A headteacher at a village primary school near Harrogate is retiring this week after 13 years in the position.
Sarah Bassitt, who began teaching 36 years ago, became headteacher of Killinghall Church of England Primary School in 2011.
At the time, the school was struggling financially and accommodated 83 students.
The number has more than doubled to 180 in the decade since, during which Ms Bassitt has overseen major developments at the school, including three new classrooms, a library and a larger playground.
The school was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted at its most recent inspection last year.
However, Ms Bassitt said:
“My vision for the school has never been about grades and judgements, it’s been driven by creating positive opportunities that mean that children can thrive and be happy.”
During her time as head, she also helped the school through many challenges, such as an asbestos roof fall in 2013, covid and a flood last year which left some classrooms out of use for months.
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A leaving day was held last week to celebrate Ms Bassitt’s time as headteacher, at which parents and pupils at said their goodbyes and wished her luck.
Ms Bassitt said:
“I feel privileged to have worked with the staff, governors, parents and pupils of Killinghall CE Primary School – they have been my life for over 13 years and I will miss them all”
“I will still be involved in education, as I intend to maintain my position on an education board for a local federation of schools. Playing golf and walking will fill my time, as well as holidays in term time!”
She also expressed her gratitude to business manager Helen Potter and Elouise Foster, the first staff member she appointed in 2011, who were also leaving and said:
“The vision for the school has been theirs, not just mine, and they have supported me every step of the way.”
Is a long-serving teacher retiring at your local school this week? Let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
Rapidly growing Killinghall school praised by OfstedKillinghall Church of England Primary School has been rated ‘good’ in its first full Ofsted inspection for 10 years.
The village school has doubled in size from 95 to 183 pupils since its last full inspection in 2012.
Inspectors praised the way it had coped with the challenges presented by rapid growth and said leaders had created “a highly inclusive school community where pupils are valued” and pupils “are happy and feel safe”.
The school was rated ‘good’ in five of the six areas assessed and ‘outstanding’ for early years provision.
The report, published on Tuesday, said:
“Children get off to an excellent start in the early years. Most pupils behave well. They show kindness and consideration for others.
“Bullying is not a problem in the school. Pupils know that they can talk to any of the adults in school if they are worried about something. They are confident that adults will act quickly.”
Leaders, they added, had created “an ambitious curriculum”, staff were described as “skilled” and safeguarding arrangements were found to be “effective”.
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Sarah Bassitt, who has been headteacher for 12 years, said:
“We are really pleased, especially after the challenges presented by covid and flooding to the key stage two classrooms from February to May this year.
“I’m particularly pleased with the early years assessment and the comments saying we are caring and the pupils are happy.”
Areas for improvement
Ofsted identified two areas for improvement: ensuring expectations for pupils’ behaviour “are consistently high across the school” and ensuring “processes for identifying and monitoring pupils with special education needs are consistently strong and that targets are precise”.
Ms Bassitt said the school had already adopted a new plan for pupils with special education needs.
Marion McCormick, co-chair of governors at the school, said:
Harrogate district schools get in jubilee spirit“We have a great deal of pride in the hard work and commitment that has led to this very good result.
“The report reflects the enthusiasm and high standards that embody all that the school stands for.
“The strength and resilience shown by the headteacher and her team to achieve this following a major flood throughout key stage two deserves huge praise.”
Schools in the Harrogate district are celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee ahead of next week’s half-term holidays.
Pupils have been making crafts, performing re-enactments and putting on performances to commemorate the Queen’s 70th year on the throne.
If you have images of jubilee activities at your school, send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add them to this article.
Harrogate Ladies’ College
The Harrogate Ladies’ College held a special jubilee dinner and finished it off with a ceilidh.
Springwater School
The sixth form students at the Harrogate school put on a opened their own jubilee bakery with home-made scones, cakes and jam.
The students also decorated the school in red, white and blue and had their own version of the Queen sat in the school.
St Peter’s Church of England Primary School
Pupils at St Peter’s have had a busy week celebrating the platinum jubilee.
This week Owl class held a tea party with a specially choreographed dance to perform alongside ‘Dancing for Wellbeing’ a local group of elderly residents who dance for their health and enjoyment.
The school had a full church service followed by an afternoon of craft making flags, keyrings and painting canvases and stones.
Years 3 and 4
Starbeck Primary Academy
Children dressed up in red, white, blue, purple and silver. They had a day making craft and artwork that was all dedicated to Her Majesty.
Scotton Lingerfield Primary School
Children at Scotton Lingerfield dressed up in red, white and blue and took part in craft activities this week.
Fountains Church of England Primary School
Fountains Church School has held a week of jubilee activities for its students.
The children danced and sang whilst decorating plates to keep as a momento of the platinum jubilee.
An afternoon tea was also held for all the parents with the children spending much of the morning preparing sandwiches and cakes for the adults to enjoy.
Upper Nidderdale Primary Federation – Glasshouses Community Primary, St Cuthbert’s C of E and Fountains Earth C of E Primary Schools
This week the three schools have been learning about the Queen’s reign and commemorated the event by burying a time capsule and planting a rose tree.
The children also performed a song, made crowns and painted portraits of the Queen.
Over the week, the schools invited parents in to enjoy tea and cakes.
Today, children across all three schools will come together to enjoy an afternoon tea at lunchtime.
Kirkby Malzeard Church of England Primary School
Children at Kirkby Malzeard School made crowns and decorated cakes to celebrate the jubilee.
Dacre Braithwaite Church of England Primary School
Pupils at Dacre Braithwaite Primary enjoyed a jubilee themed day yesterday with a variety of activities.
The children learnt about the significance of the Union Jack flag and to sing the National Anthem. They also made and decorated 96 jubilee buns and made their own crowns.
They did plan to have an outdoor street party but unfortunately the weather meant it had to be inside but headteacher, Jo Dobbs said it was still a “brilliant day”.
Western Primary School
Children from Western Primary School had their faces painted and got to dress up for the day today as they learnt about the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The students spent the morning learning about the jubilee and what the Queen has done during her reign.
Angelique Coatesworth, year 3 and four phase leader, said:
“We watched a clip of the original coronation and marvelled at the pomp and ceremony, especially the golden coach. All the children were fascinated with our discussions on what life was like back when the queen was coronated at just 25 years old.
“We made some commemorative art of the queen’s face. The children worked very carefully on these. Our dress up winners each received a royal themed book. This was organised by our wonderful family and friends.”
Killinghall Church of England Primary School
Pupils at Killinghall Primary School held a coronation with a garden party and a musical concert.
Grewelthorpe Church of England Primary School
Students at the school held a coronation re-enactment using props and costumes they made themselves.
Andrew Breckon, year 5 and 6 teacher, said:
“We held it in the village church and then had a tea party back at school with our new ‘Elizabeth sponge’ which the children made too.”
Students from Grewelthorpe made their own costumes for the re-enactment.
St Robert’s Catholic Primary School
The year 2 Starlings class at St Robert’s got their very own visit from the Queen.
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Brackenfield School
Brackenfield School is preparing for a jubilee showcase tomorrow with readings, music and performances by the children.
The first half will be led by the infants performing two original songs written by the school’s music director, Helen Leaf, and classic London-based songs such as Lambeth Walk.
The second half of the showcase will begin with a montage from the school’s junior choir, including musical numbers and readings, guiding the audience through the life of the Queen up to the present day.
Headteacher Joe Masterson said:
“The jubilee is a fantastic opportunity for us to hold an afternoon filled with delicious cakes and impressive entertainment, highlighting the wonderful and wide-ranging talents of our children. They have been rehearsing tirelessly, all eagerly anticipating their performances, and can’t wait to host our special guests.”
Moorside Primary School
Children at Moorside Primary School in Ripon were gifted special, wooden pennies from the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels to commemorate the jubilee.
The pennies have been made by a team of workers at Jennyruth Workshops and have been gifted to every pupil at the 17 primary schools in the city and surrounding villages.
The school held a garden party, attended by a woman looking very much like Her Majesty, organised a Royal Bake Off and dressed in red, white and blue.
Headteacher Claire Rowett said:
“We’ve had a week of celebrations involving our children and staff and everybody was in a joyous jubilee mood, as we look forward to the the events being held in the city centre and residential streets.”
“As a prelude to the extended Bank Holiday weekend, we created a portrait gallery with pictures of the Queen drawn by pupils.”
The children, with Union Jacks in hand, prepare for ‘The Queen’s’ arrival
The Queen’ meets one of the pupils at Moorside Primary
Follifoot Church of England Primary School
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
St Joseph’s school celebrated on earlier this week with all the children dressing in red, white and blue and enjoying a street party on the playground and playing field.
Children and their families were invited to join the event. Children sang, shared foods, played party games and took part in a royal quiz.
Ashville College
Children at Ashville College made the shape of the number 70 whilst a drone flew overhead to take their picture.
Highfield Prep
Children made decorations, dressed up, and planted saplings for the Queen’s Green Canopy
A primary school headteacher and parents are calling for urgent speed measures in Killinghall before a child is killed or seriously injured.
Sarah Bassitt, headteacher of Killinghall Church of England Primary School, spoke out after a fruitless two-year campaign to tackle speed outside the school.
Traffic hurtles downhill along Otley Road into the village at a 60mph limit, which only reduces to 30mph about 200 metres from the school. Often cars are doing at least 40mph when they pass the building.
Ms Bassitt said many schools had 20mph limits outside and traffic calming measures, such as speed humps.
But two years of writing to North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police have not led to similar outcomes in Killinghall.
Ms Bassitt said:
“The criteria seems to be that you have to have a child killed before anything is done.
“That hasn’t happened mainly because of the vigilance of parents and teachers.
“It’s very dangerous and different to what happens at other schools. It feels like we are hitting out heads against a brick wall.”
Ms Bassitt said some parents were so exasperated they had even used fake speed guns to encourage drivers to slow down.
Otley Road, outside the school in Killinghall.
Parent Gary Donoghue, who has led the campaign, said children were scared to walk to school.
Mr Donoghue said there should be a 20mph limit outside the school.
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He also called for the 30mph limit coming into the village to be moved back to the junction with Lund Lane to allow traffic more time to slow down before passing the school. He added:
“We are looking for prevention rather than repercussions. We don’t want something to happen to our children so they are the ones who bring about change.
“There seems to be a lack of acknowledgement that there is a problem. But when your child is scared to walk to school that is an issue. I wish someone from the council would come and speak to us.”
The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire County Council several times for comment but did not receive a response.
