A ‘nurturing’ primary school in West Leeds has received praise from Ofsted inspectors.
Hawksworth Wood Primary School has been rated ‘good’ for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and early years provision.
Inspectors visiting the school in June said: “A culture of high expectations permeates through Hawksworth Wood Primary School. Pupils feel happy and are safe. Staff know pupils and their families extremely well. High-quality pastoral support helps pupils to have a positive experience in school.”
The report says the school is ‘tenacious’ in its efforts to ensure that all pupils are given every opportunity to learn to read. “Pupils read fluently and with confidence,” the report adds.
Support for pupils with special educational needs is praised. And the report adds that the curriculum is “well designed and ensures that the most important knowledge has been identified”.
The early years provision ensures that children are well prepared for Year 1 and there is praise for pupils’ ‘well structured’ personal development plans throughout the school.
The report adds: “The school recognises that the absence rates of some pupils are too high. Systems in the school are responding to this. Some pupils are now attending more regularly. However, too many pupils are absent from school persistently. They miss out on important learning as well as developing relationships with their peers.”
The report recommended that the school should ensure that learning opportunities clearly deliver the intended curriculum in all subject so pupils learn as well as they could.
The Spinning Room HI FI owner Paul Knipe (left) with Sunny Bank Mills joint managing director, John Gaunt.
A shop selling hifi equipment is among a new range of independent retailers to set up at a former mill complex in Farsley.
Sunny Bank Mills, which is one of the oldest family-owned mills in Yorkshire, now sustains nearly 500 jobs and is home to over 100 businesses, half of which are public facing.
The new businesses include The Spinning Room Hi-Fi, Cargo Wines and Hoop Knit.
Paul Knipe, the owner of The Spinning Room Hi-Fi, which is based in the Festoon Rooms, enjoyed many events and festivals at the Mills over the years and has always been inspired by the focus on creativity and culture.
Venue: Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley.
He explained: “The Festoon Rooms is such a perfect location to be the home of The Spinning Room Hi-Fi that I believe the room chose us. Of all the amazing spaces within the extensive Mills there is literally nowhere which could be more suited to our business. Our location shares a corridor with the thriving Record Plant record shop and Sunny Bank Mills’ very own art gallery and shop, which is the centre of the Mills.
“We are also very close to the Old Woollen live venue space which forms the beating heart of the music area of the Mills.
“The collaboration between Record Plant and The Spinning Room Hi-Fi is the key to ensuring that our vision of helping more people enjoy music at home is fulfilled. Collaborative events are already in the pipeline to further establish Sunny Bank Mills as the ‘go to’ destination for all things music in Leeds and the wider area.”
He continued: “It is so important to stress that William and John Gaunt, the landlords and custodians of Sunny Bank Mills, have been great supporters of The Spinning Room Hi-Fi and its development to date. Just like us they get that music is an art form and so the nature of our business and its ultimate success will in turn help the Mills’ continue its journey to being an art and culture hub for West Yorkshire.”
Meanwhile independent wine merchants Cargo Wines has moved into the Twisting at Sunny Bank Mills, with director Richard Kilian describing the venue as a “beautiful space”.
He said: “The size of the unit and the availability of outside space are perfect for Cargo, allowing both a retail area as well as comfortably seating up to 50 guests inside, around 40 on the terrace and now over 60 on Weavers’ Lawn. We’re ready for every type of weather!
“Although we were aware of the artistic community that has built up in Farsley over the years, it was only when the Old Woollen music venue opened that we could see the potential for a hospitality business. As the Mills has progressed with the likes of CAHM luxury fragrances and Record Plant, the opportunity to expand the wine retail business as a hybrid with the bar hospitality aspect of Cargo made perfect sense.
“The Gaunts have been incredibly supportive of a new business. The willingness of the owners to give us the space, as well as their expertise and understanding during the fitting and opening, has allowed Cargo to quickly develop an enthusiastic customer base.”
Hoop Knit is a third independent retailer that has chosen Sunny Bank Mills as its new home.
Director William Lingwood explained: “Sunny Bank Mills is a vibrant, creative hub that draws craft and design enthusiasts from a wide area, making it an ideal location for a premium yarn shop.
“My wife Vanessa opened Hoop Haberdashery in 2011, as a small high street store in Tenterden, Kent, full of gorgeous supplies and natural fibres for knitters and crocheters. Now, 15 years later, we have relocated to Yorkshire, where we have opened our new online store and a large, welcoming yarn shop at Red Mill Lane.
“Here, we are showcasing an extensive range of natural fibres and yarns from both local producers and worldwide brands, beautiful yarns that will inspire knitters and crocheters of all levels. Thanks to the Gaunts, our move has been painless.”
Other new retail and leisure occupiers at Sunny Bank Mills include: Candy Spa For Kids, the Welly Club Forest School, Right Nice Stuff, Duo Pilates, a physio-led reformer and mat Pilates studio with Louise Samuels, Metz Cheesemonger, Swimsport, Silly Loaf and Record Plant (expansion).
John Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse and Co Ltd, the family company which owns Sunny Bank Mills, said: “It’s so exciting to welcome these new retail businesses to Sunny Bank Mills. It was always our vision to create a place that people both love to visit and to work in. The new retail businesses fit that vision perfectly.”
“50 per cent of the businesses at the Mills are now public facing, ranging from destination retail, cafes, a pizzeria, bars, our art gallery and shop, workshops, a music venue, and lots more. 10 years ago, it was only 15 per cent so it’s very satisfying to see that vision become reality.”
William Gaunt added: “These are very exciting new lettings for us – and we are absolutely delighted at the range of businesses which are now joining us at Sunny Bank Mills. They broaden our appeal and provide wonderful new retail facilities for everyone who works here and for those who visit us from further afield.”
Tributes have been paid to Bramley community activist Peter McDonagh, who recently passed away.
Peter, 59, was a volunteer at TCV Hollybush in Kirkstall, a community litter picker and mental health campaigner who recently fought against the closure of the mental health facilities at Stocks Hub in Armley. He was also a community reporter at West Leeds Dispatch.
He was well-known in Bramley and further afield and had made numerous poetry, photography and art contributions to local publications, including this article about himself for the Open University.
Peter died suddenly in May and a memorial meeting to celebrate his life will be held at the Quaker Meeting House on Woodhouse Lane at 2pm on Saturday, 2 August.
Former Leeds West MP Sir John Battle knew him for many years as a friend and neighbour. Both were involved in the church’s Justice and Peace Commission, then later in West Leeds Labour Party.
Sir John said: “Peter was the most kind, gentle and thoughtful man. An ideal ‘public neighbour’ he always greeted people with a welcoming open positive concern, always more concerned about others than himself.
“In some ways he was a quietly prophetic man. He was highly intelligent, marked by thoughtful studiousness, and well read. He always gently asked the deepest basic questions to make you really think again.
“I knew him through his deep practical concerns to make change through action for social justice and peace in politics and religion to make our world a better place. For some years he supported the work of the Justice and Peace Commission and he always wanted to go in deeper to examine the life-giving roots.
“He has died without publishing of an academic book, or with public recognition in formal settings, but all who came into contact with him are left with his life-enhancing approach as an example. Very few people blend deep questioning intelligence with gentle and caring public concern in everyday neighbourly practice. Rest in peace Peter, a model witness.”
Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) added; “I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Peter. A lovely man who loved nature and education, really embracing lifelong learning by studying for multiple degrees throughout his adult life.
“He was a committed volunteer at TCV in Kirkstall and spent a great deal of time trying to improve our local environment by litter picking and letting me know whenever he spotted any fly tipping on his travels. He was particularly passionate about Bluebell woods, between the Broadlea’s and Leeds & Bradford Road.
“Peter was a keen writer of poetry to express his feelings which I always enjoyed reading. The last poem he sent me was about the closure of the Stocks Hill Mental Health Hub, to support a powerful campaign he was involved in to try and save the facility. It’s a big regret of mine the facility could not be saved despite their efforts.
Feeling quite queezy.
No control over my life.
A sink hole opens.
Acute admissions.
What would that be like for you?
Needs understanding.
The Key Worker helps.
Care Personalisation!
Suicide Distraction.
Hub lunch vegi-curry.
Sitting talking to others.
Files piled into bins.
Fear of lost security.
Adult Social Care withdrawn.
Mental health declines.“
Cllr Ritchie added: “Peter was highly intelligent, caring, considerate and a man of peace, worshipping with Leeds Quakers. He was loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed in our community.
“RIP Peter and his beloved mum, who also sadly passed away in the following week, it has been my privilege to know you.”
Some of the attendees of a community reporters’ training course. Peter is pictured far left. Photo: John Baron
WLD editor John Baron also paid tribute. He said: “Peter was a lovely man who attended one of our community reporter training courses at Bramley Lawn a few years ago. He stood out for his willingness to learn new things, his love of the bluebell woods, nature and his incredible kindness.
“This year he played a leading role in our coverage of the campaign to try save the Stocks Hill Hub in Armley, something he was incredibly passionate about. Peter touched a lot of people with his words and his actions. He will be sadly missed.”
Peter’s friend, Chris Allen, who is helping to run the memorial service, added: “The phrase ‘a gentleman and a scholar’ could have been minted for Peter McDonagh. He was a lifelong learner and always so quick to show kindness and make friends in all sorts of places.
“I have known him for over 30 years and throughout that time I’ve admired his questing spirit – reading prolifically and taking successive courses at Leeds University and with the OU over many years in subjects as wide ranging as History, Theology, Children’s Literature and Economics.
“He was particularly at home in his beloved nature – travelling most of the time on foot or on one of his trusty bicycles, often along the canal near his home, trekking out to Saltaire or Thwaite Mills alone or with one of his many friends. And Peter loved animals – watching the birds in his garden, or the foxes in the wood near his home or greeting the many dogs he encountered on his walks and rides.
“He is sadly missed by many good friends and especially Lindsay, to whom he was devoted.”
Details of the memorial service can be found below:
Peter’s sudden death came as a result of a heart condition. He is survived by his son, Matthew.
A West Leeds nursery is looking to expand its provision by opening a new facility on Tong Road.
Little Beanies Childminders was established in 2020 at Wesley Road in Armley and is now looking to expand its offering into a new Little Beanies Day Nursery in a mixed use building on Tong Road.
A planning application to change the use of the building has been submitted to Leeds City Council for approval. The plans also feature alterations including a bike store to the side, new boundary treatments and new side door and window.
A design statement submitted with the application says: “The proposed new site at 352 Tong Road offers the capacity needed to meet growing demand and will allow us to continue delivering outstanding childcare services to more families.”
They anticipate that up to 45 children may attend the setting at any one time. The nursery will operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm. An agreement to use ten spaces in the car park at the nearby The Brick pub on Tong Road is in place.
The applicants state: “We aim to utilise the 30 hours of government-funded childcare available to working parents from as early as none months old, which we hope will support us in reaching our full capacity of 45 children.
“The proposal directly responds to a growing need for quality childcare in the area, supported by positive community feedback and upcoming government childcare funding expansion.
“The proposal makes minimal physical alterations, preserves the character of the site, and promotes sustainable travel, with 80% of families expected to walk and off-site parking secured through a formal agreement.
“Operated by the established and Ofsted-rated “good” Little Beanies Childminders, the project will create new local jobs, enhance early years’ education access, and contribute positively to the social infrastructure of the area — aligning with both local development goals and national childcare priorities.”
The nursery would employ seven full-time staff and three part time.
Edwardian Grade II Listed Bramley Baths is at the heart of the community.
West Leeds residents can help write Bramley Baths’ next chapter by sharing their thoughts about its future.
A community consultation has been launched by the community led leisure facility on Broad Lane to help shape its future activities.
“To help us take the Baths into its next chapter we are planning new activities and want to hear from you. What you would like to see at the baths, in Bramley?” a social media appeal said.
“What’s good, what’s missing, what would you like to see more of? Could that be creative workshops, film or music nights, events, talks and speakers or performances? Can you help us deliver new offers and exciting plans? BB is for everyone and we’d love to hear what you want to see.”
Bramley Baths’ gym.
Drop in sessions are being held at the Baths on:
Thursday 17 July 6 – 7.30pm
Friday 18 July 9.30 – 11.30am
Thursday 24 July 10.45am – 12.30pm
If you can’t make these dates you can help the Baths via this short survey – which can be found here – or email helen@bramleybaths.com. More dates will be announced soon.
The consultation is being run in conjunction with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The scheme will restore and protect the Baths and pilot new activities around heritage, health and wellbeing, arts and culture.
Bramley Baths dates back to 1904 and has been community led since 2013. It features a swimming pool, gym and studio area featuring a variety of classes and activities.
The care home on Horsforth Town Street. Photo: Google
By John Baron
Plans to replace 26 timber windows and with UPVC windows and six timber doors at a Grade II listed building in Horsforth have been refused by Leeds City Council planners.
St Anne’s Community Services wanted to replace the windows and doors at their residential care home at 155 Town Street, which is in Horsforth Conservation Area.
They wanted to “allow the building to continue to be used as a residential care home with the safety, security and comfort of the residents of paramount importance.
“The proposed changes will allow for this and bring these building elements up to current regulations. The local importance of the existing building is recognized and the windows and doors are to be installed whilst respecting the original building.”
There were four letter letters of objection and one neutral comment. Concerns included the window frames being replaced like for like, the need to preserve any original features and concerns that plastic windows are not in keeping.
Horsforth Town Council neither supported or objected to the application.
Refusing the application, a Leeds City Council planning officer’s report expressed concerns over the proposed UPVC fittings.
It concluded: “The proposal is considered to have an unduly detrimental impact on the Grade II Listed building’s significance and setting.”
Pudsey Park will host one event. Photo: John Baron/westleedsdispatch.com
Both Kirkstall Abbey and Pudsey Park are among seven Leeds parks to receive the Green Flag Award after being recognised as being of international quality.
They join Golden Acre Park, Middleton Park, Otley Chevin Forest Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Estate, who have again been listed among the best in the country.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Kirkstall Abbey in the mist. Photo by Susan Tellum
Pudsey Park is also supported by volunteers from the Pudsey in Bloom group, which plants and maintains floral displays.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “Our teams and volunteer groups work very hard to keep these sites to a high standard and for them to be spaces that people can enjoy every single day.
“We’re thrilled that we have once again received the prestigious Green Flag Award for these seven green spaces and that they are deemed of international quality.”
Green Flag award scheme manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “Crucially, these parks are vital green spaces for communities in Leeds to enjoy nature, and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise.
“It also provides important opportunities for local people and visitors to reap the physical and mental health benefits of green space.”
Regulars at a gym in Horsforth are making huge improvements to their fitness levels. And building their muscles too.
Now known as the ‘Grannies With Guns’, the ladies who lift have seen huge changes in their bodies through their hard work with one lady adding 2kg in muscle over the course of 12 months at the age of 70.
The ladies, who have been attending the Fun Fit class at Slim Fit Life gym on Horsforth Town Street for about a year – or in some cases a lot longer – are mainly over 60, and became known as the Grannies With Guns in reference to their muscle development.
Andrea Richardson has been attending the class for about 12 months.
She said: “I retired about four years ago so it’s keeping me busy. I come to some of the other classes but we’ve got really into this one, coming regularly and we’ve now increased it to two or three times a week. Really just to keep myself going and build strength.
“I’m not working but I look after my grandchildren. So there’s something about keeping going and keeping your strength up. And your mobility to make sure you can move around as you get older. So it works for me. And I’m local as well so I just come up the road and Tricia does a really good job.”
Nada Jasim also attends regularly.
“I like it here because it’s only ladies,” she said. “I come for my health, to lose weight, to keep fit. Always we have something to talk about.”
Sheila Marsden has been going to the class for about two years now, and gained 2kg in muscle over the past year.
“My balance is absolutely awful. Tricia will work on it. It keeps me going. I always have to hold on. I used to be able to run up and down steps and I thought I’ve got to do something to keep me going and not seize up. I do the dance class as well.”
Tricia Jephcott is the owner at Slim Fit Life. She told WLD: “We’re doing it slowly. We’re building it up slowly. We’re getting them to lift stronger. Just understanding that if you’ve got three or four kilos in a bag when you’re shopping you need to be able to lift it so training with one kilogram isn’t going to be enough. You need to up your weight.”
Sue Bettley is one of the longest standing gym members, having joined when it first opened in 2013.
“I come to various classes,” Sue said. “This one we’ve been doing as a group for about twelve months. And now we’re lifting heavier weights. I like the variety of the different classes. I’ve got more motivation being in a group rather than just coming on my own.”
Viv Caunt is another long-standing member. “I’ve been here since 2017. I came because my doctor told me I wasn’t getting any exercise. I started with zumba then moved to pilates then done all sorts. The classes are good and it’s social.”
Tricia added: “We call it Fun Fit because it focuses on functional fitness. Things like being able to get the plates out, being able to bend down into your oven, being able to get down in and out of chairs, so every exercise we do is designed around what we need from a functionality point of view.”
Slim Fit Life is a ladies only gym located on Horsforth Town Street and runs a number of classes as well as having a cardio and weights area for use at any time. There is also a weekly men’s yoga class.
Update – Wednesday 16 July 2025: Frank Humpleby, 75, who was reported missing from the Wortley area has been found safe and well. A police spokesperson said: “Many thanks to everyone who shared our appeal.”
A councillor has added his objections to plans to replace an existing paper and paste advertisement billboard with a digitally illuminated LED display.
Applicant Wildstone Estates wants to update the existing billboard at 105 Town Street, Stanningley and has submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council.
Documents submitted with the application state: “The site has been selected due to its suitability for advertising and will help to establish a network of displays in the area.
“It will be capable of being operated from a central location and significantly reduce vehicle trips for reposting when compared with a traditional poster and paste billboard.
“This is part of an industry wide drive to rationalise, modernise and update advertising infrastructure to meet modern requirements.”
Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley ward)
Now, Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Lab, Bramley & Stanningley) has added his concerns over the ‘dominant’ proposals.
In his objection, Cllr Ritchie writes: “Due to the nature of the proposal – its illumination, changing images and prominent location within the street scene – the billboard would form a particularly dominant and conspicuous feature, to the detriment of the visual amenity of the locality.
“The properties at Wheaters Court, which are supported living accommodation, overlook the site, therefore it would be specifically detrimental to the amenity of residents of those properties.
“The road is very narrow at this location, an extra billboard would add an extra distraction and be detrimental to safety of road users. The digital sign would be very eye catching, bright, extremely intrusive and distracting to road users at an already busy section of Town Street, Stanningley.”
WLD last month reported objections from AdBlock Leeds, a group opposing corporate advertising. They raised concerns over the distraction to road users and the impact on nearby residents.
Leeds City Council aims to decide the application by 6 August 2025.
Cliffe House Day Nurseries, Stanningley, Photo: Google
A Stanningley nursery continues to be a ‘good’ place to send youngsters, Ofsted inspectors have said.
Cliffe House Day Nurseries on Richardshaw Lane has been rated as ‘good’ for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and overall effectiveness.
Describing the nursery as ‘homely’ during their June visit, the inspectors’ report says: “Children settle quickly into this homely nursery. Even children attending for the first time are secure in their relationships with staff due to effective settling-in processes.
“The youngest children particularly benefit from the warm nurturing care of the adults. Older children are increasingly independent and play well together.”
The report says children enjoy books, stories and rhymes and confidently follow well-rehearsed and purposeful routines throughout the day. Leaders and staff plan a broad, flexible curriculum that promotes children’s good progress in all areas of learning.
The report suggests nursery leaders continue to develop monitoring and coaching processes to have even greater impact on children’s learning.
BEST cafe, Bramley Shopping Centre. Photo: Google Maps
By WLD Editor John Baron
Is there a story we should be covering in your community? Perhaps you’d like to get more involved with West Leeds Dispatch?
We’re holding our latest community news cafe/coffee morning, where people can come and meet our editor John Baron, and community reporter support worker Jean Holings over a friendly cuppa.
Tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 16 July) coffee morning/news cafe will be held at BEST – Bramley Community Cafe in Bramley Shopping Centre. It runs 11am-1pm. The cafe recently re-opened under the ownership of Bramley Elderly Action.
