St Thomas of Canterbury Primary School in Grays recently celebrated the hard work of its pupils during Jubilee Year. Said headteacher Emilie Poulteney: “Our Jubilee pledge is a sign of our school commitment to building a better world.”
During the year, St Thomas’s received a Silver Award from Thurrock Foodbank after the School Council organised collections for the local community.
Individual successes included staff member Mrs Cook, who was elected Unison’s Thurrock Winner for its Star in our Schools event 2025, and Victor, who won Munday and Cramer’s ‘Built Environment Award 2025’. Mrs Cook was nominated for her outstanding contribution to school life, while Victor designed a wonderful Lego creation of his dream home.
Thurrock MP Jen Craft, a former pupil at the school, visited to deliver a prize to Filomena, who was one of the winners of her Christmas Card Competition.
Mrs Poulteney said: “As Headteacher of St. Thomas of Canterbury, I am always delighted to see the time and care our families invest in Home Learning Projects. It was a particular joy to see Philomena design a beautiful Christmas card for Thurrock’s MP, Jen Craft, who kindly presented her with the prize during her recent visit to the school. As a former pupil, it was especially heartwarming to welcome her back and to witness the creativity of our current children. Hearing her speak so fondly of our school and even join in with our much-loved hymn was a truly proud moment for our whole community.
“I am equally delighted that Victor in Year 5 was named a winner in Mundy & Cramer’s Built Environment Award. The architects were incredibly impressed by the design vision of his Lego house, particularly the symmetry of his windows and the imaginative structure of his roof. At St. Thomas of Canterbury, we recognise the importance of children expressing themselves through their learning, and we see first-hand the powerful impact this creativity has on their confidence and wellbeing.”