Beckwithshaw Community Primary School has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

The 75-pupil village school on Church Row had been consistently rated ‘good’ by inspectors since 2002 but its latest Ofsted report means the school has now been placed in special measures.

Inspectors found pupils enjoy coming to school, show good levels of concentration and listen to instructions.

They praised the school for its phonics programme and said pupils read with confidence and understanding.

But the report, which was published on Friday, criticised the learning curriculum at the school as “not fit for purpose” and “poorly planned”.

It said this has led to pupils not doing well in a range of subjects.

‘Leadership vacuum’

An interim executive headteacher and interim head of school took up their posts at Beckwithshaw in October 2021.

But the report said a “leadership vacuum” over a period of time has had a negative impact on the quality of teaching at the school. It said staff have suffered from excessive workloads and low morale.

It said that new subject leaders are aware of the “deep-rooted problems” with the school’s curriculum.

However, they “lack the training they need” to make the required changes to raise standards.

Here is how the inspectors came to the overall ‘inadequate’ rating:

• The quality of education: Inadequate
• Behaviour and attitudes: Good
• Personal development: Requires improvement
• Leadership and management: Inadequate
• Early years provision: Requires improvement

Read more:

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Special measures

The inspection took place over two days in December last year when inspectors observed lessons, spoke to pupils informally and had meetings with school leaders.

The report said the inspection took into account the covid pandemic and how it impacted the school.

Beckwithshaw has now been placed into special measures to drive up standards.

Special measures schools are given details on how they must improve and are regularly monitored to check that they are on track. Another inspection will take place within 12 months.

The report says:

“In accordance with section 44(1) of the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.”

The school was rated ‘good’ at its last full inspection in 2012. A short inspection took place in 2016 that said the school “continues to be good”.

Beckwithshaw is currently part of a federation of three schools, along with Kettlesing Felliscliffe Community Primary School and Ripley Endowed C of E Primary School.

The school’s response

Robert Ling, chair of the interim executive board at Beckwithshaw Community Primary School, said:

“There are clear areas identified by Ofsted where Beckwithshaw Primary School can be improved and we do have a strong team around the school driving improvements at pace including the interim executive board.

“Inspectors acknowledged that the school has strengths: that pupil’s behaviour and attitude is good; that they happily play together; that they behave well in lessons and understand the importance of tolerance and respect and that children are well safeguarded.

“The phonics programme is planned well; it enables staff to support pupils to develop their phonic knowledge and skills effectively. Pupils learn how to match letters to sounds and blend them in words. The books given to pupils to practise their reading are well matched to their phonics knowledge. They read them with confidence and understanding.

“Pupils’ with an education, health and care plan are supported more effectively because they receive individual one-to-one assistance.

“We are now taking swift action to secure good leadership and improve curriculum planning across all areas of school life.

“We are proud of our pupils at Beckwithshaw and inspectors praised their good behaviour and willingness to learn. They deserve the highest standards of teaching and learning and good quality leadership and we are taking firm steps to put these in place.”

The number of people receiving out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district has fallen again.

Latest monthly figures by the Office for National Statistics show 2,080 people were claiming the benefits on February 10, falling by 55 from January’s figure of 2,135.

The figure, however, remains considerably above pre-pandemic levels. In January 2020, 1,410 people claimed the benefits, which includes Universal Credit.

Universal Credit can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.

Across the UK, 4.3% of all adults are claiming the benefits. In the Harrogate district, it is 2.3%.

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In a boost for jobs in the district, a 600,000 square feet business park approved was approved last week by Harrogate Borough Council.

The business park will be called ‘Harrogate 47’ because it will be built at Flaxby close to junction 47 of the A1 (M). The developer Opus North believes it could support 2,000 jobs.

It is allocated as the main strategic employment site in the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which identifies where development can take place.

A Harrogate mum has shared how her daughter overcame a brain tumour after being diagnosed aged two.

Marnie Downie-Keally, now seven, was diagnosed with a type of brain tumour called low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma in March 2017.

She underwent surgery to decompress cysts that were causing a build-up of pressure in her head, and also to do a biopsy.

In late 2018 after an MRI scan, Marnie began a course of chemotherapy that lasted 18 months.

Marnie having fun

March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which raises money for research to find a cure for brain tumours.

Sally Downie said:

“There had always been something that wasn’t quite right and we had been back and forth to the GP with various things from swollen gums to strange jerky movements, but it always got put down to a virus.

“Marnie had never been a great sleeper, waking every couple of hours and then towards diagnosis, she was waking saying her head hurt and being sick. Finally a CT scan was done and that was when we found out she had a brain tumour.”

Enjoying life

Marnie is now doing well after finishing her treatment in June 2020. She is back at school and enjoys playing sports including football, gymnastics, paddle boarding and swimming.

Ms Downie said:

“Marnie’s last six-monthly MRI scan in January showed all is stable, and the doctor was very pleased with her progress. If all is well at her next scan in July, Marnie will move to yearly scans.

“She’s really happy that, now that her portacath is out, if she gets a temperature she doesn’t have to go to hospital to be checked. She’s doing really well, and is really enjoying being at school. She’s doing lots of activities, including football, gymnastics, paddle boarding and swimming.”

Marnie enjoys paddle boarding.

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Vital support

Marnie and her family have been supported by Candlelights, a Leeds-based charity that works with child cancer patients and their families across Yorkshire.

Candlelighters supported Marnie and her family right from their stay at the hospital, providing them with practical support and entertainment on the wards, wellbeing therapies, trips out and a holiday, as well as financial support.

Ms Downie added:

“There are far too many things to list that Candlelighters have done for us since Marnie’s diagnosis and unless you are being supported by them I don’t think you can ever fully appreciate what they do.

“The support provided by Candlelighters has been amazing for our wellbeing. There’s always a friendly face offering a cup of tea and a chat as well as endless entertainment and support for the children.”

To donate to Candlelighters visit this page.

Pupils at Harrogate independent prep school Belmont Grosvenor took part in their first-ever sound bath experience as part of the school’s wellbeing programme.

Sound meditation practitioner Sudeshna Sarkar visited the school in Birstwith to run a series of sound workshops during Children’s Mental Health Week.

The older children explored the science behind sound and to learn how sounds can have a healing effect on body and mind.

A sound bath is a meditative experience where you lie down and are ‘bathed’ in different sounds.

All pupils had a go at playing the gongs, Himalayan bowls, chimes, crystal bowls and other instruments before experiencing a brief sound bath.

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Ms Sarkar, who is a mum to two BGS pupils, said she was overwhelmed by the positive response to the workshop from pupils.

She said:

“Participation in a sound bath requires no prior experience and is an excellent tool for children and adults alike to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, poor sleep and a range of conditions affecting the nervous system.”

Knaresborough Rotary Club has delivered a ‘litter’ of 27 robotic cats to the charity Dementia Forward.

The charity, which is funded by North Yorkshire County Council, provides dementia support across the county.

During lockdown, it launched a ‘cafe in a box’ scheme in which dementia patients receive special boxes tailored to their individual interests.

Robotic cats have been included in the boxes to patients who have been clinically assessed to obtain maximum benefit from robot cat therapy.

Research has found the therapeutic value of robotic cats can be more beneficial than drugs for certain conditions.

The latest delivery takes the number of robotic cats donated by Knaresborough Rotary Club to 50.

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Each robot weighs about the same as a cat and interacts in a lifelike way, creating a calming effect.

They miaow, purr, lick their paws and can become long-term companions to dementia patients.

Jill Quinn, chief executive of Dementia Forward, said people became attached to the cats after the charity trialled them.

Jill Quinn, chief executive of Dementia Forward.

Ms Quinn said:

“They are very lifelike and purr and react when they are stroked.

“They can provide comfort for a person with dementia who is anxious or unable to settle by providing a calming effect.

“One example we witnessed was a woman who was very into arts and crafts, but her dementia meant that she would get anxious and wasn’t able to stay involved in any activity.

“But once we placed the cat on her knee she sat and stroked it – it created a calming distraction which enabled her to stay focussed and enjoy the activity.”

A man from Knaresborough has been charged with murder following a fight on Friday evening at the Pier Hotel pub in Withernsea, East Yorkshire.

Police were called at around 11.30pm after reports of an altercation involving a group of people at the pub on Seaside Road.

The victim has been named as Darron Bower. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services.

Darren Moverley, 44, of Withernsea, and Dean Kilkenny, 46, of Knaresborough, have both been charged with murder and they appeared at Hull Magistrates Court this morning.

Humberside Police believe that lots of people were in the area when the incident took place. It says anyone with information who has not already spoken to them should call 101 and quote log 594.

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St Robert’s Catholic Primary School in Harrogate has raised £504.98 for a Ukraine humanitarian appeal by selling crafts and old school uniforms.

St Robert’s has a large number of Eastern European children so the school wanted to do something to help at such a difficult time.

Mum Catherine Maguire made Ukraine-inspired crafts, including painted stones, cards, bookmarks, ribbons, pom-poms and cupcakes.

The school also donated all proceeds from a school uniform sale held at the same time to the Ukrainian disaster appeal run by the Catholic aid agency Cafod on behalf of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Some of the crafts that were on sale

Ms Maguire said:

“It’s about showing our support for them and their families. It’s not just about raising money”.

The school also created a prayer tree where children could write prayers on a sunflower and hang them.

Read more:

• Ukraine crisis: Guide to how you can help locally

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Headteacher Jill Collins added:

“St Robert’s Catholic Primary has lots of children from different countries and especially eastern European countries. We want to extend our love and support to our families who have relatives in Ukraine and nearby countries.

“The fundraising event is small way of letting people know we are truing to help and support in any way we can.”

Thankful for support

Ukrainian couple Taras and Viktoriia Jakubiak, whose daughter Isabella attends St Robert’s, said they were thankful to everyone at the school for holding the fundraiser, which took place on Friday afternoon.

The Jakubiak family at the fundraiser.

Mr Jakubiak also spoke about his fears for close family members who are encircled by Russian forces in Ukraine and unable to flee.

Read the full article here.

An online butcher from Ripon has been acquired by specialist consumer brand investor Inverleith.

Farmison & Co has a focus on British heritage and rare breeds, and an ethical, sustainable supply chain. It sells beef and pork.

John Pallagi, Farmison founder and chief executive, said:

“We now have the backing to take the business to the next stage and for our mission to encourage more people to eat better meat.”

Harrogate jeweller to sponsor football team

Ogden of Harrogate is supporting grassroots girls’ football by sponsoring Pannal Sport Pythons under-12s.

Rob Ogden, director of Ogden of Harrogate, said:

“The girls are talented and passionate and it’s great to see this and be able to encourage it. Due, in part, to the lack of funding and interest in female football a lot of young talented players give up.

“We’re hoping that in a small way our support will encourage some of the girls to keep going and, who knows, we may have a future Lucy Bronze or Rachel Daly in the team.”

Chamber meeting to focus on social media

David Simister (left), chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, with president Martin Gerrard.

Tonight’s meeting of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will include a talk on how to maximise social media in marketing strategies.

Held at Pavilions of Harrogate from 5.30pm, it begins with informal networking before expert speakers deliver their advice to the audience.

Meetings are open to all chamber members and free to attend for first-time visitors. Subsequent visits are £10 per person.

To book a place, email ceo@harrogatechamber.co.uk.

Bilton Dragon Bowling Club is due to open a new clubhouse next Sunday.

The crown green bowls club was founded in 1909 and has members aged 14 to 93. The club plays on a green behind the Co-op on Skipton Road.

Its first clubhouse was a wooden pavilion erected in 1910 at a cost of £17 and 10 shillings.

The new one has been funded by a £20,000 grant from Sport England and fundraising by members.

The club had hoped to open it last year but it was delayed due to covid.

Players at the club.

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Mayor of Harrogate Trevor Chapman will be there today to cut the ribbon.

The club is also looking for new members. If you’re interested in playing or have any questions, email the club’s chairman Trevor Whincup here or call John Archer on 07715030832.

Mr Whincup said:

“Bowls is perceived to be an older person’s sport, but we have members of all ages. It’s good exercise and it’s a good game.”

Starbeck nurses Andy Dennis and Tracey Hill are to embark on a mammoth 2000km charity cycle ride from Amsterdam to Gibraltar.

The trip is to raise money for a charity close to their hearts, which offers vital medical care for those who need it around the world.

The couple hopes the journey will raise £30,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

An impressive £115,000 has already been raised for the charity to reach their overall target of £200,000, which was set in 2010.

It’s the third major fundraising effort they have undertaken for MSF. In 2011, Mr Dennis walked from Amsterdam to Barcelona and in 2016, the couple cycled across the USA.

Ms Hill said:

“We are raising money to give to MSF so they can use it to help people who are desperately in need of healthcare. That’s relevant right now as MSF are in Ukraine. We’re trying our best to get the word out to raise as much money as we can.”

Ukraine crisis

MSF’s medical teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics and go to where they are needed most.

MSF works in over 70 countries and has health workers in Ukraine at the moment.

Mr Dennis has worked in Uganda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone for MSF

Specialist teams are in hospitals in the war-torn country treating wounded people, providing surgical care, emergency medicine and mental health support.

Mr Dennis said donations big or small are greatly appreciated.

“There’s no such thing as a small donation, it impacts someone somewhere.

“£3 can pay for an oxygen mask, for example. We can’t change the world but you can change the life for the person sat in a clinic and bring them healthcare access they wouldn’t normally have.”

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‘All about grit’

The trip will take three months, which they will break up so they have time to rest and connect with local media outlets to promote the fundraiser.

Mr Dennis is an ICU nurse at Harrogate District Hospital and Ms Hill is a dermatology nurse at York Hospital. Both of their employers have supported them by giving them time off with some unpaid leave.

Ms Hill said the endurance trip will be “all about grit”.

“You find out the core of you, you peel back so much and you know how determined you are. It’s all about grit, can you tolerate being dirty every day? If you find a river, you go for it.”

The couple cycling in the USA in 2016.

Mr Dennis added:

“What Tracey described is the every day life of the people we are raising money for. We are choosing to do this to make a bit of difference.”

Proud Starbeck man

Mr Dennis has a reputation in Harrogate as a caring and compassionate member of the local community.

The proud Starbeck man said, “I’m not Bob Geldof”, but wants to show how anyone can make a difference in the world.

He said:

“I was no achiever but I was interested in biology at school and it was the only subject I was good at. Combine biology with compassion you find nursing at the end. It’s an incredible job, it might not look attractive with jaded looking nurses on the TV during covid, but I’ve travelled the world.”

All money raised for the trip, which they have called Ride To The Rock, will go to the MSF and the couple will pay for all expenses themselves. It will start in May.

They are also looking for corporate sponsors too. You can email Andy at andy4msf@pm.me for more information.

Their websites are www.andy4msf.com and www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk

To donate, visit the JustGiving page.