School rings the changes

THERE aren't many schools that can boast an Archbishop for a neighbour, but this week's school regularly finds the Most Reverend Dr David Hope dropping in.

Although known to many as Bishopthorpe Junior School, the full name of today's school is Archbishop of York's CE Junior School.

Dr Hope, whose palatial home is just round the corner, is an official "visitor to the school".

He always visits at Christmas, and pops in for some chargrilled fare at the school's summer barbecue too. His chaplain, the Reverend Mike Kavanagh, is a parent at the school and also visits to take assemblies.

The story of Archbishops past, and of the history of the village, is soon to be told in the Bishopthorpe Pageant, a whole-village event which takes place next month.

The pageant takes place every 30 years, and this year's Millennium event is being led by John Dawick and Andrew Dunn, another parent at the school.

A group of pupils are practising for their part in a 1630s dance sequence under the guidance of dance teacher Sandra Smith.

One of Dr Hope's predecessors, Archbishop McLagan, was responsible for some more artistic activity among today's schoolchildren - the thriving hand bell-ringing group.

He donated a complete set of hand bells to the school and today the bells can still be heard ringing out as a group of pupils practise under the guidance of head teacher Dean Beecham.

A recent public appearance by the bell ringers was at the village's Victorian street fair.

Mr Beecham is enthusiastic about music in the school, and there are many other groups which children can join to enjoy a tune or two, such as the wind band which has performed at St Andrew's Church, opposite Bishopthorpe Palace.

Music practices take place in the school's central hall, which is also used for assemblies and sport. There is a separate dining room in the middle of the one-storey building, and several classrooms, plus a space used for adult education and part-time classes equipped with computers, which the children can use.

Outside there are large school fields used by sports teams including last year's league-winning cricketers.

In the corner, there is a very well-established wildlife area developed by teacher Richard Cantrell some years ago, complete with its own pond.

The school also has an outdoor swimming pool, which was opened about 20 years ago. This was paid for with parent fundraising.

Parents organise regular fundraising events, which include the barbecue and the Christmas fair. They have their own web site run by parent Romy Dunn, which lists other annual events including the Year Six trip to Derbyshire.

Next week's School Report comes from Escrick CE Primary School, near York.

From the school books...

Lisa, Meg and Laura, by Myfanwy Cramer, aged nine

Dancing daintily on the stage

I saw my old best friend - Lisa

She was dancing round and round the table

Eating some delicious pizza

Hiding deep down in a forest

I spotted my sister Meg

"Please don't tell mum!" she pleaded

Taking a bite out of her chocolate egg

Down in a dark, dark dungeon

I met a girl named Laura

She was spilling sand and weeping

"I'm not a very good pourer!!"

Main Street, by Christopher Barritt, aged nine

Main Street is a long, wide, straight and an important village street. It has a library and a village hall. It has two pubs. One is called the Woodman and the other is called the Ebor. This is all on the right side of the road. There are some cottages which can be called a terrace. The pubs and the village hall all have big car parks.

Fact file

Archbishop of York's CE Junior School

Built: 1964

Number of pupils: 179

Number of teachers: seven

Head teacher: Dean Beecham

Chairman of governors: Alan Dixon

Friends of Bishopthorpe Junior School chairwoman: Sally Astbury

Clubs: cricket, rugby, soccer, rounders, netball, recorders, wind band, guitar, gym, French.

What's On

Summer barbecue: Friday, June 30.

Pageant performances: from Tuesday, July 18.