In The News
Evening Courier July 2008
Ofsted report: Partnership key to creating little stars
(2)holywell.jpg "Megan Broadbent and Lewis Tomlinson, both nine, in the maths class")
Megan Broadbent and Lewis Tomlinson, both nine, in the maths class.
An arts festival, a broad curriculum and strong partnerships with parents combine to make Holywell Green Primary a good school with outstanding features.
Ofsted inspectors gave the thumbs up after visiting the Halifax school.
They said: "Pupils' sense of responsibility towards each other in school and their understanding of the needs of the whole school community are outstanding.
"The good, well-constructed curriculum helps pupils develop many skills through an exciting range of experiences and makes a strong contribution to their good progress."
The annual arts festival promotes pupils' cultural development and good links with other schools enable pupils to develop sporting interests. The support of parents encourages pupils to take an interest in gardening and the natural world.
A talent show, Spanish and music lessons gave pupils a good range of experiences and an enjoyment of learning.
Inspector Carmen Markham said: "The head teacher, senior managers and governors share a clear understanding of the education, care and values they believe the school should promote. Under their guidance Holywell Green has developed as a school that is focused on raising standards and achievement.
"They have also created a curriculum and a positive ethos that enables pupils to develop as responsible, mature, caring young people who enjoy sports and the arts."
Head teacher Paul McVeigh said: "The whole school community is very pleased that the report recognises the many strengths the school has and that since the last inspection it has continued to make good improvement."
To improve, the school must ensure that lower-attaining pupils are set appropriate work and that good practice in marking and target setting is used throughout the school.
Evening Courier July 2008
Summer fair in full swing
Toy stall: Teri-Ann Watson, 10, sells inflatable toys at Holywell Green School summer fair
At the Holywell Green Primary School summer festival children enjoyed fancy dress, face painting, games and cake competitions.
Proceedings were opened and compered by nightclub owner Terry George who judged cake and costume competitions. All money raised will go to the Holywell Green School Association.
Evening Courier June 2008
Tasty treat at school
Yummy, yummy: teaching assistant, Della Gillespie-Avis (big chef) with Olivia Parker, four, (little chef).
Evening Courier June 2008
Football: Head proud of his team
Back, from the left, Jordan Thompson, nine, Steven Binns, 11, Michael Silvester, nine, Jack Senior, 11
Front, from the left, Jess Coleman, 11 Murray McKenzie, 11 Millie Shaw, 11
HOLYWELL Green School head Paul McVeigh is teaching young football players at his school the right way to play if recent results are anything to go by.
Mr McVeigh, a keen Arsenal supporter, has coached his young charges to consecutive Elland Schools League titles while also guiding them to the last two cup finals where they have finished runners up.
The league campaign was nip and tuck with Holywell Green, who remained unbeaten, pipping rivals Old Earth by just one point following the last round of fixtures.
However, Old Earth gained their revenge by beating Holywell Green 1-0 in a keenly-contested cup final.
"We are very proud of our team in winning consecutive titles," said Mr McVeigh.
"It is just a pity that we couldn't make it a double.
"It is not just the fact that we won the league but the quality of the football the boys and girls showed in doing so."
Holywell Green Primary School under 11s football team, who won the Elland league and were runners-up in the cup
Evening Courier May 2008
Paintings win top prizes
Presentation: the Mayor of Calderdale, Coun Martin Peel, with pupils of Holywell Green Primary School who won the painting competition at Halifax Central Library
Prizes were awarded to the winners in the art competition for schools.
Eight pieces of art are already on display in the library, including the winning item and the two runners-up.
Alison Roberts, co-ordinator for schools' library and education services, said: "The art competition for schools in Calderdale was launched because it was felt that the library needed brightening up. We asked for colourful pieces of work to fit in the frames already at first floor height in the well of the library.
"We were highly impressed by the quality and colour of the entries."
The winning group was from Years 3 and 4 at Holywell Green Primary School. They won the chance to have printmaker Jo Gorner work with them in the school for a day.
Mayor of Calderdale Martin Peel presented the prize to the winning school and two runners-up, Year 3 of St Chad's Primary School, Brighouse, and Year 4 Elland School.
Evening Courier November 2007
Wildlife to get warm welcome 
Home from home: Harriet Crowther and Gemma Booth make a birdbox
PUPILS are working hard to create a wildlife garden at Holywell Green Primary School.
An environmental day was held to kick-start the project during which all children took part in activities.
These included tree, shrub and bulb planting, making bird boxes and wildlife trails.
A litter clean-up was also held at Shaw Park, Holywell Green, and staff from the Calderdale Countryside Service gave advice on the environment.
The school was awarded a £10,000 Breathing Spaces lottery grant to develop a wildlife area in the school grounds.
These included tree, shrub and bulb planting, making bird boxes and wildlife trails.
A litter clean-up was also held at Shaw Park, Holywell Green, and staff from the Calderdale Countryside Service gave advice on the environment.
The school was awarded a £10,000 Breathing Spaces lottery grant to develop a wildlife area in the school grounds.
Evening Courier September 2007
We banned the crisps - school claims success over healthy eating policy
All that’s crisp are the apples: Holywell Green pupils Emily Howarth, Abigail Langton, Jessica Coleman and Jack Senior By Brian Coates
A CALDERDALE school has banned crisps and chocolate from lunchboxes – and says there has been no backlash.
Holywell Green Primary School brought in the ban last year and says it has been a huge success.
Government drives to boost healthy eating are encouraging other schools to do the same.
When Birmingham City Council recently banned sweets and crisps from schools it caused a furore.
But Calderdale Council said it had no plans to follow suit. "We encourage healthy eating but it is up to schools to develop their own policy," said a spokesman.
Holywell Green Head teacher Paul McVeigh said the healthy lifestyle drive had been wholeheatedly backed by parents and children.
He said attitudes had changed by promoting healthy eating, rather than banning certain foods.
Around 30 per cent of his pupils eat hot meals, with the rest taking packed lunches.
The school – given the Government's healthy school award for its lifestyle projects – stopped youngsters bringing chocolate and crisps to school when Government guidelines said junk food should not be available alongside school dinners.
"We want all children to benefit from healthy food, not just those who have a school lunch," said Mr McVeigh.
"We have had a very positive response. We still allow treats. Children might bring sweets for classmates on their birthday."
Debbie Dewdney, a mum of two, praised the school. She said: "I am in total agreement. We have an ever increasing obese population which puts great strain on the NHS and children need to be encouraged to eat healthily from an early age."
The school's infant pupils take advantage of a free Government scheme to provide them with healthy fruit and vegetable snacks every morning.
The School Food Trust, formed to improve the quality of school dinners, recommends that packed lunches should NOT include:
Snacks such as crisps. (Instead nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit should be included).
Chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets. (Cakes and biscuits are allowed but only as part of a balanced meal).
Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies, corned beef and sausages should be included only occasionally.
Fizzy drinks are out. Only water, still or sparkling, fruit juice or semi-skimmed milk are recommended.
Evening Courier April 2007
Wow! What A Treat
YOUNGSTERS were amazed when a helicopter swooped down to their school grounds.
Holywell Green Primary School was the landing area for a state-of-the-art Squirrel helicopter, owned by Cabair Helicopters, based in Hertfordshire.
As pilot Robert Kellie circled above the school, children formed a "2007" shape in preparation for a unique class photograph.
They were also given a talk about helicopters and were allowed to sit in the cockpit.
Head teacher Paul McVeigh said: "The children were amazed when it landed. I think we have some wannabe pilots in our midst.
"Many had never seen a helicopter up close before."
See the photographs in the Gallery. www.holywellgreenschool.co.uk/gallery
Evening Courier March 2007
Meet The school Leavers!
TWO members of staff have retired from Holywell Green Primary School. Wendy Tooby and Pauline Moyers had 46 years of experience at the school between them.
Paul McVeigh, head teacher, said: "The children will miss them as much as staff will."
A special assembly was held for the two women with former members of staff invited, and they were presented with gifts by the school and the children.
Mrs Tooby, 60, from Holywell Green, has retired after 28 years as a caretaker.
Mr McVeigh said: "Without a good caretaker a school cannot exist, really, and in the time I have been head teacher she has only had one day off. She has been utterly reliable, she has been able to help out in all sorts of ways and is an important member of our community in Holywell Green. I can't speak highly enough of her and she will be sorely missed."
Mrs Moyers, 59, Elland, was a kitchen assistant for 18 years.
Mr McVeigh said: "Mrs Moyers has worked in the kitchens serving meals. It is a very important role. She has been a key member of staff."
Evening Courier June 2007
Healthy Holywell School
Well deserved: Mayor of Calderdale Martin Peel presented the healthy school award to Scott Miller, 11, and Katie Anderson, 11, at Holywell Green Primary School
FRUIT and vegetables are the staple diet at an award-winning Calderdale school.Holywell Junior and Infant School has been given a healthy schools award for its involvment in a national fruit and vegetable scheme.
As part of the project, infant pupils receive free portions during their morning break, and juniors are encouraged to bring in their own fruit and vegetable snacks.
As well as the healthier dinner menu, all crisps, sweets and chocolates have been banned from packed lunches and the school has food technology lessons where youngsters get a chance to cook meals.
Head teacher Paul McVeigh said: "The children really enjoy the food technology lessons because a lot of them don't get the opportunity to cook at home and experiment and taste new things."
The award was presented by the Mayor of Calderdale, Martin Peel.
Evening Courier December 2006
An X-Terminating Time Trip
Taking a leap in time: Paige Clayton, Harry Nettleton and Aron Manger star in Scrooge: A Tale with the Christmas Factor, with a mini Simon Cowell as the main lead
By Megan Featherstone
THIS brilliant replica of Doctor Who's tardis was the star of the show in a time-travel Christmas play.
The junior pupils at Holywell Green Primary School, Holywell Green, performed Scrooge: A Tale with the Christmas Factor, a modern twist on the Charles Dickens’s classic, featuring a mini Simon Cowell as the main man.
Written by teacher Alison Firth, the play follows the X-Factor judge in the famous police box encountering different Cowells through the ages.
Meanwhile the infants put on The Bossy King, a different take on the nativity centred around King Herod.
Head teacher Paul McVeigh said: “Everyone has really enjoyed working on the plays and it is great for them to do two very original, really entertaining shows.”
