Overbury C of E First School
About Us
Discover, nurture and share God’s gifts
Our Christian Vision & Values
At Overbury First School, we believe God has given each of us special gifts to enable us to learn and flourish as unique children of God. We seek to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly, fostering an environment where everyone is treated equitably and pupils develop into compassionate responsible individuals who take care of each other, our community and the world in which we live.
We were judged an ‘EXCELLENT’ school in our December 2019 SIAMS inspection.
Meet the Teachers of Overbury CofE First School
Our dedicated team of teachers create a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels valued and inspired to learn. At Overbury CE First School, we believe in helping each pupil grow in confidence, curiosity and kindness every day.
Overbury CofE First School
Our History
A Night That Changed Overbury School
One of the earliest photographs of Overbury School was taken after the devastating fire of 16th February 1924. The blaze began in the coal room at 3:30am, discovered by a boy who bravely rescued the school logbook before raising the alarm.
Although Tewkesbury Fire Brigade was unable to attend, the Gloucester Fire Brigade arrived and managed to extinguish the flames by 6:30pm. The main room lost its floor and part of the roof, while the smaller classroom was left almost untouched — a small mercy after such destruction.
Life and Learning in the Early Years
A classroom photograph from 1926 shows Miss Rice, the teacher, standing proudly behind her 16 pupils. The children are sitting neatly, dressed smartly though not in uniform, and showing great discipline.
In those days, classes included a wider age range than today, and punishments such as a smack with a cane or ruler were common for misbehaviour. The image captures a very different era of schooling — strict, formal, yet full of pride.
Overbury During Wartime
This photo, taken in 1943, shows the school standing beside the village Maypole with around 30 pupils attending at the time. Sadly, no names were recorded in the photo album, leaving the children’s identities a mystery — but the image remains a valuable snapshot of life during the war years.
A Celebration That Still Brings Joy
In 1948, Overbury School pupils were photographed performing Maypole Dancing, a joyful tradition that continues today.
The boys wore long grey socks and shorts, while the girls’ dresses were simple and neat, though without flowers in their hair as we might see today. Popular dances included The Spider’s Web, The Gypsy’s Tent, The Barber’s Pole, and The Double Plait — all of which remain favourites during our summer celebrations.
Overbury CofE First School
Overbury Estate
Overbury Church of England First School is set in the grounds of the Overbury Estate.
Unlike other local schools that are owned by the County Council, the freehold of our school building is owned by Overbury Estate who lease it to Worcestershire County Council.
However, Overbury Estate is not, in any way, concerned with any aspects of the teaching and learning that takes place in the school; in this we are like all the other Voluntary Controlled schools in the country.
We work closely with Overbury Estate as part of our local community to enhance our pupils’ understanding of our local area including agricultural farming, the stud farm and sheep rearing.
St Faith’s Church
There are increasingly close links between Overbury School and the village church. The vicar, the Reverend Katryn Leclezio, is a Foundation Governor.
In addition to hosting a number of school events and organising services attended by school pupils (such as Mothering Sunday and the Carol services), members of St Faith’s congregation come in to school to help create christingles and mother’s day posies with the children.
For their part, the children donate their harvest festival offerings to our local Food Bank and go carol-singing round the village.
Discover, nurture and share God’s gifts