St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary CLS

26/08/2026

🌟 Today, we celebrate our 90th Anniversary 🌟

On this day, August 26th, 1936, St Leonard’s opened its doors to pupils for the very first time.

To mark the beginning of our anniversary year, we were delighted to welcome former members of staff back to St Leonard’s today for a special visit to our new building.

We have some exciting events planned for our current families and pupils throughout the year, which we look forward to sharing with you when we return next week.

01/08/2026

A wonderful moment in our centenary year: we celebrate not just 100 years of St Cuthbert’s, but the people and stories that built it. With the guidance of Ruth and Carl from The Story (DCC Archives), our children explored our school’s history and met past pupils and staff who helped shape the community we cherish today. Carl did a fantastic job putting this all together in short film - link below.

St Cuthbert’s opened on 24th August 1926, built beside our parish church. Parishioners even bought bricks engraved with their names or those of loved ones — each costing £1, a significant sum at the time. Children aged 5–14 filled those first classrooms, and over the decades more rooms and playing fields were added as education evolved.

Generations have moved on to St Bede’s, St Robert’s, and now the newly rebuilt St Leonard’s, carrying St Cuthbert’s spirit with them.

Here’s to the next 100 years of faith, community and learning together.

24/07/2026

⚡️ Flashback Friday!

Our clay projects this last term have been something special.

Year 1 studied the iconic Angel of the North and sculpted their own interpretations in clay — each one unique and full of personality.

Year 3 channelled their inner historians, designing and making Greek tiles with bold patterns and thoughtful detail.

Such fantastic work — well done to all our young artists.

22/07/2026

22/07/2026

🌟 Spotlight on Our Stars 🌟

Our final celebration is The Fiona Ballentine Award — presented in memory of our much‑loved colleague who sadly passed away in August 2016 after bravely battling cancer. Fiona taught with courage, joy and unwavering dedication right up until July 2016. She loved our school residentials and had a real passion for the outdoors — walking, climbing and embracing every adventure.

This special award recognises bravery and courage in outdoor pursuits, and this year it goes to Elliot.

Elliot stepped out of his comfort zone and faced every challenge with determination and heart. His willingness to try new things and embrace each moment with bravery truly reflects Fiona’s spirit.

Congratulations, Elliot — your courage has shone brightly. 🌟💛

22/07/2026

🌟 Spotlight on Our Stars 🌟

Next up is The Ella Duffy Award — named in honour of Ella Duffy, a former headteacher of St Cuthbert’s. Ella was a vibrant, colourful character who dedicated her entire teaching career to our school, leaving a legacy of joy, commitment and community spirit.

This year’s recipient is Sam (Y6).

Sam embodies everything this award stands for: he works incredibly hard academically, throws himself into all aspects of school life, and is always first to get involved in extra‑curricular activities and sports. Watching his confidence grow has been truly rewarding — and of course, we’ll never forget his brilliant sense of humour!

Congratulations, Sam. You’ve made your mark on St Cuthbert’s in the best possible way. 🌟💛

22/07/2026

🌟 Spotlight on Our Stars🌟

We begin our celebration with The Gavin McMahon Award — an honour presented to one Year 6 and one Year 2 pupil who have shown exceptional determination throughout their learning journey.

Congratulations to Amala (Y6) and Joanna (Y2).
Your resilience, hard work and never‑give‑up attitude have shone brightly during your time at St Cuthbert’s. You’ve inspired your classmates, impressed your teachers, and truly embodied what this award represents.

We are so proud of you both. 🌟💛

21/07/2026

We have a busy six weeks of summer holiday events happening across the portfolio! Save our planner to check what's happening every week and where. You can also pick up a physical copy when you visit. 🌞

You can find a PDF version of our planner here: https://bit.ly/3RO1iCc

Here’s what you can enjoy at Crook:

SEND games 🏏

Axe throwing 🪓

Family Yoga 🧘‍♂️

Summer Sports ⚽

20/07/2026

Class of ‘26 signing off…