Lesson in history as school celebrates 250 years

The primary school, which is still open today in Burnt Yates, near Harrogate, can trace its roots back to a tobacconist from a neighbouring village and an admiral who helped to create it 250 years ago.

William Coates left 150 in his will to help set up the school after hearing customers at his shop in Ripley complain about the conduct of the children in the neighbouring village.

The idea was turned into a reality when Admiral Robert Long, whose family owned land in the area, endowed a school trust with the estate of a local farm.

Over the next 250 years Burnt Yates CE Primary School continued to educate the local young people, having just 15 headteachers in charge since it was created.

Although it has been a state school since the 20th century the trust which was created to run the school in 1760 still supports it today.

Now it is to celebrate its history with a 250th birthday party as pupils relive the life of a school that has spanned four centuries.

Tomorrow the school will host a summer fair with an exhibition of memorabilia, including records dating back to its origins and photographs from the turn of the last century. The school wants to bring together as many former pupils and teachers as possible to relive their memories.

Among those expected to be attend are 89-year-old Ethel Johnson, nee Schofield, who was a pupil in 1934, and a guest whose connection to the school stretches back to its opening day.

Janet Bayliss, from Surrey, is a distant descendant of Admiral Long who helped to create the school. She got in touch with Burnt Yates while researching her own family history and tomorrow will help to celebrate the life of the school her ancestor launched.

Mrs Johnson has given the school photographs from her time as a pupil in the 1930s and a book she was given as a prize when she left.

Next week current pupils will play their part in the celebration as they take part in a pageant which will tell the story of the school's history from Georgian and Victorian times through to the Second World War when evacuees were educated alongside children from the village.

All 45 children will take part in the performance, which will have special significance for seven-year-old Charlie Watson – he is the fourth generation of his family to attend Burnt Yates Primary.

He is following in the footsteps of his father Paul, great aunt Pam and great-grandmother Edith, who is now 90. He said it felt "super" to be keeping the family's connection with the school going.

Judi Popplewell became the school's headteacher after more than a decade serving as an infant teacher. She said: "Although the way we do things has changed over the years, I still think that the role of our school has stayed the same.

"I feel very honoured to be only the 15th headteacher the school has ever had."

As well as celebrating the school's traditions, Ms Popplewell is also helping to revive them. Memorabilia on display tomorrow includes log books from the 1800s detailing events from each school day.

"When I took over as head one of the things I brought back was the log book which I now fill out," she said.

"I love the thought of everyone at Burnt Yates Primary school looking back at what we have written in 250 years time for our 500th birthday."

She added: "I am a big believer that history should not just be about kings and queens but about the lives of everyday working people."