Our Community
Great Denham is a growing community on the edge of Bedford. The first phases of housing were built in the 1990's including the golf course. Until 2012 there was just housing and the golf course in Great Denham. When the school was built in 2012 part of our vision was for it to bring the new and growing community together and be at the heart of this community. Over the years since the school has been open Great Denham now has a parade of shops including a Sainsburys, hairdressers, post office, the Eatery cafe, vets and pharmacy to name a few.
The school aims to work with our community with many of our projects having real world outcomes linked to our local community. Below you can read about some of our work with our local community as well as an example of a project that had a global impact.
Year 3 Project - writing stories to share with our Penpals at our link school in Malawi and raising money for the charity Inspire Malawi! - Autumn 2023
As part of the year 3 REAL project 'What makes life rich and beautiful?' the children became experts in the wildlife, the culture and schooling in Malawi by joining up with their Penpals in from a school in Malawi. The children created stories for the children and wrote letters throughout their project and ended their term with a celebration event with food, dance, song and African drumming at our local community hall where they raised money for the charity Inspire Malawi.
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Year 5 and 6 Project - creating a war memorial for the Great Denham Community - Autumn 2021
As part of year 5/6 REAL project for the Autumn term ' How do communities find peace during conflict?' the children planned, created and delivered a remembrance service on 11th November. Great Denham as a new community didn't have a war memorial so the children felt it was important that one was created - they presented their ideas to our local Parish Council and worked with them to agree a location. They then arranged and led the service supported by the local British Legion. The ceramic poppies were designed and made by each child taking inspiration from the poppies that were at the Tower of London. They will be continue to be used in the community for years to come.
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Christmas 2021 at Great Denham
As well as hosting Christmas plays for our families, we enjoyed a carol concert accompanied by the Salvation Army and our year 5/6 choir enjoyed singing carols by candlelight out in our community supported by the Bedford Brass Band. On the last day of term we sold hot chocolate cones and there was even a visit from Santa and a penguin as the children left school for their holidays!
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Valentines Day 2021
As our children were at home for Valentines day we wanted to keep our value of friendship going strong so we made and delivered 550 sweet cones to every child in the school.
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The Trish and Den challenges
During the lockdowns Mrs Burgess ( aka Den) and Miss Neale ( aka Trish) entertained the children and families at home by competing each week in a series of challenges set for them by the children at home! These included a bush tucker style challenge, blowing balloons up, racing on children's bikes and many more! They were supported by our presenters, Mrs Swanepoel and one of our parents, Mr Gallagher, who fully embraced the role by purchasing several outfits for the occasions!
Click on the link here to see an example of the challenges - Trish and Den challenge - Eggs!
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Christmas 2020 Music Video
Click on the link below to watch our music video the staff made for the children at Christmas 2020!
All I want for Christmas! By the staff of GDPS
Bringing our community together during the pandemic 2020
Click on the link below to see the amazing music videos made for our staff and children during the first lockdown in 2020 to lift our community at a difficult time:
Great Denham Primary - The Power in Me
2019 - 2020
What a year it was! Click here to watch out video of the year including our very own Take That tribute band!
