Castleford schools praise students for settling back into the classroom after lockdown - with prizes and fundraisers for high attendance

Primary and secondary school pupils in Castleford have been praised by their teachers for their bravery and cooperation settling back into the school routine

Staff at Airedale Junior and Infant Schools, Oyster Park Primary Academy and Airedale Academy have issued a thanks to their students for their "superb efforts".

The schools, which are all part of the Northern Ambition Academies Trust, reopened on Monday, March 8, and have each managed to maintain their previous high attendance figures.

The Trust on a whole is currently at 92 per cent attendance, three per cent above national average.

Due to their high attendance rate, and with the help of Morrison’s supermarket and Junction 32, Airedale Academy has been able to reward all of the students with over 95% attendance with Easter prizes.

Assistant Principal, James Podlewski, added “Attendance at the academy has been considerably higher than that of other schools both locally and nationally throughout the year.

“It is only right that our students are rewarded for their superb efforts to reengage with face-to-face learning after such an extended absence.

“I am hugely grateful to both local businesses for their willingness to support both the academy and our community during these unprecedented times”.

In addition, Airedale Junior and Infant Schools have raised a combined total of over £600 for Red Nose Day.

And since pupils returned to Oyster Park Primary Academy, they have been working diligently towards becoming a UNICEF Rights Respecting School.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is based on nationally agreed standards and uses a system of assessment that looks at all aspects of the school’s life and work.

A spokesperson for Northern Ambitions Academy Trust said: “This reward means that Oyster Park is a recognised Academy that encourages the health and happiness of pupils, ensuring that they feel safe, have better relationships, and become active and involved - not only within school life, but also the wider world.

“Congratulations Oyster Park for ensuring the school upholds our value of respect.”