Newsletter

September 2009

Hello! And welcome back to the most exciting September term that Bankside has ever experienced since it was first established, over 20 years ago.  As you know, we are now very proud to be the first primary school in Leeds to receive a huge amount of, capital funded, money to ensure that we have a 21st Century school building that is ‘Fit4TheFuture’ and will provide ‘Bankside Best’ accommodation for the community in our area of Harehills Corner.  We have been allocated £9 MILLION pounds by the council, and, as you are aware, this is being spent on building a wonderful new school, that will serve the needs of both the children and adults of our community.  I know that you will share my pride that Bankside has been chosen to receive this funding – over and above other schools – both locally and across the city.

I also know that this is a period that makes demands on our community; I would like to say lots of thank you’s for helping us make this a successful time for Bankside:

The first one is: to all parents and children who are dealing with the bussing arrangements to deliver students to the Firtree site daily.  Thank you for getting our children to school on time and for being supportive of our management arrangements to make this happen safely and securely. 

To our neighbours who are being so fantastically helpful with ensuring that the buses can collect and deliver our children every day, by ensuring that the Bus Zone is left clear at these key times.

To our neighbours, again, who are living with the daily business of having a building site on their doorstep.  I am very pleased to know that our building contractors, Keir Northern, are identified  as being official ‘Considerate Constructors’ and also exemplify their attitude in responding to your concerns pro-actively.  I am delighted that local residents, like Annie Winter and Andrew Tear, have already contacted the Project Manager (Richard Stowell …) to discuss concerns about noise and site issues and have received a very positive response. I know that Keir Northern and Bankside School take these issues very seriously and that you will help ensure that both organisations continue to strive to secure ‘Bankside Best’ outcomes for our community, during this time of radical neighbourhood change and improvement.

I hope you are as pleased with the home/school record planners as the staff are! Please help your child to be organised everyday, so that they bring them to school.  It is one more vital ingredient in ensuring the ‘Bankside Best’ outcomes for our children – and the staff who serve them – during this year of exciting change.  If, you would like to discuss this aspect of provision, or indeed any other, once again, I invite you to come and talk to me. My door is always open at the beginning and end of the school day: but most usefully accessed by phoning first to let me know that you would like to talk to me.

As ever,

Bankside Best Wishes

Sarah Rutty