Crosthwaite Primary School says goodbye to three popular figures

Children and teachers at Crosthwaite CE School waved goodbye to higher level teaching assistant Julia Porter, music teacher Karen West and the chair of the Friends of Crosthwaite School, Helen Todd.

Paying tribute, head teacher Matthew Jessop told the Gazette that small schools "wouldn't exist" without parent teacher associations and staff who went "above and beyond".

Retiring from the classroom after 25 years is Mrs Porter, who received national recognition for her work as a higher level teaching assistant.

Mr Jessop said she had been "a huge part of the school's successes in recent years".

He told the Gazette: "She is fantastically popular with all pupils, past and present, staff, governors, parents and the local community and will be sorely missed by everyone at school as well as the hundreds of families she has helped over the years."

Music teacher Mrs West spent four years at Crosthwaite, travelling each week from Appleby to organise many concerts, performances and musicals. Her new job is a little closer to home, in Kirkby Stephen.

"While we're sure she won't miss the journey we know she will miss the school, especially the children," said Mr Jessop, adding that pupils had "thoroughly enjoyed" their music lessons.

Meanwhile, Ms Todd has led a "superbly dedicated" PTA team to raise many tens of thousands of pounds for the school, enabling the purchase of two minibuses, subsidising numerous events and benefitting the children in many ways. She is stepping down from her role as her second child leaves the school this year.

Mr Jessop said: "She has been chair of FrOCS (the Friends of Crosthwaite School) for the past six years and has been a huge support to the school as the driving force behind FrOCS.

"I would be surprised to know of any schools that have matched the fundraising that has taken place here in the past six years, and even more surprised to know of any small schools' PTAs that have raised so much."