We’re pleased to announce a fantastic report for the school from the Sunday Times Parent Power national school rankings. These rankings now place the school in the top 3% of preparatory schools in the country and the top performing primary school in Northern Lincolnshire. A significant percentage of St. Martin’s pupils are year on year leaving us with the highest banding of a Level 5 in their core subjects of English and Mathematics. As a...
St Martins now only has limited space for 2012. If you are interested in your child starting at St Martins or wish to be added to the waiting list for the next two years, please complete the form below:
As a school we joined in the Chinese New Year celebrations this week. Over a sixth of the people in the world celebrate Chinese New Year. Customs vary in different parts of the world, but everywhere the main idea is the same. It is a time to remember the family and wish everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the day laid on for them by the enthusiastic teachers and kitchen staff. It was very noticeable the wide array of colourful dragons that adorned the building by the end of the day!
The theme continued on Wednesday as the Year V assembly gave additional information on the symbols of Chinese New Year and recreated the story behind the willow pattern:
Even today, many people have never heard the true story of the willow pattern.
It tells of Knoon-shee, a lovely Chinese maiden, whose affections were bestowed upon her father’s secretary, Chang, but who was commanded by her parents to wed a wealthy rival suitor.
She refused to comply with their wishes, whereupon her enraged father locked her up in the little house just visible on the left of the temple. From here she contrived to send a message to her lover, ‘Gather thy blossom, ere it be stolen.’ Thus encouraged, Chang succeeded in entering the apple orchard and carrying off his beloved. So we see them hurrying over the bridge. Knoon-shee with a distaff, and Chang carrying her box of jewels, while the angry father follows hard after them armed with a whip – in some patterns also accompanied by the discarded lover.
The couple made good their escape in the ‘Chinese ship sailing by’ and landed on the island, which can be seen on the left of the picture, where they took refuge in the little wooden house. But the father and discarded suitor tracked them and set fire to the house while they were sleeping; and so the lovers perished.
Next morning, from the ashes rose their spirits, in the forms of two doves. And so we see them with out-stretched wings flying off to the realms of eternal happiness.
