This week, our school had the honour of welcoming the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth, Cllr Bhim Saru, for a memorable and inspiring visit. As the first Gurkha Mayor of Nuneaton, his remarkable life story has recently been the focus of study for our KS3 pupils—who have been exploring his journey through their humanities and oracy work.
Learning Brought to Life
KS3 pupils have spent the last few weeks creating detailed fact files and even producing their own mock Wikipedia pages about the Mayor. Their hard work paid off today when they were able to meet him in person and interview him in our school library.
Pupils asked thoughtful, well-prepared questions and demonstrated brilliant oracy skills throughout the session. The Mayor was incredibly impressed by their confidence, curiosity and respect.
The Mayor’s Response
Following his visit, the Mayor shared a heartfelt message on social media:
“Today I had the privilege to visit Arc School Ansley. The students surprise me with sketches and paintings they had produced, beautifully incorporating my stories. I was truly moved. Thank you to all the students, teachers and staff for such love and warm welcome.”
This touching message reflects the warm and positive atmosphere of the visit — and the pride our pupils felt in showcasing their work.
An Exciting Civic Opportunity
So inspired was he by their engagement that the Mayor invited our Student Council to visit the Town Hall. During this visit, pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a debate — a fantastic chance to develop leadership, confidence and an understanding of local democracy.
Art for the Mayor’s Office
Our Head of Art also met with the Mayor, accompanied by one of our KS4 pupils. Together, they discussed an exciting creative collaboration: a bespoke piece of artwork that our pupil will produce for display in the Mayor’s office. This special project will allow one of our young artists to leave a lasting mark within the local community.
This visit was a wonderful celebration of learning, creativity and community connection. We are incredibly proud of all our pupils who took part and represented Arc School Ansley with such enthusiasm and maturity. We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the Mayor and the wider Nuneaton and Bedworth community.
