In Art, we studied a painting by John Singer Sargent called ‘Gassed’. They recreated the image to experience the human: being blinded, supported, led, healed and the importance of companionship and support. They did an amazing job – including the directors Lilly-May and Darla.

Please click on the image below to see year 6 dramatize their version of the painting.

Class 3 attended a golf tournament organised by Education Enterprise, which was held at Bishop Auckland Golf Club.
The children tried out different golf techniques and were awarded points if they hit certain targets. They learned a lot about golf and had a great time trying the different challenges.
This is a short video of their morning…

World Piano Day was on the 29th March this year. We were very lucky to have one of our talented students to try out our very old school piano.
Please click on the link to watch a short video,

Friday 3rd February 2023
Rock Kidz tour around the country, teaching life lessons in a fun and engaging way through high energy, rockstar workshops. For our school, we have selected the Resilience, Perseverance and Dreams Workshop. This workshop encourages children to set goals, aspirations and dream big through singing, dancing, key messages and fun challenges. It’s a fantastic way to add value to PSHCE in schools through music and fun. In this session, pupils will learn an original song called ‘Don’t Quit’ which reminds them to never give up and always persevere with short and long-term goals they have. A short engaging resilience message will also be delivered by a team speaker during the session, which will unpack the song further and encourage pupils to always pursue their dreams.

Please click on the link to see a short video of the day.  https://youtu.be/SgkHvDmp7ps

A PILOT has flown home to open a reading den at our school.

Children and staff welcomed Nick Walton, who now lives in North Carolina in the US, to their Easter extravaganza show.
Nick, who lived on South Church in Bishop Auckland, as a young boy, saw the school being built in 1972 before he joined two years later.
He left in year six to live in America and he is now an aeroplane pilot with American Airways. Nick recently searched the internet for our school and found our website and learned the children were raising money to stock their library. He got in touch with headteacher Nicola James and offered to buy some new books for the school.
Mrs James bought some books with his generous donation, about being an air pilot, planes and airports to put them in the “Aspirations” section of our school library.
The hope is they will inspire the children to have dreams of being a successful air pilot and see the world, just as Nick did when he lived in Bishop Auckland.
On Friday April 8, Nick and his wife Amanda, visited our school and met the children  and enjoyed our Easter celebration.
He was a guest of honour at the official opening of the school’s new Reading Den, a space where children can read and enjoy books during their playtimes and lunchtimes.
Nick said: “This is an amazing space, I wish I had had something like this when I was a boy.” His wife added: “This is where you would have found me at recess.”
Our head teacher,Mrs James, said she was delighted to welcome the couple to our school and hear the memories Nick had of being at St Andrew’s Primary School nearly half a century ago, when it was known as Henknowle Primary School, especially as they will be celebrating the 50th anniversary in November. Mrs James said: “It was wonderful to meet Nick and show him around the school and for him to meet the children and staff. The children were so proud to show off their school and tell Nick about all the things they love about St Andrew’s.”

Outside the new reading den

Ready for the ribbon to be cut

Nick Walton, Mrs James and Amanda Walton

Great Easter bonnets

Hello Iesha!

Fantastic singing by the children

The children made their own Easter Bonnets

A great atmosphere

Inside the new reading den

We welcomed parents and carers to hear the children sing Easter songs

Welcome back! School opens Tuesday the 6th September 2022

Please watch our Core Value Song for October. The song was performed by the children in their separate bubbles at different times.
Thank you to our class 4 teacher, Miss Hewson, who wrote the song especially for our school, and to her father, Keith Hewson, who arranged the music.