-16-19-54-00-safeguarding-team-end-of-year-round-up) ## [Personal Development Blog Summer Update ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-03-15-05-00-personal-development-blog-summer-update) 3 July 2025 [![Image of Personal Development Blog Summer Update ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/personal_development_blog_logo(1).png) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-03-15-05-00-personal-development-blog-summer-update) [Personal Development Blog](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/personal-development-blog) I hope you are well and are enjoying the sunshine! From September, I will be leading with the personal development offer within our school. As part of this, I am currently evaluating the afterschool sports clubs that we offer and the providers that we work with. It has been decided that we… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-07-03-15-05-00-personal-development-blog-summer-update) ## [School Council - Summer Litter Picking ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-06-05-15-27-00-school-council-summer-litter-picking) 5 June 2025 [![Image of School Council - Summer Litter Picking ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/GV_School_Council__(3).jpg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-06-05-15-27-00-school-council-summer-litter-picking) [School Council](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/school-council) On Wednesday 21st May, Miss Pritchard, Mr Thomas & the school council completed some litter picking in Red House park. This half term, the school council chose to focus on cleaning and improving our local area. The children did really well and collected a lot of litter from the park. Well done… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-06-05-15-27-00-school-council-summer-litter-picking) ## [Governors Blog ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-04-03-14-29-00-governors-blog) 3 April 2025 [![Image of Governors Blog ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/Govs_.png) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-04-03-14-29-00-governors-blog) [Governor Blog](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/governor-blog) This term, the Grove Vale Safety Team presented to the governors during one of their meetings. The children really enjoyed sharing information with the governors about all of the things that they do in school to keep themselves and each other safe. The children shared with the governors what their… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-04-03-14-29-00-governors-blog) ## [Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 4 ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-06-18-19-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-4) 6 March 2025 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 4 ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/IMG_7292.JPG) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-06-18-19-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-4) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) Our final full day at Plas has been a brilliant day for everyone! Today, we all had our 'mountain walk day'. We have been particularly lucky with the weather this week but especially today. We woke up to wonderful sunshine, which continued for the majority of the day. A few drops of rain only… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-06-18-19-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-4) ## [Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 2 and 3](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-05-18-50-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-2-and-3) 5 March 2025 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 2 and 3](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/plas_pic(1).jpg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-05-18-50-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-2-and-3) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) A big hello from Plas! We have had a wonderful few days in Wales, enjoying the beautiful views and nature around us in the local area. All of the groups have had a brilliant couple of days doing split activities with their instructors: Dan/Geoff, Lucy, Mel and Kev. One of the activity that… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-05-18-50-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-2-and-3) ## [Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 1 ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-03-21-41-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-1) 3 March 2025 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2025 - Day 1 ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/watkin_path.jpg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-03-21-41-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-1) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) We have had a very busy day today, arriving at Plas early afternoon. On the way to Plas, we stopped at Langollen for a quick break and got to enjoy the Welsh scenery for the second part of our journey. Once we arrived at Plas, we unpacked the coach and were introduced to our residential… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2025-03-03-21-41-00-plas-gwynant-2025-day-1) ## [Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Four!](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-27-18-51-37-plas-gwynant-2024-day-four) 27 June 2024 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Four!](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/IMG_0557.jpeg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-27-18-51-37-plas-gwynant-2024-day-four) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) **Day Four!** Day four at Plas has been exciting as it has been our last full day of activities. We started the day by completing our jobs and preparing for breakfast. Once we had done this, we had some free time. Breakfast was cereal and then hash browns, beans and toast. We then tidied away… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-27-18-51-37-plas-gwynant-2024-day-four) ## [Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Three!](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-18-57-38-plas-gwynant-2024-day-three) 26 June 2024 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Three!](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/IMG_0538(1).jpeg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-18-57-38-plas-gwynant-2024-day-three) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) **Day Three!** Day Three started well with breakfast. We had a variety of cereal and then a cooked breakfast consisting of hash browns, beans and toast. Miss Tudor’s group spent the day on a mountain hike. We walked up Crimpiou and made it to the top which was a 470m ascend! We ate our lunch… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-18-57-38-plas-gwynant-2024-day-three) ## [Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Two!](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-10-10-48-plas-gwynant-2024-day-two) 26 June 2024 [![Image of Plas Gwynant 2024 Day Two!](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/images/blog/IMG_0532.jpeg) ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-10-10-48-plas-gwynant-2024-day-two) [Residential Visits](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/category/residential-visits) Day Two! It was an early start here in Plas as some of us were up at 6:45 dressed and ready for the day ahead! We tidied our rooms, got ready and went down for breakfast which was cereal, followed by toast, hash browns and beans. Once we had finished tidying, we met with our group leaders… [Continue Reading ](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/2024-06-26-10-10-48-plas-gwynant-2024-day-two) - - 1 - [2](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/author/acotterill/page:2) - [3](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/author/acotterill/page:3) - [4](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/author/acotterill/page:4) - [page:2](https://grovevale.co.uk/blog/author/acotterill/page:2) ### [Latest News](https://grovevale.co.uk/news) [![Image of Nursery and Reception Open Day November 2026](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/imagecache/150x150c/news/logo-2.png)](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2026-06-11-nursery-and-reception-open-day-november-2026) #### [Nursery and Reception Open Day November 2026](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2026-06-11-nursery-and-reception-open-day-november-2026) 11 June 2026 [![Image of September 2026 Starters](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/imagecache/150x150c/news/logo-2.png)](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2026-04-18-september-2026-starters) #### [September 2026 Starters](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2026-04-18-september-2026-starters) 18 April 2026 [![Image of Partnerships With UNICEF ](https://files.schudio.com/grove-vale-primary-school/imagecache/150x150c/news/unicef.jpg)](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2024-09-19-partnerships-with-unicef) #### [Partnerships With UNICEF ](https://grovevale.co.uk/news/2024-09-19-partnerships-with-unicef) 19 September 2024 ### Contact Us **Grove Vale Primary School** Monksfield Avenue Great Barr Birmingham B43 6AL Tel: 01213574319 - [CEOP](http://www.ceop.police.uk/) - [Think You Know](http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/) - [Department for Education](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education) - [Action for Children](http://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/) © Copyright 2017–2026 Grove Vale Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://grovevale.co.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)