Appleby Primary School
Appleby Primary School
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Pupils' Appleby Horse Fair Art Project
Wed 19 May 2021Pupils at Appleby Primary School have been thrilled to develop their creative talents as part of an exciting project celebrating cultural heritage and the town’s long association with the Gypsy and Traveller community.
Children from Years 4, 5 and 6 worked with local artist Karen Babayan in collaboration with police community support officer Sally Ewbank and volunteer Shirley Simpson on a project commissioned by Cumbria Police in Appleby.
The Appleby Horse Fair is an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers which has historically taken place in the town of Appleby in Westmorland each year in the first week in June, though has been rescheduled this year to take place in August. Appleby Horse Fair is unique in Europe and, as well as attracting around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers; over 30,000 visitors can flock to town to soak up the atmosphere and watch horses washed in the river Eden on Appleby’s Sands.
To ensure the safety of horses, fair-goers and visitors, the town of Appleby is transformed with extensive crowd barriers to protect pedestrians. When visitors attend the New Fair this August they will be treated to a series of striking panels over 16 meters in length, produced by pupils at Appleby Primary School alongside Karen and her creative team.
Pupils learned about the history of the fair, Gypsy and Traveller traditions as well as the work of the Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordination Group who organise the annual event. This learning inspired the children’s mural which has been created in relief print and collage. The image is a stylised representation of the event in the town, incorporating the images of bow top caravans, sulkies and bathing horses synonymous with the Fair. The piece will be enlarged and printed by Ast Signs of Penrith to create a large statement piece to be displayed on Bongate, opposite the Royal Oak Inn, throughout the fair.
Karen Babayan, who worked with the Appleby pupils said: “Creating this important work for the town took thorough planning, meticulous preparation and three days of intensive workshops where each and every pupil contributed. The result is stunning. I am indebted to my creative team who worked incredibly hard to support the children in creating a beautiful piece of work. We are also grateful to Appleby Town Council and Westmorland Arts Trust (Cumbria Community Foundation) for their financial support of this project. The panels will last a number of years, installed during each New Fair for our community and visitors to enjoy.”
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PTFA Upper Eden Food Bank Donations
Fri 27 Nov 2020A message from our PTFA
At this time of year, the PTFA would usually be asking for donations for the Christmas Fair and Food Hampers. However things are different this year and whilst we can’t organise a fair, there are things we can all do for our community.
We will be collecting donations for the Upper Eden Food Bank, bins will be placed outside the various entrances to school (see schedule below). There are more families than every needing help this year, please consider giving if you can.
Bin Locations
Mon 30th & Tues 1st - outside both entrances at the front of school
Wed 2nd & Thurs 3rd - top of the car park next to the gate by Year 4/5/6 entrance.
Upper Eden Food Bank Shopping List
Tea bags/Instant coffee (med)
Milk (1ltr full fat or semi-skimmed UHT)
Pasta sauces (jars or sachets)
Fruit juice (1ltr carton UHT)
Fruit squash (1ltr)
Biscuits or snack bars
Tinned meat
Tinned fish
Cereals/Porridge (med size boxes)
Tinned fruit
Tinned vegetables
Instant Mash Potato
Soup (tinned or packet)
Tinned rice pudding
Sugar 500gm or 1kg
Jam (not homemade)
Pasta (medium bags of dried pasta)
Baked beans
Tinned chopped tomatoes
Upper Eden Food Bank are not allowed to accept homemade preserves -
ITV News Comes to Appleby Primary School
Fri 09 Oct 2020There has been a buzz of excitement in the air at Appleby Primary School today as ITV Border News have been visiting to prepare a piece for our local news programme about an innovative initiative taking place here at Appleby.
In preparing to reopen school to all pupils in September this year, we have taken time to carefully consider a recovery curriculum which both interests and inspires pupils whilst also addressing the needs of every child returning to school in the midst of a global pandemic and an unprecedented period of absence. In line with the latest research carried out by the Education Endowment Foundation we have adopted a tiered approach in developing our bespoke 'Recovery Curriculum'. This approach is aimed to ensure that we are able to continue to deliver high quality teaching of a rich and deep curriculum whilst logistically ensuring a rigorous system of control measures to protect pupils, staff and families. Alongside this is a targeted programme of academic support, structured intervention, small group tuition and one-to-one tutoring based upon accurate diagnostic assessment. The third tier comprises wider strategies aimed at sustaining engagement, reinforcing positive behaviours and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.
A key element of our Tier Three planning has really captured the imagination and enthusiasm of pupils and sparked interest from the media. At the start of September we were approached by colleagues at the Outward Bound Trust to be part of an innovative outreach project which would enable the Trust's teams of specialist outdoor educators to work with schools to support pupils to develop the skills they need to face an ever-changing world and to address some of the emotional uncertainties of the last few months.
Current government restrictions mean that schools are presently unable to engage with the sort of overnight residential visits associated with the Outward Bound Trust and consequently a significant number of outdoor educators have been furloughed and are unable to return to work at this time. The innovative initiative which is being piloted in only a handful of schools nationwide is heavily subsidised by the Trust themselves and sees outdoor educators based in school to develop and deliver a specialist programme of activities and experiences on site.
Pupils have thoroughly enjoyed a wide range of games and challenges led by Craig Henderson and Ryan McGlen who are usually based at the Outward Bound Trust at Watermillock, Ullswater. Whilst being enormously fun and engaging, sessions have been purposely designed to develop positive behaviours that will promote children's rapid and sustained progress in the classroom. Children have learned to develop the socialisation and teamwork skills alongside building resilience, perseverance and their ability to solve problems practically and creatively. Not only that but the sessions, held in our amazing outdoor environment, have a significant impact in promoting both positive mental and physical health and wellbeing. It has been particularly satisfying that teachers are already reporting the positive benefits of the project on children's attitudes for learning and work produced in class.
The spectacle of having television cameras in school was certainly not lost on our children who were thrilled to be filmed during one of their sessions this morning. Not only that but four pupils also had the opportunity to be interviewed by ITV Border's Lake District Reporter, Fiona Marley Paterson. The four children, two boys and two girls, were all fantastic ambassadors for our school and talked with real passion about their enjoyment of sessions with Craig and Ryan.
The news piece is expected to be aired on ITV Border News on Monday or Tuesday next week.
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Appleby Named An Official Quidditch Town
Wed 07 Oct 2020There are never two days the same in teaching - that is part of what makes it such a wonderful profession. This week we have been visited by BBC Radio Cumbria and are looking forward to welcoming ITV News to school later this week to reflect our innovative project with The Outward Bound Trust as part of our post-COVID recovery curriculum. In the midst of this media furore we have also been privy to a very special secret.
The reason for all the cloak and dagger? Appleby is now recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town in celebration of the new book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition. We were first contacted by the mayor and representatives of Bloomsbury Publishing about ten days ago and informed of plans to present the Mayor of Appleby, Councillor Gareth Hayes and two pupils from Appleby Primary School, with a decorative banner featuring gold Quidditch hoops celebrating the town’s fictitious Quidditch team, Appleby Arrows. This is to mark the release of Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, written by J.K Rowling and illustrated by Emily Gravett.
Amidst plans to host the presentation early in the morning and to ensure that safe social distancing practices could be maintained and that the presentation could take place in line with current Government guidelines, school was sworn to secrecy (you know what Harry Potter fans can be like!). School immediately set to work identifying to 'super fans' of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world - no easy task with so many of our children enjoying the adventures of Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione. Harry Potter quizzes and discussions with eager volunteers led to a short list and Paul and Jane were the lucky pair to have their names drawn from the sorting hat.
Early this morning, with a crisp, autumn freshness in the air, the excited pair met with Councillor Gareth Hayes, Mayor of Appleby, to be presented with the town's honorary quidditch banner in front of the assembled press. After photographs and broomstick lessons, Paul and Jane were thrilled to be interviewed alongside Councillor Hayes for the BBC Radio Cumbria Breakfast Show. Avid readers, both children were a credit to both Appleby Primary School and the town of Appleby as they talked with passion and pleasure about their love of J.K.Rowling's world of Harry Potter and came to terms with their new-found fame.
To top-off an exciting morning (all before the school doors had even opened) Jane and Paul were presented with their very own copies of the book. Plans are now afoot in school to mark and celebrate Appleby's status as "Honorary Quidditch Town" and our pride to be: "Home of the Appleby Arrows".
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Poland: final day
Sat 07 Mar 2020Our final morning in Biecz, after an amazing week away. We had a bit of a lie-in today as breakfast was at 9:00 am. We finished packing then walked up into the town for some last-minute shopping before catching the bus to the airport. This took a couple of hours and we then prepared ourselves for a very long wait as we arrived soon after 2:00 pm and weren’t flying till 8:55 pm. Still, we made the best of it as we found a games area and played Twister, table tennis and table football; we did some souvenir shopping; we went to the observation deck to do some observing then we played on Snapchat and saw what we would look like if we were pretty babies - the fun literally never stopped!
Eventually we got through passport control and enjoyed a lovely pizza/pasta meal then got ready to board.
We’re so proud of the the children we’ve brought away with us. They’ve been great ambassadors for our school and spending a week with them has been a joy. A huge thank you to Marilyn for keeping us on track and supporting us throughout the week. Our flight is a little bit delayed but we’ll be home soon. Signing off from Poland: good night.
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Poland: Day 6
Fri 06 Mar 2020This morning we were joined by children from the Polish school and headed up into the mountains to the horse stud. There was snow on the ground and it was really, really cold. On arrival, we had a quick snowball fight then warmed up before getting onto carts pulled by horses and riding out along the roads near the farm. Everyone enjoyed this despite the cold. The horse hair, and Nicole’s hair, blew into people’s faces and our cart passes the time with an alphabet game. Unfortunately, Mr Caygill is allergic to horses (but not Nicole) and his eyes went red and swelled up a bit so he didn’t go into the building with the horses and just sat on his own like Terry-No-Mates as he didn’t want to scare the horses! Everyone else went into the barn with the horses and petted and fed them - including two foals - then went into the arena. At this point all of the children and Miss Dickinson and Marilyn rode on a horse and were led round the arena by another adult. Everyone loved the experience - well, almost everyone!
We then had lunch - tradition Polish cuisine - of mashed potato, chicken in breadcrumbs and a kind of sauerkraut - it was nice but it was no chicken nuggets. All the children had a good go at eating this - they’ve really broadened their food horizons as the week has gone on. As it’s national Women’s day, the ladies amongst us got a special chocolate - We gentlemen didn’t mind at all though as the four ladies have been great company and deserved a treat for putting up with us three!
After lunch we played games with our European friends before heading to a wooden Greek Orthodox Church made from wood. On the outside it appeared a small, unassuming building but, on entering, it was spectacular with icons and gold and carvings to make your eyes pop. Sadly, today has been marred by the lack of steps - it really was a tragedy (for the nineties kids among you!) but our legs deserved a rest.
Then we had a much needed rest in our rooms before the farewell dinner. Packing mostly done and all set for the journey home tomorrow.
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Poland: Day 5
Thu 05 Mar 2020The weather this morning was clear with a bit of fog that soon burnt off as the sun came up. After breakfast, we headed to Carpathian Troy, which was a museum of mediaeval Poland - a bit like Beamish but older. First of all we painted wooded eggs -in a traditional Polish style - which was excellent. It was the quietest we’d been all week however it was much harder than we thought. My Caygill assumed he would be an expert at it but his shaky hands did not agree. Everyone had a really good go at it with Ly’s egg having the colour and texture of moss: interesting. Everyone else’s being more in keeping with the original style.
We then visited the mediaeval and bronze-age villages which involved more . . . Steps! Today’s tower had 201 so more than yesterday but fewer than Monday in the steps league table.
Next, it was lunchtime and it was everyone’s favourite meal of the trip as we all like to widen our culinary horizons with traditional Polish food - it was chicken nuggets and chips!
After that, we headed into Jiaslo to the lollipop museum where we learned about the history of lollipops then had a go at making them. We opted for strawberry flavour and then all bought some to take home for souvenirs - maybe? After that, we wandered into the town square for refreshment before heading back to the hotel with a glorious sunset to accompany us.
Then it was free time before food: cheese pancakes and caramel sauce, fresh cream and icing sugar - yes, really!
It’s our last full day tomorrow and the children have been great throughout the week. Looking forward to tomorrow’s adventures now.
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Poland: Day 4
Wed 04 Mar 2020Breakfast was earlier today as we were visiting the ‘early years’ part of the school, which is on a different site from the rest of the school. We went into several different classes and were greeted with songs, sung in English, about the seasons, asking questions and saying hello and welcome. Lu and N had their photo taken with a huge teddy bear although N looked slightly more impressed with this than Lu!
We then went into Biecz to sightsee. We went to a museum about Marcin Kromer As he is Biecz’s most famous son and Ly was inspired by his statue. Then it was a tour of the cathedral, which was stunningly beautiful and full of golden carvings and statues, that N recreated with uncanny realism. We then went on to a museum of pharmacy, where J photographed everything in sight, then climbed to the top of the town hall - all 167 steps of it. We really have climbed many, many steps this week - our legs can definitely feel it!
There was then time to stock up on all the essentials: Fanta, chocolate, biscuits and more chocolate. Next it was free time in the hotel before returning to school for a quiz and sports night. The children wore themselves out in a variety of team games and ran off some of their excess energy!
Then it was home for tea and ready for bed - we need all our energy for lollipop making tomorrow!
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Poland: day 3
Tue 03 Mar 2020Tuesday started a bit later than yesterday and the day before as breakfast was at nine so we had caught up on the lack of sleep from Sunday night by getting an early night and having a bit of a lie-in.
We all filled up on bread, cheese, sausages and biscuits for the day ahead.
Our walk to school took about ten minutes and we caught a glimpse of what a beautiful city we are visiting. On arrival at school, we were treated to a show. The host school had prepared special dances for each visiting country with a bit of ballroom for England, Despacito for Spain and some traditional Cypriot music too. There was singing and dancing and an overall message of tolerance and togetherness; a really emotional morning.
Then it was a quick presentation about the school before the children split into groups and got to know their Polish counterparts. We then enjoyed a tour of the school before heading back to the hotel for lunch: mushroom soup and traditional polish dumplings.
After lunch we headed to a clay workshop to make clay hangings. Everyone had a go although Mr Caygill’s elaborate design of woven rope, shaped into a heart, looked like something you should pick up after your dog has been for a walk! N’s pen-holder in the shape of a heart was lovely as was Ly’s in the shape of a lamb and a chick - very appropriate for the Easter pen-holder market! J was very thoughtful and made an Easter egg Erasmus/ Poland hanging and Lu’s design was a triangle with his name and the Erasmus logo on too. Miss Dickinson made a heart shaped one and an Erasmus one too.
We then had some free time before our evening meal. Tonight, it was . . . PIZZA. Hurrah! Everyone seemed happy with this meal!
After that, it was amazing to see all the children, and staff, joining in with songs and dances and really bonding as a group. Laughing together and having fun. Thankfully, tired children are now in bed!
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Poland: Day 2
Mon 02 Mar 2020This morning was a very early start: 7:15 breakfast and check-out at 8:00. We then went on a epic tour of Historic Kraków. We visited: St Mary’s square (the largest square in Europe), the castle, a cathedral and the university. We went to the top of the tower in the cathedral and had spectacular views of the city below! We also touched the bell and made a wish - not everyone could reach it however and some needed a helping hand from Mr Caygill. Ly and J were very enthusiastic throughout and were often at the front asking the guide more and more questions. Lu and N were further back, chatting and looking forwards to their Starbucks!
We all needed a little sit down after walking four and a half miles by half eleven so it was hot chocolates, coffees and muffins all round!
Next we caught the coach to the salt mine and had lunch. Starter was soup and the main was a bit like if a sausage roll and a spring roll and a cabbage roll had a baby - that’s what it was like! Everyone tried it and it was good to see our kids giving the traditional Polish cuisine a try.
Then we headed to the salt mine, which is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. First we descended 380 steps to start the tour but did a whopping 786 steps by the end! Inside the mine there were an amazing 26 chapels underground for the miners to worship in with St Kinga’s chapel being the largest at 12m high and taking 100 years to build - people actually still get married there although we were slightly concerned about how someone might get their aged aunt down all those stairs! A chandelier in the chapel was made entirely of rock salt, including 800 pieces and taking eight months to build. By this point we had walked over eight miles so we’re looking forward to a little sit down.
Our coach journey, for the next leg of our trip, took 2 hours and we finally arrived in Biecz and checked in to our hotel. All ready for tomorrow now.
