Ofsted says Holy Trinity Junior School in Ripon ‘requires improvement’

Ripon’s Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School has received a ‘requires improvement’ rating by Ofsted.

Government inspectors visited the school for two days in June and published their findings in a report today.

It was the school’s first inspection since it converted to an academy is September 2022 – becoming part of the Leeds Diocesan Learning Trust.

The report said both the quality of education and leadership and management “requires improvement” but found behaviour and attitudes and personal development to be “good”.

It said some aspects of the curriculum are not well designed, adding:

“Some foundation curriculum subjects are not as well-structured or sequenced as others. Leaders sometimes identify too much content to cover in a lesson or across a series of lessons.

“Sometimes teachers do not emphasise the crucial knowledge needed, and pupils do not remember the most important facts.

“This means that pupils’ knowledge is not building securely year on year.”

The report also found “assessment does not sufficiently identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge or identify what pupils can already do”, while some students find “work can be too easy” as it “is not building on what they already know”.

Inspectors also added:

“There is a small proportion of pupils whose behaviour is sometimes a concern for other pupils, parents and staff.

“Pupils feel safe. However, some parents and staff who responded to Ofsted surveys do not agree.”

The 239-pupil school for seven to 11-year-olds is part of The Federation of Holy Trinity Church of England Schools.

Following the academy conversion, the senior leadership team has undergone “extensive change”, the report said, including a new headteacher in January and a deputy headteacher in March this year.

The senior leaders “share an ambitious vision for the school”, according to Ofsted, but the vision “is not fully established”.

To improve, inspectors suggested leaders “should ensure that pupils are securing the right essential knowledge to build on and learn over time”, as well as “ensure that teachers check that the work which is set for all pupils in all subjects is matched appropriately with what pupils need to know or be able to do next”.

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‘Pupils are proud to attend the school’

Despite the overall rating, inspectors praised Holy Trinity Junior School for the “warm and positive relationships between pupils and staff”.

Pupils are polite and considerate, and the school’s Christian ethos and values are woven through everything they do, the report adds.

It said:

“Leaders prioritise learning to read and promote a love of reading across the school. Pupils are keen to talk about their favourite books and authors.

“Teachers choose high-quality texts for their class novel.”

‘Early stages of a new era’

In a letter to parents, executive headteacher Sue Anderson and chair of governors, Adam Kitching, responded to the report. They said:

“We are delighted that the report highlights that pupils are proud to attend Holy Trinity Junior School and the opportunities they have to take on responsibilities throughout the school.

“The warm and positive relationships between pupils and staff were also acknowledged.

“You will share our disappointment in the overall grade; however, the inspection team recognised, when they visited the school, that the federation was in the early stages of a new era with a new leadership team and a new curriculum ready to be introduced in the autumn term.”

Bishop Thornton couple celebrate 70 years of marriage

A Bishop Thornton couple will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary next week.

Sam and Margaret Cryer, who are both 88, tied the knot on Tuesday, September 26 in 1953.

The couple met at a dance in Markington and got married at the village’s St Michael’s Church.

Asked about her parents’ secret to a lifelong marriage, daughter Julia said:

“Well, I think dad would say ‘mum’s a really good cook!’

“But they’ve always had such a strong work ethic and always worked together during their relationship, so I think that plays into it massively.”

Mr and Ms Cryer were originally farmers but now own a stone merchants company where Mr Cryer still works Monday to Friday.

Mr Cryer was also mayor of Harrogate from 1983 to 1984.

Julia said:

“They’ve worked hard together and they’re still very much in love.”

The couple are having a small family get together to celebrate seven decades of marriage.

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Police officer bumps into shoplifting suspect in Knaresborough McDonalds toilets

A police officer bumped into a suspected shoplifter when he used the toilets at McDonald’s in Knaresborough today.

The roads policing officer was on routine patrol at St James Retail Park when he and colleagues were alerted to a theft at a nearby store just before 1pm.

Three suspects were detained within five minutes after a member of the public directed officers to four people running from the store.

Police at the scene today.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“There was one outstanding suspect and extensive police resource which included a police dog unit, roads policing officers and response officers were sent to the area.

“One of the officers who was assigned to the search needed to use the bathroom, so he made a quick trip into the nearby McDonalds.

“The officer couldn’t believe his luck when he walked in and spotted a person who matched the description of the outstanding suspect.”

Two men in their 20s, a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and are currently in police custody.

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Harrogate set to host three-day music weekender

Harrogate Business Improvement District is preparing to host the town’s first three-day music weekend.

Harrogate Music Weekender will include live performances, street entertainers and special offers to drive footfall to the town’s hospitality venues.

The weekender, from Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15, will begin with an Ibiza-themed event at The Yorkshire Hotel, followed by singo bingo — a mixture of bingo and music — at The Crown Hotel the following night.

With more acts to be revealed, visitors can also expect live performances from local musicians and artists at The Den, Piccolino, and Revolucion de Cuba.

A walking DJ booth and immersive street performances will also be on offer over the weekend.

The BID, which is funded by a levy paid by town centre businesses, organises initiatives that boost the town centre.

BID members in the hospitality industry told the organisation trade dips between summer and Christmas – leaving them with a gap ahead of the festive season.

It hopes the event will combat this by encouraging locals and tourists to spend more time in the town centre.

The weekend will be soundtracked by a range of music from rock and acoustic to live DJs and throwback hits.

Bethany Allen, business and marketing executive at Harrogate BID, said:

“A number of our BID members fed back to us that October can sometimes be a bit of a challenging gap between the summer and Christmas.

“With the confidence of a new five-year term, the BID team set about launching a new fun and exciting campaign that will showcase Harrogate in a different light.

“We are very excited to launch the first ever Harrogate Music Weekender and, with around 30 venues showing interest in being involved, it should be a weekend to remember.”

Bobs Cormack, manager at The Den, added:

“It’s awesome to see our town rallying behind musicians, especially the venues that are taking on the challenge of hosting live music for the first time.

“I’ll, of course, be busy down in The Den – I’m very jealous of everyone who gets to explore the town centre, catching the fantastic acts along the way. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”

The two opening events are ticketed and bookings can be made online.

The rest of the events are free to attend.

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No resolution in sight for rough sleeping den in Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens

The occupation of the pavilion in Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens by a group of rough sleepers shows no sign of ending.

The rough sleepers, who have refused offers of accommodation, have been living in the pavilion for 12 days.

The Stray Ferret first reported concerns about anti-social behaviour last week.

Nearby residents continue to express frustration while police and council officers say resolving the situation is complex.

North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret last week the people in the pavilion had been “offered accommodation daily”.

In an update yesterday, Andrew Rowe, the council’s assistant director for housing, said:

“We continue to work with our partners to tackle this complicated issue.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police, which had not previously commented, said:

“Local officers and PCSOs have attended the location regularly and will continue to engage with the individuals going forward.

“Homelessness is a complex issue that requires the input of a number of local partners to resolve.

“We are committed to working jointly with partners, local businesses, and residents to find a solution for everyone involved.”

Nearby residents remain frustrated by the apparent stalemate.

Kirk Wilber-Moran, who wrote a letter to us expressing his concern last weekend, said this morning:

“Whilst the amount of people there has reduced the armoury of belongings and/or rubbish has doubled, if not tripled, since the weekend.

“We still have people using the bandstand as a hangout base to congregate and drink and are there into the late evening. Still lots of noise and yesterday a woman aggressively shouting at people walking through the gardens.

“Nothing seems to be happening and no one seems to care as it’s not on their doorstep.”

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New £18,000 playground unveiled in Darley

A section of Darley playground has recently undergone a facelift and the results were unveiled last Friday.

The new playground, which is run by the Darley Playing Fields Association, combines 12 different play features for young ones to enjoy.

With a mini climbing wall, a rope wall and balancing beams, it was designed to improve balance, coordination and strength of mind.

Garry Raisbeck, a trustee of Darley Playing Fields Association, told the Stray Ferret the design and delivery of the playground were led by the preferences of children in the village.

He added:

“We hope that the new equipment helps families to get outdoors and enjoy the playing fields other facilities that include a football pitch, basketball court, boules court and village shop and café.

“It is also a great place to start a river walk along the River Nidd on the Nidderdale way.

“Darley Playing Fields Association is planning to build on this success with further improvements in future.”

The equipment is made from a natural, rot-resistant hardwood sustainably sourced from Europe.

Mr Rasibeck noted it was chosen “to blend in with the beauty of the local area.”

Darley Playing Fields Association is a charity that strives to keep the people of Darley healthy, while maintaining the playing areas of the village.

The project received a total of £15,500 in grant funding from RWE Renewables, the Harrogate Local Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

The association then raised some extra funds itself.

The funding process took almost 18 months to complete.

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Firefighters rescue people from car stuck in Ripon ford

A Ripon fire crew rescued two people from a car that got stuck in a ford across the River Skell this afternoon.

Firefighters were summoned to the ford at the end of Firs Avenue at 4.34pm today.

A small Fiat, which was attempting to cross from the Priest Lane side of the river, was towed out.

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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident report said crews rescued two people and winched the car out of the river.

Nobody was injured in the incident, which occurred after recent heavy rain saw the Skell running higher than usual.

The high water has led to red and white tape being put in place on both sides of the ford to stop vehicles from crossing.

The ford has been closed to vehicles.

Firefighters at the scene.

 

Have your say in our charity calendar: Winter edition

Our readers will soon be able to plan 2024 with the Stray Ferret charity calendar, however we need your help to decide which images will be included!

Using our photo of the week entries, we will be creating a calendar that showcases the beauty of the Harrogate district.

From our furry friends enjoying the snow to misty mornings on the Stray, vote for your favourite images to be included in the winter months.

See the contenders in our gallery below and vote for your winner via our competition page!

Bring ‘art on a cosy canvas’ to life at new Leeds tufting workshop

This story is sponsored by Tadatuft.

Two friends who embarked on a journey to Leeds for university studies found themselves caught up a lasting love affair with the West Yorkshire city. Two degrees later, the pair have launched the city’s greatest tufting business and see no sign of slowing down their success.

Owners Kai and Lulu first crossed paths at a tufting workshop in their hometown of China in 2019 and later, quite serendipitously, realigned at a house party in Leeds.  The friends had dabbled in tufting before; Lulu sold her fuzzy creations in lockdown, while Kai brought her creative flair from design school to the craft. After graduating, they saw the perfect opportunity to transform their shared love for tufting into a business venture – from there, Tadatuft was born.

Simply put, tufting is akin to painting with yarn and dates back to 5 BCE. It employs a specialised machine to weave colourful threads through a base layer of material, crafting intricate patterns and designs along the way.

Kai and Lulu said:

“Picture it as sculpting a soft, textured masterpiece using yarn as your medium, like making art on a cosy canvas.”

Customers can bring their creative designs to life.

As with many start-ups, Tadatufts journey hasn’t been without challenges – particularly being in a lesser-known industry. Kai and Lulu have taken social media by storm, posting regular tufting tutorials and finished results — amassing thousands of followers along the way.

Just nine months later, the friends now boast a loyal client base and the biggest tufting business in Leeds.

And now the people of Leeds and the Harrogate district can try their hand at tufting! Whether you’re on the hunt for a new rug, tote bag, wall hanging or fluffy mirror, Tadatuft will bring you the ultimate cosy DIY experience.

Located on Park Square East, the small and intimate workshops invite anyone and everyone to begin their creative journey. Suitable for friends, families, colleagues and even wedding parties, Tadatuft provides a session of guaranteed fun and relaxation, while teaching people a new craft and skill to gloat about at Christmas.

Tadatuft welcomes tufters of all ages and ability. No previous skills are required and all materials and guidance will be provided in the workshops.

Your only job is to choose a dazzling design, send it to Tadatuft beforehand and show up ready to tuft!

They continued:

“At Tadatuft, our mission is simple: we aim to create a welcoming space where you can discover a new skill, while enjoying quality time with friends and family.

“We firmly believe that everyone harbours an innate sense of creativity, and through our unique teaching methods and guidance, we can help you transform your ideas into meaningful pieces of art.

“Whether you’re a confident artist or someone who’s never considered themselves ‘creative’, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.”

If that wasn’t enough, Tadatuft also offer commissions and tufting kits for those that wish to tuft at home or cannot attend a workshop.

Customers simply send in their requested designs and Kai and Lulu can work their tufting magic to bring your cosy rug to life.

Kai and Lulu added:

“Our journey at Tadatuft has been nothing short of amazing. In just nine months, we’ve had the privilege of sharing our passion with over a thousand individuals.

“Witnessing our students’ incredible creations and their smiles of satisfaction continues to be our greatest reward.

“We look forward to many more months and years of creative adventures!”

Tadatuft pricing begins at £55 per person for a beginners’ workshop. They say money can’t buy you happiness, but a Tadatuft workshop definitely can!

In a review, the workshops were described as:

“An amazing experience! It was great to be able to try something completely new and to have such professional and helpful hosts! We were there for 6+ hours and enjoyed every minute of our rug making. The rugs turned out brilliantly – such a great experience and you get to keep your creation forever too!”

Find out more:

To find out more about Tadatuft or to book a tufting workshop, visit https://www.tadatuftuk.com/ or email Kai and Lulu at enquiries@tadatuftuk.com.

Bed race and beer festival success lead to grants in Knaresborough

Knaresborough Lions is inviting local organisations to apply for grants.

The Lions organises annual events such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the town’s beer festival and is using funds raised to support organisations in Knaresborough, surrounding villages and the wider Nidderdale area.

The Lions Community Fund will award grants to one-off projects.

The charity advised applications “will be considered only from properly constituted organisations rather than from individuals”.

Knaresborough Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We have staged similar funding opportunities in the past before the outbreak of covid. Though we maintained help for local people during the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the effect of these was to seriously reduce our fundraising activity.

“Happily, over the past couple of years, matters have recovered, and we are now once more in a position to help. We welcome applications from any local groups involved in providing services in their community.”

Lions president Bob Godsell (left) and past president Richard Hall.

Applicants are advised to indicate the costs of the proposed project and the amount of grant requested.

There is no upper limit to applications, but, in previous years, requests have ranged from £100 to £1,000.

Applications forms must be submitted by November 30 at 5pm.

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