The St Christopher School Leadership Team

Meet the Animals

The environment and awareness of the world around us is an integral part of our culture.

Over the last few years, our on-site animal centre, The Arunwood Ecocentre, has grown massively both in popularity and its residency. Throughout the academic year, students engage with the animals in lunchtime and after-school clubs, learning how to care for pets and exotic creatures, as well as having the opportunity to have real-time animal enhancements to curricular lessons, in subjects such as Science, Art and PSHE.

Our Alpacas

Jochi

Jochi is the calm, natural leader of our small herd of alpacas - his solid, measured temperament means he stays unflustered whether in the paddock or on the harness, walking confidently at the front.

Chester

Chester is the shy one, showing less confidence than his two friends, Chester tends to keep his distance and follow the other two alpacas' lead. Despite this, once on the harness he walks well with open curiosity and really enjoys his adventures around the School site.

Diablo

Diablo is our resident drama queen, who, despite often acting outraged that anyone has the audacity to interrupt his grazing, loves the opportunity to get out and about and try out some different grass to eat around the school site.

What are the Benefits of Having Animals in School? 

St Chris offers engaging Animal Care programs that provide students with hands-on experiences with animals. These activities are integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to explore the fascinating world of living organisms by taking a hands-on approach to their education. 

Students benefit from:

  • On-site animal encounters: St Chris brings a variety of animals to the main school campus, allowing students to experience and interact with different species, fostering a sense of curiosity and respect for the animal kingdom. 
  • Outdoor learning: St Chris prioritizes outdoor learning experiences, promoting environmental awareness and conservation values, whilst engaging students with a vibrant, organic environment.

  • Pet Therapy Sessions: In recognition of the positive impact of animals on well-being, the school encourages the students to spend time with the animals. The proven therapeutic effects of time engaging up close with animals have been beneficial, particularly for students with exam stress and for those with SEND. This contributes to our nurturing and supportive environment, enhancing the overall emotional and mental health of the students. 

  • Co-curricular Animal Clubs: St Chris encourages students to pursue their interests through extracurricular clubs. Animal-related clubs allow students to delve deeper into their passion for animals, fostering a sense of community among like-minded peers.

 

Our Goats

Caesar

Caesar is the boldest and most inventive of our goats - an escape artist of reknown who spent much of her first years at St Chris finding ways out of her enclosure to find the tastiest shrubs to munch on.

Santa

Santa is the smallest and most shy of our three goats (unless you're holding a handful of hay!), but still has a cheeky temperament and easily the most comical bleat of the herd.

Trembler

Trembler (so named because of how very shy she was when we first got her) is the calm, calculated goat of the three - while the other two squabble over food in the foreground she can often be seen quietly hoovering up unnoticed bounty behind them.

Animal Care through Co-Curricular study

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In the Junior School, students enjoy regular visits from the rabbits and excursions to the Arunwood Ecocentre. In the Senior School and Sixth Form, students take part in the Animal Husbandry Option, spending 1-1 time with the animals and helping to care for them. Students in the Senior School and Sixth Form enjoy walking with the alpacas or goats, holding the chinchillas and degus, and learning about the animals’ unique traits, habits and evolution. 

For many students, spending time at the Ecocentre is a stress relief and a break from busy study periods. These students enjoy spending time with their peers and the responsibility that comes with looking after creatures.

 

Who looks after the animals?

Arunwood Lead & Assistant Co-curricular Coordinator
James McGrenery

Hi, I'm James. I initially joined the grounds team at St Chris in 2011. In 2017, I cofounded The Arunwood Ecocentre with Rich Jones, now Head, on the site of the old Monte Nursery in Summer 2021. It's been incredible seeing the development of the project and its phenomenal growth into the school community. Personally, it's been a fantastic opportunity to get to know the students better and to experience the joy, wonder and confidence that working with animals gives our students.

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