Scroll this link to find out about what has been happening in school recently.

• Royal Northern College of Music Visits School!

  Thu 03 Jul 2025 Mrs Fish

  Phil Goodwin, Head of RNCM Engage Cumbria (Royal Northern College of Music) and a group of 5 musicians visited school on Tuesday to perform live to the children. They introduced themselves and their instruments and the children asked lots of musical questions. 

  A range of music was played and the children were able to recognise many of the elements that we talk about in our lessons. 

  Following the live assembly, the ensemble provided workshops for our current woodwind players supporting and inspiring them on their musical journey.  

  Following this, they worked with a different group of children - those who would like to learn how to play an instrument. Hopefully some of these children may wish to take up a woodwind instrument in September. Please do get in touch with the school office if this is something that your child would like to do!

   

  Funding for the event came from the Benny Walker Foundation. Benny Walker had an Engineering Company in Cockermouth and was a keen amateur musician. When he passed away he set up a trust fund for Engineering and Music for young people from Allerdale and Copeland.

  For the past 2 years RNCM Engage Cumbria has been taking music into schools and community groups in the Allerdale and Copeland area. Until now the focus has been on Brass instruments, and the majority of the work has been in Millom and Maryport. The RNCM in this area is now a focusing on woodwind in our area. Cumberland Music service suggested Bridekirk Dovenby Primary School as they provide WW lessons for our children.

  

• P3 enjoyed a visit from Kelsang Lhachog, a Buddhist nun.

  Wed 02 Jul 2025 Mrs B Fletcher
  

• British Farming Day

  Sun 29 Jun 2025 Mrs Fish

  On Thursday 26th June we held a British Farming Day in school and it was AMAZING! 

  We were joined by members of our local farming community to help the children understand how important farming is for the nation, as well as the local economy. 

  Parents and Grandparents brought in tractors and vintage tractors. Mr. Frayne (who is also a parent), is a vet who works on our local farms. He spoke to the children about his job and how he helps the animals in his care. Torpenhow Cheese Farm, demonstrated how to make butter and cheese and the children enjoyed tasting some very strong cheddar. And that wasn't the only tasting that went on... Lindsay's butchers supplied the burgers for dinner and there was a demonstration in the playground showing how they are made! The meat for these burgers comes from one of the pupil's cattle farm! Lynsey and Tom worked their dogs and provided a sheep dog trial. Commentary for this and the sheep clipping was by Wily Rawling of Penrith. We could all hear the interesting commentary as Ian Hope had set up a very effective wireless PA system.

  Will Nixon sheared the sheep... the children watched with amazement as this all happened in the field next to the school playground!

  Aspatria Farmers provided refreshments and a talk about the grain grown to feed the animals. The Harper family brought onto the field a selection of beautiful sheep, all of a different breed!  A cow and her calf watched the children with as much interest as they watched her. One member of staff even attempted milking! 

  A year four pupil showed his birds... as well as all the medals and rosettes he has won over the years. We never thought we would see hens receiving a shampoo and blow-dry in the playground! 

  The day culminated with a mock auction led by comedian and top auctioneer, Anthony Skelton. Anthony made all the staff and children laugh selling the various animals for millions... if only!!! 

  The children were each given sunglasses and shearing vests - courtesy of Aspatria Farmers and Longhorn Shearing. 

  Sophie Cowan was chief photographer so look out for some very special pictures - we may even produce a calendar! 

  FOBDS, our parent body, were an extra pair of hands throughout the day!

  A HUGE thank you to all who helped make British farming day the success that it was.

  

• Cockermouth Rotary Young Speakers' Competition 2025

  Thu 26 Jun 2025 Fiona Taylor

  Cockermouth Rotary Club kindly offer to run an annual competition for the Cockermouth primary schools to enter. It gives pupils in year 6 an opportunity to prepare a speech on a chosen title from four options. The winning speaker from each school then presents their speech to a panel of judges and a winner is chosen. Listening to the winners from the different schools is always an amazing experience as they are always excellent and the children are so confident in their delivery. This year Felix represented our school speaking about his hero - Rob Burrow. He spoke about his life, his achievements and his tragic death at the age of just 41. Felix spoke about the lessons he had learned from Rob and his friend Kevin and the inspiration he had from their lives and the things they had done. At the end of the evening, after we had heard eight speeches, Felix was overjoyed to hear that he was awarded 2nd place. Well done Felix and thank you to Rotary Club for organising another speakers' competition.

  

• Staff Night Out - Listening to Michael Rosen

  Thu 26 Jun 2025 Fiona Taylor

  Michael Rosen has always taken a strong interest in the work of teachers, particularly when it comes to reading and writing. Conversely, many teachers take a strong interest in the work of Michael Rosen as almost every teacher has enjoyed the joy on children's faces when they read one of his poems or stories. His resources are used regularly to inspire creativity and engage learners. 

  'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', is such a popular book for the youngest readers in school and many of his poems are used in the classroom of the older children in school. Listening to some of the more difficult times in his life was interesting and bringing back to school a signed copy of one of his better known books, 'Sad Book' meant the experience of listening to him speak live on stage could be shared with all the children back in the classroom and knowing an author has actually signed their book is a little bit special.

  

• Yr.6 Leavers Visit to Carlisle Cathedral and Bowling

  Sat 14 Jun 2025 Mrs Fish

  On Thursday, the year six children were invited to Carlisle Cathedral to take part in the church schools' leavers service. We sang and joined in worship together thinking about our transition to secondary school. Blake read from the book of John about Jesus and his Holy Spirit being with us always. He did an excellent job and was congratulated at the end of the service. 

  This was followed by a trip to Hollywood Bowl where the children had lunch followed by tenpin bowling! 

  

• Orienteering League Winners 2025!

  Sat 14 Jun 2025 Mrs Fish

  Nineteen of our year five and six children have been taking part in the... 

  West Cumbria Schools

  Orienteering League 2025

  There have been four events in total and this week was the final. 

  All of the children performed extremely well over the four events and we are very proud of them. They did so well that we won the small school league. Bridekirk School are the defending champions and have managed to secure this trophy consistently over the years that we have been taking part. 

  Congratulations also go to Cameron, Blake, Lucian, Ruth, Harriet and Anna who were all on the podium for their individual events! 

  A huge thank you to the event organisers and to all the parents who helped with transport enabling us to take part. 

   

  

• Rotary Football Tournament

  Tue 20 May 2025

  A huge well done to our yr5 and 6 footballers who participated in Cockermouth Rotary Club’s annual football competition. Bridekirk was able to enter 3 teams into the event and all those who took part did a fabulous job. Comments about sportsmanship, gratitude and team morale made us incredibly proud. 
   

  We continued our winning streak and took home the most enormous trophy for school and smaller trophies to take home. 
   

  Thank you to all involved and MSport for our new kits

  

• VE Day - Celebration and Remembrance

  Thu 08 May 2025 Mrs Fish

  Today we all came to school dressed in red, white and blue... some children arrived as evacuees. We joined a National Live Assembly which informed and moved many of our pupils - helping them understand just what a difficult time World War II  was for so many people. 

  At 12 noon we all listened to the radio in the playground and observed two minutes silence... everyone joined in. 

  Once the two minutes were up we listened to celebrations that were taking place in Westminster and held our own celebration in the playground. We played a special VE day compilation of music and Mrs. McMillian and Mrs. Litt prepared us a tasty picnic which we ate on the grass in the sunshine. Lots of children smiling reminded us all how lucky we are. 

  

• Experience After Easter

  Mon 05 May 2025 Mrs Fish

  On Friday, each class walked to church and back to spend an hour exploring different stations set up in the church. Parents were also invited to join their children and siblings came along too. 

  Each station taught the children what Christians believe happened to Jesus following his resurrection: Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday & Ordinary Time. The children discovered the significance of each and the liturgical colours that represent each.

  Members of St Bridget's Church set up the stations and enabled the learning to take place - we wish to thank them for all the hard work which went in to making it a very special day.

  They also provided refreshments for parents and children at the end  of the experience which kept us all going and fuelled children for their walk home!!!