Some 12 families have signed up to Chetwynde School’s six-week parent and child maths workshops.

The Multiply scheme is a new homework club that enables parents to learn maths skills alongside their children.

Furness College teamed up with Chetwynde on the initiative where parents take part in a series of after-school sessions.

The college successfully bid to run the scheme through the Government-backed Multiply Programme to support adults to boost their numeracy skills.

Chetwynde Headteacher Steve Jefferson said: “The workshops are designed to promote a positive culture around homework and mathematics. It is lovely to see so many parents and children experiencing the benefits of learning together.”

Hilary Johns, Head of Faculty for Academic Programmes at Furness College, is also supporting the scheme which is being led by Chetwynde Year 5 tutor Hannah.

Pupils from Ormsgill School designed their own wind power inventions as part of a session for British Science Week.

The Year 5 and 6 students teamed up with Barrow Library staff from the Little Inventors project to come up with ideas.

They then tested out their machines to see how effective they were powering them up with a handmade propeller.

Teacher Jessica Corless said they had a brilliant time and it got pupils thinking more about where energy comes from.

“We had all kinds of inventions being designed including a snow machine, air skates, cleanbots powered by remote controls and propellers and litterbugs. They loved it.”

The children also received a free copy of a book – Little Inventors Go Green, Inventing for a Better Planet – to take away with them.

Ormsgill School is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

Chetwynde School is continuing its transformation with the unveiling of a new state-of-the-art outdoor learning environment.

Primary pupils are now able to enjoy imaginative play in a purpose-built playground with mud/texture kitchen and sand play areas.

It is part of investments totalling more than £3million at the school, on Rating Lane, which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

Headteacher Steve Jefferson said the upgrade had been made possible thanks to a generous donation to the Rating Lane school.

“The outdoor area has now been completely transformed and it is going to make such a difference to the way the children in reception and Year 1 are able to play outside,” he said.

“We are very grateful for the donation, which has enabled us to invest in the future and will enrich children’s education for years to come.”

The school now offers an all through education from kindergarten and primary to Year 11, with the nearby sixth form a partner for post-16 academic courses.

The new area was installed by playground designers Eden Play.

A team from Dane Ghyll has triumphed in the Primary MegaMAT Games inter-school netball competition.

They competed against primary pupils from 10 schools in the tournament, which ran over four weeks at the sports halls at Chetwynde School and Barrow Sixth Form College.

Pupils from Yarlside, Dane Ghyll, Chetwynde, Victoria Academy, South Walney Juniors, Parkside, St Columba’s, Newbarns, St Pius and Holy Family all competed for the title.

Year 11 students from Chetwynde helped out as referees.

Dane Ghyll were first in the competitive league with Victoria Academy and Chetwynde in second and third place respectively.

The development league was won by Parkside GGI, with St Columba’s runners up and a second team from Parkside GGI taking third place.

Organiser Katy Costa, Chetwynde’s Phase 2 Lead and PE teacher, was a finalist in the recent Love Barrow Awards for her work to launch the Primary MegaMAT Games.

The full year multi-sports competition is backed by South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, to help build pupils confidence, leadership and teamwork through sport.

“The netball played was at a fast pace and a very high standard,” she said. “The teams were mixed boys and girls and it was great to see everyone getting involved. It is brilliant how well this event has taken off and the support from the schools has been amazing with 20 teams signed up for the next set of events this month.”

The next events are a basketball tournament to be played over two weeks at Hoops and a Swimming Gala at Barrow Leisure Centre on March 29th.

Chetwynde School’s Under 16 netball team are this year’s Barrow School Champions after winning a brilliant series of matches against Year 11s from Dowdales, Furness Academy, Ulverston Victoria High School and St Bernard’s. Well done to the Year 9s who won 1, drew 2 and narrowly lost 1.

Staff from South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust were recognised for their talent and achievements taking all three finalist places in the Teacher of the Year category at the Love Barrow Awards.

Laura Reid, of Ormsgill School, won while Chetwynde headteacher Steve Jefferson and teacher Katy Costa were runners up.

Accepting the award in a glittering ceremony at The Forum, Laura said she was surprised and shocked to win from the strong field of nominees.

“It has been brilliant to work alongside such talented colleagues as part of the South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust,” she said.

Laura, who is the school’s lead for maths and ICT, was praised by the judges for going above and beyond her own specialist subject of maths to improve literacy levels across her school.

She led a series of virtual author events from internationally-renowned authors including Michael Rosen, Alex T Smith and Lenny Henry. In addition, she has organised the Ormsgill Book Festival where leading authors come to school to deliver workshops to children from across the area.

Steve Jefferson was shortlisted after he took over as headteacher at Chetwynde School on a temporary basis and has ensured it has made rapid progress for the benefit of its pupils. Meanwhile Katy Costa was honoured for her work to introduce sport back to schools through the popular Primary MegaMAT Games, which offers a full calendar of multi-sports competitions including hockey, netball, swimming and a host of other sports. 

Two staff at Ormsgill School – Khyla Mayor and Ashleigh Ballantyne – were honoured for their role in the groundbreaking Ormsgill Stronger Together community project while Newbarns School pupil Alfie Mcleese won Young Citizen of the Year for his voluntary work at YouthAbility Youth Services.

Pupils and staff from across our Trust schools and associate member schools enjoyed getting into character – or into their bedtime PJs – creating a real buzz about books for World Book Day 2023.