Hampsthwaite primary school to build new staff room and lobby

Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School has been granted planning permission by Harrogate Borough Council to build a new staff room and entrance lobby.

The school, which was built in 1861, will see an existing extension partially demolished to make way for a new single-storey building that will become a new staff room.

Another extension to the side of the original school will form a new secure entrance lobby for pupils and staff.

A CGI impression of how the school will look.

A heritage impact statement says the new additions will help the school accommodate more pupils.

It says:

“The proposed alterations will have several benefits for the pupils who attend the school and will cause no harm to the setting or significance of the conservation area. Increased space and internal layout means that the site will be able to accommodate more pupils in a safer environment.”

In 2009, the school built a large extension to provide a new hall, two classrooms and kitchen.

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Firefighters rescue teens from Harrogate school roof

Firefighters rescued four teenagers who had climbed onto the roof of a school in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service took a call for help at a building on Wetherby Road just after 6pm yesterday.

The group had made their way up to the roof of the school but when it came to climbing back down, the teenagers got into some difficulty.

When the crews arrived they used a ladder to get them to safety.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said after the incident:

“Crews assisted four teenagers that had climbed onto the roof of a school and then were unable to get down. Crew used a ladder.”

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Harrogate primary school raises 10 times charity target

A Harrogate primary school has raised £2,420 for Cancer Research UK, which is nearly 10 times the original target.

Woodfield Community Primary School took part in the Race for Life Schools programme on May 14 and has since smashed its £250 goal.

Around 60 pupils, aged three to 11 years old, took part in the event to raise money for life-saving research.

Jo Marwood, who is head of school at Woodfield Primary School, said:

“We set a target of £250 for the school to raise and thought that would be an amazing achievement for our small school.

“So to see the total going up and up with each donation we were over the moon!

“We’d like to thank everyone, our students, our staff, our families and our local community who have cheered us on and donated to such an important cause.”

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Sarah Pickersgill, head of events marketing for Cancer Research UK, said:

“Organising a Race for Life Schools event is a fantastic way for schools to have fun, whilst raising money for a good cause.

“The money raised by Woodfield School will help our scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives.

“So, we thank all the pupils, parents and teachers for their vital support.”

Smarties nursery in Ripley to close next month

Smarties Day Nursery and Pre-School in Ripley is to close next month after operating for more than 30 years.

The nursery currently looks after children aged up to four and also works alongside Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School to offer a before and after-school club.

The nursery, next to Ripley Store, opened in 1987 and can cater for up to 52 children. It has been under the current management since 2004.

The building itself is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

The nursery has said it is having to close after the owners decided not to renew the lease and use the building for another purpose instead.

Ripley school is in the early stages of planning to provide alternative provision. It has asked parents for their opinions, and hopes to have something in place after the Easter holidays.

Head teacher Ms Lisa Jackson-Ward said:

“Ripley Endowed was devastated to hear the news from Smarties; they have supported school and our parents for many years. Quite clearly, school now needs to work hard to fill the gap Smarties has left.

“It is possible for school to consider a teacher-led nursery provision. This would require some careful consultation with parents and the local authority but is being actively pursued in order to best support our families, the village and future families.”

The nursery has remained open during the current lockdown but will close for good on March 31.

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Harrogate district parents ‘crushed’ about schools not reopening

For many parents in the Harrogate district, yesterday’s announcement that schools were unlikely to fully reopen until at least March 8 was not what they wanted to hear.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said reopening was dependent on “lots of things going right”, including infection rates.

It means many parents and guardians are looking at another lengthy stint as teachers, placing more stress in particular on working parents.

Although parents agree safety is paramount, they are concerned about the impact of lengthy home schooling.

Sally Haslewood, who is managing director of Harrogate Mumbler and a mother of two daughters, said:

“I am really struggling with home schooling them both as well as trying to keep them healthy, happy and run my own business. To be perfectly honest, Boris’ statement last night was crushing.

“The general feeling amongst the other parents I speak to is that they are all incredibly fed up and don’t know how long they will cope for. The emotional drain of it all is an absolute killer.”

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Laura Berryman, from Bilton, is home schooling two children while caring for a four-month-old baby. She said the announcement only “enhances the feelings of stress and failure”.
“It was really deflating. I have friends who can’t work at the moment so have no income. I thought of them, and how much the kids are missing their friends and it all becomes overwhelming.
“I am finding home schooling extremely difficult as they are just nowhere near as engaged as they would be at school.”

Mental health

Tracy Atkinson, a mum-of-two from Harrogate, agreed it was right to delay schools fully reopening but has concerns about the mental health impact on parents and children. She said:
“We all saw the numbers escalate in September when the schools and universities reopened, and if we are to get out of this mess we need to get the numbers right down otherwise we will be back to square one again.
“I worry about mental health, mine included. My son has had his head in his studies every day since this started, but with no idea as to what is happening with A-levels and how things will be graded it is a concern.”

Resit year

Kerry Windsor. who lives in Killinghall with two children, suggested offering students a resit year but added it won’t be possible to know when it will be safe for all children to go back to school until the effectiveness of the vaccine is clear. She added:
“My youngest has autism and struggles socially and certainly isn’t ready to start high school next year. My eldest has found it incredibly difficult to complete art assignments due to the resources needed from school. I feel that to put them back a year would be so beneficial.”
Another mother-of-two from Nidderdale agreed, who did not wish to be named, agreed a resit year would be a good ideal. She said:
“The children have missed an awful lot of schooling. I think it is only fair for those that want the opportunity to catch up to have the opportunity to re-take the year. By missing so much they are at a huge disadvantage!”
Scheme to donate laptops to Harrogate pupils

A community group in Harrogate is at the forefront of a drive to donate laptops and tablets to pupils studying from home.

Schools were preparing to reopen after the Christmas break for face-to-face learning until the third national lockdown caused a last minute U-turn this week.

This has left some students, especially from poorer backgrounds, in need of computers for home schooling.

There was a big drive during the first lockdown to hand out laptops and tablets and some schools did not receive what they requested from government.

Consequently some pupils are now without the means to access their education.

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Stuart Carlton, the corporate director of children and young people’s services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“All the laptops we had in March have been distributed, that was the first part of the scheme.

“There was then a second part where the government provided laptops directly to schools.

“We know there were some problems with that scheme because of the volume of requests. Not all laptops that schools wanted were given to them.”

Julie Mills, head of the Supplies for Key Workers in and around Harrogate Facebook group, has partnered with Phase 4 Computers in Harrogate to supply devices.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“People have been really good, they have been fabulous. I put up a request just yesterday and we have had plenty of donations already.

“Phase 4 Computers has offered to clean the laptops and tablets up and get them ready for schools. We are all pulling together once again.”

Anyone wishing to donate can either drop it off at Phase 4 Computers on weekdays between 10am and 4pm or get in touch with the Supplies for Key Workers in and around Harrogate group.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said in the House of Commons today the government would deliver 750,000 laptops to pupils by the end of next week.

That pledge is part of a wider commitment to deliver one million devices to students in need.

Surge of public support for St Aidan’s floodlit pitch plans

Over 100 people in a week have voiced their support to the council about St Aidan’s secondary school’s plans to build a floodlit artificial sports pitch.

The school said the pitch is “urgently required” but nearby residents in Harrogate have complained the 15-metre high floodlights would cause light pollution to their homes and the Stray.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will meet at 2pm today to consider the planning application, which has been recommended for refusal in a council report.

The report said noise and lights from the pitch would have a “significant adverse impact” on the surrounding area even though it says a new pitch would benefit the school and local football teams:

“Whilst the proposal undoubtedly involves public benefits arising from the development, these do not outweigh the harm of the impact of the development on residential amenity and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”

Last week on HBC’s planning portal, the application had 40 objections and three in support.

However, since the Stray Ferret story about the plans was published on Tuesday, there has been a surge of comments in favour, with 107 comments in support and 41 objections.

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Many people also posted on social media in support of the application. One pleaded with local residents to be “selfless”:

“Come on local residents, please be selfless about this : think about someone outside of you. In particular, young people who have been absolutely bulldozed over this year. How many of you bought your houses when the school was already built…? Exactly. I’m sure there could be restrictions in place, 9pm cut off or something. Time for a bit of grace I think rather than it being all about you…”

One person quipped about an objection from the Stray Defence Association, which said the floodlights would have an “immense and detrimental” on the nearby Stray:

“First the Stray is exposed to rain, bicycles and mud and now there’s a chance it will be exposed to light. These are very dark times.”

The Stray Ferret will report on the outcome of the planning meeting later today.

Two women ‘brave the shave’ for Knaresborough school

Two women from Knaresborough have shaved their heads to fundraise for The Forest School in Knaresborough – the school supports children with additional needs.

Sarah Bennington and Michelle Czupcyck both work at the school and wanted to do their bit to raise much needed funds. The school is in need of new playground equipment and additional sports facilities.

The women shaved their heads today at the school.

The pair had hopes to raise £500 but have already surpassed that by raising an additional £100.

To support their efforts, click here.

Children at The Forest School, Knaresborough

Children at The Forest School, Knaresborough.

Sarah Bennington sacrificed her blue locks for the cause. She has worked at the school for eight years, she said:

“We decided to do Brave the Shave to raise money for the playground equipment. The kids at this school are fantastic and deserve everything we can raise money to get for them.

“The many questions we get asked are why shaving your hair? My answer to that is you only live once; my hair will grow back and for me I will be interested in what colour it will grow back as my hair is always different colours.”

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The school’s headteacher, Michelle Farr, thanked the women for their efforts saying the impact on the children with access to the new equipment will be “immense”.

She said:

“The staff never cease to amaze me with their dedication and support for our pupils. Sarah and Michelle decided they wanted to help our fundraising campaign by Braving the Shave and I am extremely grateful to them.

“Some of our play equipment failed a safety test and had to be removed, and some of our playground was reduced due to building additional classrooms. The redevelopment will allow the children to play and socialise independently in a safe environment.”

Harrogate primary school’s plea: help our pupils who are isolating

A primary school in Harrogate has launched an urgent appeal to help pupils who are struggling with self-isolation at home.

Grove Road Community Primary School currently has 11 staff, including the head teacher, and about 140 pupils self-isolating either because they have coronavirus or have been in contact with somebody who has.

Chris Harrison, the assistant head, told the Stray Ferret its appeal for help had generated an “incredible” response so far:

“We have been trying to look after those families. With job strains and the added pressure of the kids being at home it stacks up.

“Our original appeal was for food but we have had so many food donations. We’d particularly like to thank Resurrected Bites and Chartwells.”

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Now the school is asking people to donate toys to help with happiness or digital devices to help with learning.

The government said it would give devices to schools for pupils to use at home but Grove Road was not allocated any.

Some of the food donations that have flooded in.

Mr Harrison said this was the first time many pupils have had to fully isolate for two weeks.

He added it was particularly difficult for families without outdoor space.

Anyone who can help with the school’s appeal should get in touch with the school on Twitter or give the reception a call on 01423 506060.

Harrogate Ladies’ College confirms covid case

Harrogate Ladies’ College has confirmed one of its students has tested positive for coronavirus.

Other pupils, identified as being in close contact, have also been sent home to isolate.

It is the second time in 24 hours that a Harrogate school has been affected by covid.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Harrogate Grammar School had reported a positive case. The school sent 45 students home to isolate for 14 days.

Harrogate Ladies’ College did not say how many pupils had been affected. A spokeswoman said:

“We can confirm that one pupil at Harrogate Ladies’ College has tested positively for covid. The pupil is well, and isolating at home.

“We are working closely with Public Health England and the NHS track and trace system, and any pupils who have been in close contact with this particular student are now also self-isolating in line with government guidance.”

Despite the two incidents in local schools. coronavirus levels in North Yorkshire county are below the national average.

County council bosses have urged residents to remain vigilant and “avoid unnecessary interactions”.

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