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We are very proud of our small school situated 1110 feet above sea level high on the Pennine hills, in the tiny village of Scapegoat Hill overlooking Huddersfield. We have small classes and know all our children very well. A recent Ofsted inspection report reported that "both parents and pupils describe the school as a very friendly place" and "the school works very effectively to help pupils become caring, confident and responsible members of the community" and "pupils' very good moral and social development is a strength of the school".
Please read a brief history of the school, take a tour around the school and learn of the school aims.
A brief history of the school
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The School was built by the Baptist congregation of the village. First it was used as a Sunday School, but from 1872 became a Day School. In 1904 the West Riding County Council took over the running of the School, and the latest re-organisation of 1974 resulted in the school coming under the control of Kirklees Metropolitan Council, as remains the case today. |
In the early days the School consisted of just a hall and two screened-off classrooms. The rapid growth of Scapegoat Hill in the 1880s necessitated the building of an extension in 1892, which added the present Infant classroom, new cloakrooms, offices, an enlarged playground and heating for the first time. Numbers on roll rose as high as 289, the children staying at school until they left to find work. There was no Secondary education for the majority of the pupils until well into this century.
Further repairs in the 1960s brought indoor toilets and a new office/staffroom. Throughout the summer of 1997 major refurbishment resulted in a new roof, new floors, the partial removal of the dividing partitions to make two small classrooms into one larger classroom, and a staffroom/storage area. An additional temporary classroom has been sited in the front playground. Recently improvements have taken place to the children's toilets and the office.
In 2002 the school reached the age of 130 years old, and looks forward to the future with confidence.
Below are a few photos of the school building and grounds. But, watch this space .....!! Agreement has been reached between Scapegoat Hill Chapel and Kirklees Council for the council to purchase the school building, and we are hopeful that the legal process will be finalised in the very near future so that work can start in July 2006. The council have been drawing up plans for alterations to the school which will include building a new classroom on to the main building to replace the outside classroom, alterations to the other classes and staffroom, the alteration of the main entrance to include a new reception area/school office and the creation of a headteacher's office. We'll keep you posted on developments.
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The back of our school |
View from our playground |
Play equipment on the field |
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Class 1 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 |
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What we aim to achieve
Our School's primary purpose is to foster learning and encourage each individual child to achieve the highest possible standard of attainment that their abilities allow. The staff will use their experience and skills to provide a positive learning environment and a wide range of learning experiences. Each child is encouraged to be positive about all aspects of school life. Providing knowledge and skills are crucial, but we feel it is also important to encourage consideration for others, co-operation, concern for the less fortunate, toleration of differences, different ideas and opinions.
A strength of our school is the caring, family atmosphere in which we want all children, parents and staff to be involved. We feel it is very important to be part of the village community, and that the school is involved in village life.
The formal school aims are:-
- to provide a welcoming atmosphere and environment in which pupils, parents, staff and visitors feel secure and respected;
- to equip the children with the knowledge, learning, understanding and skills necessary to function as valued members of society, both now and in the future;
- to foster and stimulate each child's development in a challenging way to enable him/her to achieve his/her full potential;
- to make school and learning an enjoyable experience in order to encourage lively and enquiring minds, where children learn to work both independently and co-operatively;
- to provide equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, religion, culture or physical ability.
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