Many amazing people have been nominated for a Cross of St Piran this year for their contributions within the Diocese of Truro.

In this series we will be speaking to some of those who will receive the award.

Beth Horwell, from Bishop Bronescombe Church of England Primary (Rainbow Academy Trust), has been nominated for her work at the school.

 

Beth Horwell, Assistant Headteacher at Bishop Bronescombe Church of England Primary St Austell, is passionate about making sure every child is supported to flourish at Bishop Bronescombe.

She has been nominated to receive the Cross of St Piran for playing an ‘integral role in ensuring the school’s Christian vision and values remain at the heart of everything’ as well as ‘her dedication to the wellbeing of pupils’, and ‘her commitment to providing all members of our school community with opportunities to reflect on their own spirituality’.Beth smiling at the camera

“I can recall the moment I had the letter handed to me in the reception,” Beth says, “I thought ‘what’s this?’.

“I opened it in front of our receptionists and said, ‘I have just been nominated for the award’. I was gobsmacked and truly honoured to have been nominated.”

“I was gobsmacked and truly honoured to have been nominated.”

Beth, who became a Christian when she was six, has always wanted to be a teacher. She remembers as a child lining her teddy bears up so she could take the register.

After completing a degree at Exeter University in Sports Science, Beth spent a year working as a teaching assistant at St Martin’s, Liskeard, before then completing her PGCE at Plymouth University. After graduating, she was offered a position at Bishop Bronescombe – where she has taught ever since.

Beth was made RE lead and Collective Worship lead ‘quite quickly’ when others at the school saw how important her faith was to her.

She praises her Year 6 pupils, who are part of the Collective Worship team, who helps her shape the sessions. Together, they plan the worship and shape it into what pupils want them to look like.

When her school started a pilot for Flourish – a collaboration with Truro Diocesan Board of Education and St Austell’s Holy Trinity Church – she took part with enthusiasm. It is still running today, with many ideas for its future including a Secret Garden for prayer and reflection.

Beth says: “People know I am passionate about children and that I believe God loves them and he created them in his image. I have that passion both in and out of school.”

Pupils have benefited from sessions, created by Beth, called ‘CAW time’ (Connection, Awe and Wonder). It is where time is put aside to think about God’s creation. They are currently looking at wonders of the world, and recently focused on the Northern Lights, asking ‘big questions’ about this awe-inspiring marvel.

“People know I am passionate about children and that I believe God loves them and he created them in his image.”

Beth and another person standing in front of a waterfall.“The children really like CAW time,” says Beth. “We focus on something that makes us awe at creation. It’s about having a moment of awe at wonder.”

She said one child enjoys CAW so much that during a week on holiday they created a diary and everyday wrote about something that had given them a wonder moment.

Beth now spends her time teaching and sometimes travels to other schools to support them with their own flourishing programmes. She has seen some of her ideas tailored to meet the needs of other schools.

In the nomination citation for the award, it read: “Our school’s vision is for everyone to “share their gifts and talents, and with God’s help, it can become something amazing.” Beth embodies this vision every day – she shares her gifts generously, inspires others through her example, and truly enriches our school community.”