The White Peak Federation Kolkata Link 2026

 This is the link to the Cathedral Relief Service 

www.cathedralreliefservice.net/donate/uk/

Mrs Slack In India 2026

Friday 9th January 

We had 2 flights to get to Kolkata one from Birmingham which took 6.5 hours and one from Dubai to Kolkata which took 3.45. The flight from Dubai was delayed by 12 hours so we had to stay overnight in Dubai. We had food on both planes which was very nice.

When we arrived in Kolkata it was very busy with lots  of traffic and cars beeping their horns. Lots of decorations are still up from Christmas. The staff at Bishops Inn made us a soup and toast and gave  us ice cream when we arrived. 

Sunday 11th January 

Today we got got up early for breakfast so we could be at the Cathedral for 8.30 when the Sunday service started. The service was in English with hymns and readings from the bible. After the service we met some of the CRS staff and were given tea and biscuits.

In the afternoon we visited a project which supports children whose families have leprosy. When we arrived we were greeted by the children giving us flower garlands, tea and biscuits. We found out all about the project and the opportunities the children had while they were there.  The children were excited to show us where they slept and have  photographs with us. One girl wanted a selfie!  After the children had shown us around we were given a lovely curry with dal. Later we prepared our activities which we will be sharing with the children in Hastings School tomorrow.  

Monday 12th January

We went to Hastings School for the first time today after walking up a dusty path with homes on both sides. The school made of wood and tarpaulins is for 3-6 year olds and there are up to 35 children. When we arrived the school was locked by a padlock door and the lady from CRS opened up for us and then the children began to arrive. The children set out the desks to work at and the plastic chairs that were stacked at the back of the class. One child went around them with a duster. The children were excited to see us and told us their names but then had to sit down very quietly at their desks. When the teacher, Jasmin, arrived we started the school day. She sang a prayer with the children and sang some songs in English. Then it was time for us to teach. We sang walking in the jungle with actions and used Mrs Gavan’s spoons that she had painted for them. The children made pop up cards and we went on to sing more songs. The children love singing! All the children wanted their photographs taken with the cards. We really enjoyed our first day at Hastings School; the children have little in the way of resources but really want to join in enthusiastically and learn. 

In the afternoon we visited Kumortuli, an area of Kolkata, known as the Potters' Quarter where skilled artists live and work. As we walked through the narrow lanes, I saw many small workshops where the artists were busy making idols with clay, straw and bamboo. The idols were of Goddess Durga and other Gods and Goddesses, some big and some small. We could see the careful work on the faces, hands and ornaments. It was amazing to watch how simple clay can turn into a beautiful idol. Today they were busy making statues, gods and goddesses for Basant  which  is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring (Vasant Ritu) and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, learning, and arts. It is celebrated across India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries with rituals, prayers, and cultural activities. People wear yellow clothes, worship Goddess Saraswati, fly kites, and enjoy traditional sweets. The festival is also considered auspicious for new beginnings, including marriages, education, and business ventures.The area was full of creativity and hard work and it was so interesting to see Indian culture and traditions.

Tuesday 13th January 

This morning we were ready to teach again. A taxi picked us up to take us to the school with all our resources and Jasmin was waiting to take us into the school where the children were ready. We started with a prayer and then were straight into teaching. We did walking through the jungle, with the actions, which the children loved. We read Oh Dear What Have I Got and then acted it out with Mrs Gavan's spoons. Then we continued with work in their books and lots more songs. Finally we finished with making frogs. While we were waiting for our taxi the children were very enthusiastic to show us lots of different clapping games. I wasn’t as good as the children, even the little ones which made them laugh. The children waved us off in our taxi and we returned to the CRS office. 

During the afternoon we visited Mother House where Mother Theresa lived and where her tomb is laid to rest. Inside the house was a small museum room with information of Mother Theresa’s life her work in Kolkata. We saw the small room where she slept. We had to be quiet in there because it is still a convent. Afterwards we visited the very busy, vibrant New Market. There were lots and lots of stalls selling clothes, fruit, jewellery and so much more you can see in the pictures. I bought a children’s sari for school at the market and some scarves. We ate at a dosa house. A dosa is very thin type pancake; I had masala and cheese in it. 

Wednesday 14th 

Today we were not in school. We went to visit a CRS project to support empowering  women to be independent and earn money by learning to sew and do embroiderys. We travelled in a mini bus and it took two and a half hours to Geonkhsli, a rural village in India. On the minibus we saw lots of towns on the way and a whole range of traffic. The roads were very busy and all traffic was  winding in and out, there really were no lanes! It was interesting  just looking out of the window and comparing rural and urban India. To get to the village we had to ride in a tuk tuk. This was my first ride in a tuk tuk and the paths were very narrow. 

When we arrived in the village we were given sweet food and lemonade. The sweet food was offered to us because it was an Indian festival day called Pithe Puli Utsab which celebrates the harvest of Jaggery. We went into the church  where we had to take our shoes off first. In the church we were welcomed by singing, dancing and poems. After the welcome we went to see the women and their sewing. As we walked into their workplace petals were thrown onto our heads. The  women were very excited to show us their work and presented us with an embroidery. Afterwards we were given a lovely meal of rice, dal, curry, mango chutney and popadoms, I had a small walk and saw a kingfisher; it was a very beautiful and peaceful setting near the paddy fields and rural community. Finally we took the tuk tuk back to the minibus to return to the CRS office. Outside the Cathedral when we returned there were stalls selling sweet puddings and drinks with a person singing. We heard the celebrations going on until late in the night. 

Thursday 15th January 

Today we were back teaching at Hastings School. We are getting to know the children better now and the children are pleased to see us. When we walk in the children all shout “welcome Mam” and want to greet us. Today we read Monkey  Puzzle and the children acted it out, they wrote the names of the animals and decorated a butterfly. The children were very proud of their butterflies and they all wanted us to take a picture of them with their artwork. Afterwards we sang Old McDonald had a Farm and had a feely  bag with the animals. We sang lots of songs with actions the children all enjoy singing. At the end of the day the children practised songs and dancing for an important visitor to come the next day.

In the afternoon we went on a river cruise down the Hoogly River to the Dakshinswar Kali Temple. On the way we saw fishermen with traditional fishing nets, people washing on the banks of the river and both bridges which span over the river. We were very excited when we saw dolphins too! When we arrived at the temple there was lots of noise from birds called Myna birds. Luckily when we arrived prayers had just begun so we sat down for 10 mins to listen to the mantra. When we returned on the boat we were given food to eat and watched the city from the river. 

Friday 16th January

Friday was an important day at Hastings School, two sponsors were coming from Hong Kong to visit the school, and the Doctor was doing his monthly visit. The children were very excited about the visitors going to their school. On the floor they put petals down spelling welcome and 3 children waited with garlands to present to the visitors. While we were waiting, which was 30 minutes, we sang lots of action songs with the children. Finally, the visitors arrived and they were presented with the garland and the children performed singing and dancing. Straight afterwards the Doctor had set up a table outside the school to check the children’s health, weight and height. There was a table also set up with medicines and a drink for all the children which contained nutrients.

The children lined up with their medical notes and were seen by the Doctor, some Mums came too. The Doctor and person giving the medication were keen to tell me what they were doing.

This really signalled the end of the day for the children. We had time to swap phone numbers with Jasmine the teacher and give her all the resources we had made and resources we had bought.

During the afternoon we went back to the market to find some more resources to take back to school including bangles and boy’s clothes.

Saturday 17th January

Today was an exciting day for all the schools, a big sports day was held in the grounds of a private school in Kolkota. We arrived after the children. When the children saw us they were very excited and wanted to hold our hands. We set up activities for the schools to rotate around. The children really enjoyed the skittles and egg and spoon. We didn’t realise but the children put the egg and spoon in their mouths!  One thing the children really wanted to do was the parachute and they did get to do the activity at the end.

After the sports day, while the children were waiting for their KFC a magician performed for them. The children loved the tricks.  When we gave out the KFC the children were very excited but didn’t eat all their food because they wanted to take some back for their family.

When the day finally finished the children were given medals and went back home in the back of a pickup lorry. They all waved to us as they left, this was the last time we would see the children before returning to England.

Intent

Our curriculum has been designed to ensure every child can ‘live life in all its fullness’.   We aim to do this by delivering a curriculum that is underpinned by our drivers of diversity, curiosity and creativity and is designed to meet the needs of our children.  We aim to deliver the knowledge, skills and understanding set out in the national curriculum, underpinned by our Christian values, through individual and collaborative learning experiences, a sense of responsibility and challenges both in and outside of the classroom.

We are a small school with a strong family ethos and can respond to the individual needs of every child and their interest, to promote a love of learning and an awareness of the local environment and global issues.

Implementation

Our well-planned curriculum will be delivered through quality teaching.  The children will be required to work independently and in groups.  They will be offered a variety of learning opportunities through which to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for the next steps in their education.

Impact

Our children will have the skills, knowledge and attitudes to confidently and compassionately, make a success of the next stage in their education; they will learn more, remember more, enjoy more and develop more spiritually, socially and emotionally.

Specific information about what your child will be learning this term can be found on the Individual Class pages for your school.  If you require further information please contact the school office or your class teacher.  

Knowledge and Remembering

We plan into our curriculum, opportunities to revisit knowledge and skills s that children retain the things they have been taught.  

Curriculum Accessibility  

We ensure our curriculum is accessible for all pupils. 

Please click the links below to see our Accessibility statement and SEND information.

Provision Maps