Creative Staindrop Primary School one of the best in country

CREATIVE minds at a dale primary school have seen it named one of the best in the country.
Staindrop Primary School has been shortlisted as a finalist at the 2017 Times Educational Supplement (TES) Awards.
Judges deemed the school to be one of the most creative in the UK – pointing to the imaginative ways its teachers inspired  pupils to read and its playground Book Nook.
Staff will head to London in June to find out if the school has claimed the top prize.
Headteacher Steve Whelerton was delighted the school’s hard work had been recognised and paid tribute to all those who’d made it possible. 
He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be selected as finalists. Given the awards are open to every single school in the UK, this is a wonderful testament to the outstanding achievement by staff, pupils, governors, parents and everyone connected to our school.”
The TES criteria for the award include a “proven track record of putting creativity of the heart of their work” and “encouraging children to think beyond the conventional curriculum”.
Other features to catch the eye of the judges included augmented reality apps to bring book characters to life and planting carrot seeds to learn about Beatrix Potter.
Staindrop Primary was the only school in the North East to be nominated in the creative category. Mr Whelerton said the shortlisting was one of the biggest accolades a school could ask for.
“It’s a whole school award which has needed everybody – everyone can enjoy the fact we’ve been nominated,” he added. “We work incredibly hard every day to inspire a joy of learning and discovery in our children that will hopefully last them a lifetime.
“Our teachers are fantastic at seeing everything through the eyes of the children they teach and finding inventive way to excite pupils.”
School staff will join more than 1,000 guests at The Grosvenor House Hotel ceremony on Friday, June 23.
Mr Whelerton will attend a special reception at the House of Commons earlier in the month alongside government ministers and MPs.
He added: “The evidence we had to submit reflected the work that goes on from the caretaker and the dinner ladies right through to the teaching staff.”