Hale Independent Issue 189

15 MARCH 2026 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk Independent EDUCATION QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Stonework (7) 5 Hirsute (5) 9 Rephrase (5) 10 Once ruled by Idi Amin (6) 11 Largest Japanese island (6) 12 Second-smallest banknote (6) 13 Extinct flightless bird (3) 14 Heaps (5) 16 Fill with high spirits (5) 18 Highest mountain in Crete (3) 20 Institution for mentally ill (6) 22 Dried strip of egg dough (6) 24 Convex cylindrical wooden container (6) 25 Wary (5) 26 E.g. Tarka (5) 27 Struggle hand-to-hand (7) DOWN 2 Texan mission (5) 3 Supervise (7) 4 Highly radioactive metallic element (6) 6 Once more (5) 7 Beef or lamb (3,4) 8 Allotted quantity (5) 15 Moment (7) 17 Elsa, perhaps (7) 18 Suggest (5) 19 Fisherman (6) 21 Big (5) 23 Faithful (5) Answers on page 19. BEECH Hall School in Tytherington marked Children’s Mental Health Week by inviting some very special guests. The visit from Inspiring Animal Therapy brought a menagerie of creatures into the heart of the school. And throughout the day, pupils had the opportu- nity to explore the positive impact animals can have on wellbeing. They interacted with a range of animals, from cud- dly guinea pigs, a friendly rabbit, and curious mice, to more exotic companions like a gecko, bearded dragon and Forest, the snow corn snake. School counsellor Lorna Colter said: “Spending time with animals is consist- ently one of the top coping strategies children share when thinking about what helps them to feel calm and regulated.” Headmaster James Allen added: “The wellbeing of our pupils is at the very heart of everything that we do at Beech Hall School. Initi- atives such as this week’s activities help to reinforce our commitment to creating an environment where every child feels valued, supported and included.” CHESHIRE East Council is inviting applications from academy trusts to run a new primary school in the borough. The new school is being developed in Basford East, near Weston, Crewe, and has a targeted opening date of September 2028. Located within the Basford East development, a strategic site identified in the Chesh- ire East Local Plan – the new school will provide 210 pri- mary places, helping to meet growing demand in the area. There will also be a nursery included within the school for up to 30 places. In a statement the coun- cil said: “This new provision aims to provide school places for children in the heart of the new community, lessening pressures on oversubscribed schools in the local area reducing the need to travel and alleviating the potential for additional traffic.” Laura Crane, who chairs the council’s children and families committee, added: “This is an exciting oppor- tunity to have key involve- ment with a new eagerly anticipated school in Bas- ford East, near Weston, Crewe, playing a pivotal role in integrating vital places TWO King’s A-Level lan- guage students reached the final of the pres- tigious North Schools’ Modern Languages Debat- ing Competition. Year 13 students Kieran Schwartz and Marina Herath represented the Macclesfield school at the prestigious Modern Lan- guages Debating Compe- tition, held annually at Cheadle Hulme School. They both won their initial debates – achieving such high scores that they progressed through to the final. Now in its 16th year, the competition is aimed at Sixth Form students across the North of England. Despite a closely fought and challenging final debate, Kieran and Marina narrowly missed out on the trophy. However, finishing in second place out of 15 competing schools from across the North is a remarkable achievement. Sarah Garcia, head of Spanish at King’s, said: “We are incredibly proud of the students’ dedication, skill and efforts. “They debated incredibly well and we are so proud of them for making the final in what is a very hotly con- tested competition. “This is the latest success for the Modern Languages department at King’s, with Kieran and another Year 13 student both receiving offers to study languages at Oxford and Cambridge Universities from September.” Sponsors wanted for new school Pupils experience animal therapy Students’ Spanish language success Finalists: Kieran Schwartz and Marina Herath for primary education into a new community. “Selected sponsors will play a crucial role in the govern- ance and management of the school, and through collabo- ration, will help us to ensure this new primary school will provide, and maintain, high levels of teaching standards to enable our children and young people to excel. “We urge all academy trusts to submit their appli- cation before the deadline on 16 March.” To advertise in the Independent, contact Robin Atkins on 07767 840274