Parents’ welcome return at school harvest festival

Wheatcroft Community Primary School has reopened its doors to the local community after restrictions created by the pandemic were lifted.

A harvest festival and Macmillan coffee morning were held at the school with great success, and the event proved so popular that performances were held twice during the day to ensure that that all those who wanted to attend were able to.

This year’s harvest celebration was accompanied by a cafe-bistro style coffee morning which raised £286 for Macmillan, and parents bought food into school for the festival which was donated to the Rainbow Centre.

Year One class teacher Jac Harper said: “Parents were really kind and bought in lots of things to support this local charity and then they made and donated cakes – and bought them back – to raise funds for the coffee morning.

"We’re proud to support the Rainbow Centre and Macmillan.

"Parents were really supportive and we enjoyed them being back on site.

"The new way of delivering the harvest festival went down really well.”

Gavin Dyer has taken over as interim head at the school following the retirement of

previous headteacher Jenny Hartley, who held the position for 14 years.

Mr Dyer has been seconded from Barlby Bridge Primary School, Selby, where he is deputy head and co-head.

He has a strong connection

with Wheatcroft, both of his nephews attended the school, and he previously worked with Mrs Hartley and the staff.

Mr Dyer also has a strong connection to Scarborough, his children attended Gladstone

Road Primary School and he took his first teaching position there.

Mr Dyer said: “It’s great to be back. I’m very well connected with the school and it’s an opportunity that I jumped at to support them for this

year. The school’s governors wanted to appoint a substantive head and they wanted time for the interview process to take place.

“It’s good to be back in Scarborough supporting the community, and I’ve been

welcomed with open arms. The children are fabulous.

"It’s been great to re-open the school to the whole community. The children are intensely proud of the school and it’s wonderful to be part of it.”

Photos by Richard Ponter Pupils singing in the hall.

Volunteers Anna Blower, Kathryn Benson and Mel Isaac serve cakes at the coffee morning.

Donations were made to the Rainbow Centre – organisers Stacey Silby and Joelle Ellard.

Sue Russell and her daughter serve a customer at the coffee morning.

Wheatcroft’s new interim headteacher Gavin Dyer.

Children enjoy performing for their parents.