Success blended with happiness (From Gazette & Herald)

Success blended with happiness

SUCCESS and Amotherby Community Primary School have been synonymous for years and now the school is set to take a big step forward at a national level.

For the 170-pupil school, which serves a wide rural community in Ryedale, is to be featured in a video which is being made for distribution to primary schools throughout Britain.

It follows the accolade of advanced skills teacher status being awarded to Julie Hitchcock and Sarah Jones, who specialise in numeracy and literacy.

Head teacher Bob Audsley said: "It is a tremendous achievement for both them and the school. We are all delighted because Amotherby will be put on the national educational map."

Both Julie and Sarah were student teachers at Amotherby before joining the staff. Now their skills have been recognised by the Department of Education's qualification and curriculum authority. A film crew has visited the school and the two teachers went to studios in London for presentations as part of the filming of the video which is to be published later this year.

They will be shown encouraging children to articulate their thoughts and how they can learn through dialogue.

But their honour is just a part of Amotherby's success story.

Barbara Cuthbertson has recently completed 25 years as the reception teacher. "We estimate she has taught at least 500 local children over the years and is now teaching some of their offspring," said Mr Audsley.

Every child at the school and all the Amotherby residents know Barbara Borrett, for she is the school's dinner lady, school crossing patrol lady, and now a governor, as well as a parish councillor and village stalwart.

"She is greatly valued by us all. Because she lives very close to the school. She sees all the comings and goings, especially when it is closed, and that is a great security asset. The children love her - Barbara is a wonderful person."

She, like all the teaching and non-teaching staff at Amotherby, are all part of a big friendly team working in the happiest of atmospheres which hits you as soon as you walk through the gate.

Well-tended gardens, playing fields which must be the envy of many schools in North Yorkshire, splendid classrooms and a playground of adventure play equipment all add up to the reason why the school is much sought after by parents over a wide area.

Ironically, of the 170 pupils, only 15 are from Amotherby, with the remainder coming from its 17 catchment area villages, as well as Malton and Norton.

New developments have included a state-of-the-art IT suite, new classrooms, and now an extension is to be built to the main hall to provide much-needed accommodation for sports equipment and space for school events.

"We have a very satisfied staff in school, and the happy ambience is something everyone comments on when they visit us," said Mr Audsley, who has been head for 11 years, and has been with the North Yorkshire education authority for 27 years.

The school has been successful in winning grants from various education organisations and Government schemes and been able to provide a wealth of equipment to improve the quality of teaching for both pupils and staff. Timber play equipment, part-funded by the school itself, has been built in the playground, while sponsorship has aided other projects.

One of the most unusual in a primary school is a quiet area. It consists of a decking-seated garden where children can relax amid the smells of various herbs in a project which was created for the new millennium.

The school's reputation has seen it become a victim of its own success for it is regularly over-subscribed.

The school's test results are second to none, but Mr Audsley quickly adds that the ethos of a happy school is equally as important as its standards. "We are a hard-working school and one which we believe generates a friendly learning atmosphere."

The school is staging its annual summer fair on Friday, July 12, when it will be raising funds for activities and trips, as well as the hall extension.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, June 27, 2002