Easliegh school that changed Easter events 'valued', says Bishop
The school, which has no religious affiliation, said the changes were made so "all children are able to take part"."The local vicar of Eastleigh Parish Church, the minister of Eastleigh Baptist Church and I have been in touch with the head teacher and this has been warmly welcomed," Bishop Rhiannon said.
"We are encouraged by the head teacher's assurance that learning about Christian faith remains embedded firmly in the Religious Education curriculum and by her warm invitation to go in and meet some of the children in the new term – an offer we would be delighted to accept," she said."Meanwhile, we encourage everyone to enable the staff and children of Norwood Primary School to celebrate the end of term and Easter in peace."
In her initial letter to parents, head teacher Stephanie Mander said the decision had been made "in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs represented" in the school's community."Our school is committed to fostering an environment where every child feels valued and respected, regardless of their religious background," she said in a letter to parents.Among those critical, former home secretary and Hampshire MP Suella Braverman said it represented "cultural surrender".
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
13 minutes ago
- Times
Dear Julia: I'm middle-aged. Am I invisible?
Q. Lately I've started to suspect I'm becoming invisible. Not in a cool 'Harry Potter cloak' way. More in the 'middle-aged woman no longer perceived by society' sense. I walk into a shop and the assistant breezes past me to help someone in gym leggings and lip filler. At work younger colleagues finish my sentences as if I'm a slightly confused aunt. Even automatic doors hesitate. I've recently turned 50 and apparently that's the age when women — especially — start blending into the wallpaper. I still make an effort: I've got good hair, decent shoes, I remember to exfoliate — but it's like the world has quietly decided I'm surplus to requirements. I'm not ready to fade out like the end credits of a BBC drama. I know I should rise above it. Be wise. Be dignified. Bake sourdough and embrace linen. But if I'm honest, I miss being REALLY seen. I don't want to pretend I don't care, because I do care — even if I know it's deeply uncool to admit it. So tell me, how do you grow older with a bit of grace — and preferably without having to take up cold-water swimming or start a podcast? A. Thank you for this wonderful, painfully funny and all-too-relatable letter. The way you write — sharp, witty, honest — is anything but invisible. You leap off the page. And yet I hear the ache underneath your humour: the feeling of being overlooked, dismissed, edited out of your own story. What you're describing is real and well documented. Society still clings to outdated narratives that equate a woman's value with youth, beauty and fertility. As men age, they're seen as distinguished and wise. As women age, we're told — sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly — that we're past our prime. It's not just personal. It's cultural. And it hits us at a time when so many other transitions are converging: menopause, children leaving home (and sometimes having more sex than we are), ageing parents, shifting roles at work. There is also the additional, subtler narrative, that to ask for attention when you're older is rather embarrassing. Attention is for the young … It's a lot. I want to say this clearly: society suffers when midlife women are ignored. We hold immense emotional, professional and relational intelligence yet we're often sidelined just as we come into our full power. The loss isn't just ours. It's collective. But now, to you. I'm curious, what's your first instinct when someone breezes past you in a shop or talks over you at work? Do you freeze? Shrink? Laugh it off? I sense a punchy, bold woman behind this letter. Maybe it's time to let her lead. Could you challenge a colleague next time they interrupt — even with humour? Could you ask, at work, whether there's space to advocate for how older women are represented, respected and heard? This is less about making a scene and more about making a mark. Growing older with grace doesn't mean disappearing under a cashmere wrap. It means owning who you are with even more truth than before. And it starts on the inside. This isn't about chasing the next serum or 'anti-ageing' campaign. It's about seeing yourself fully and then showing that self to the world. Not just with exfoliated skin and decent shoes, but with your voice, your presence and your refusal to be erased. Talk to other women your age. Make space to vent, yes, but also to laugh, plan and play. Discuss ways you want to be seen more and give each other feedback about what enhances that. It can be something small, like a new lipstick. Go where you're seen. Dance, volunteer, flirt, lead, write. Look for role models that fit for you and absorb some of their chutzpah. Take up space, in whatever way feels most you. You don't need a podcast or a plunge pool to matter. Move your body in ways that feel joyful and alive. Relish the skin you're in; not despite its changes, but because of them. And yes, if sex is on your radar — however, whenever, solo, together — go and find it. Pleasure is protest too. Make the decision not to fade. Above all, don't go along with the invisible narrative. Caring about this, as you do, matters. And caring also means you'll act on it, which makes you visible. And visibility isn't just how others see you, it's how you see yourself and whether you're willing to show up as that woman, every damn day. So yes, wear purple (from the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph) if you want to. But more than that, be loud, be bold, be seen and take up your space now, not isn't your exit. It's your entrance. Dress courtesy of The Fold
STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Rescue of Scots paddleboarder, ten, to feature in BBC documentary
The rescue of a ten-year-old boy by North Berwick lifeboat crews is to feature in a BBC series. Saving Lives at Sea showcases the work of RNLI crews throughout the UK and Ireland as they respond to everything from sinking ships to tidal cut-offs and kayakers in distress. In the forthcoming episode, which will be broadcast on BBC Two, a ten-year-old boy is swept out to sea on a paddleboard in North Berwick. His parents rush out to try and save him, but all three of them begin struggling in the water. Volunteer helm, Fraser Fulton, along with sibling crew members Steven and Vikki Selby, race to their rescue. Vikki, a volunteer crew member at North Berwick, said: 'I'm thrilled that North Berwick features again in such a long-running and respected series alongside our fellow lifesavers from across the RNLI. 'For my family, it'll be an extra exciting episode as my brother Steven was also on the lifeboat for this rescue, so we'll both be on the TV. 'When the public visits the station, we hear how much they appreciate a chance to see how their generous donations are used to help save lives. We are incredibly grateful for their support, as it is what we rely on to save lives at sea.' The episode will air on Thursday, August 7, 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Rail travel
Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
