A dream come trueIt had always been Deborah’s dream to send her children to a small village school and it was for this reason that she and Stephen moved from London to Cumbria when they planned to start a family. When Harry and Tom came along, Deborah went to visit the local schools and, although not the closest to where they lived, it was Yanwath Primary where she found exactly what she wanted.

Yanwath Primary School

Deborah had a very specific idea of what she wanted from her boys’ school, and she found that and more at Yanwath Primary School

Deborah and Stephen Prince live near Penrith with their twin sons Harry and Tom, who are seven years old.

“I loved everything about it; the atmosphere, the bright and fresh classrooms and the obvious contentment of the children,” she remembers. “We were shown around not by staff but by the pupils themselves which was a brilliant idea, and it was clear that the pupils were happy, confident and totally engaged with the school. I knew within minutes that this was the right one for Tom and Harry.”

The key to successThis approach is, believes Deborah, the key to the success of Yanwath Primary. “The teachers realise that children will learn more effectively if they enjoy their lessons and so they make every effort to achieve that. I love the way that the whole curriculum is delivered under a specific topic each term, so that maths, English, geography, science etc has the same theme – recently it was dinosaurs, which my boys absolutely loved! It’s a clever idea and it obviously works.” The theme was further extended by the setting up of a Pop Up shop in Penrith, where the children made and sold dinosaur-related goods for charity. “What a great way to encourage entrepreneurship! They were completely involved in the whole process and had a great time, doing something very different but learning, too.”

Confidence buildingAnother aspect of the school which Deborah admires is the way the children’s personal development is nurtured, as well as their academic achievement. “They make a point of building confidence by encouraging pupils to make the most of their strengths whilst supporting their weaknesses; it’s wonderful to see even four-year-olds standing up in front of the other children and their parents at assembly and talking about what they have been doing each week. Being comfortable enough to do that is an achievement in itself and will stand the children in very good stead in the future.”

A lifesaver for working parentsBoth Deborah and Stephen work full-time so are grateful for the Breakfast and After-School Clubs which are, says Deborah, a lifesaver for them. “We occasionally need to use the Breakfast Club, but would be lost without the After-School facility. The cost is very reasonable and the boys actively enjoy it – they have a lot of things to choose from, either organised activities or they can just read, draw or play outside in the lovely grounds. Knowing they are safe and happy until 5.30pm is a massive weight off my shoulders, particularly if I am working away in London which I regularly have to do.”

Complete trustIt is a nerve-wracking experience to send your children to school for the first time, and Deborah believes that it would have been harder for her had she not had such complete trust in Yanwath

Primary. “I thought school would be a battle for me and for the boys but that fear has proved entirely unfounded. The boys think their school is brilliant and miss it during the holidays, and I can be absolutely confident about their safety and wellbeing, which is all that I could ask.”

Children say Tom: “I like school because it’s fun. We get to do a lot of different things – working together with friends. My favourite topic was Africa because it was really interesting – I never knew so many animals could live in one place.”

Harry: “I love music lessons because you get a chance to really express yourself. The teachers really help me understand. I also really like the playgrounds. Sometimes I stand up in assembly in front of the whole school – I used to be scared, but now I’m not.”

YanwathPenrithCumbria CA10 2LA

Tel 01768 840739 email admin@yanwath.cumbria.sch.uk

Yanwath Primary School