Southroyd Primary and Nursery School has maintained its ‘good’ standards of education, Ofsted inspectors have said.
Inspectors praised a strong sense of community and belonging at the school, based off Littlemoor Crescent in Pudsey.
“Pupils thrive in the beautiful school learning environments, inside and outdoors,” the report states. “Staff know each pupil very well and take good care of them. As a result, pupils are happy and safe.”
There’s also praise for a ‘broad and ambitious’ curriculum, pupils’ ‘exemplary’ behaviour and the work in nursery and reception classes.
The report adds praise for the school’s leadership and staff: “Teachers have strong subject knowledge and present information clearly. They use high-quality resources to support learning. Pre-topic tasks help pupils to devise their own questions. This gives them ownership of their learning. Pupils rise to teachers’ high expectations and achieve well across the curriculum.”
Some pupils, who are at the early stages of learning to write, are given work that is too challenging for them and the report notes this needs to be addressed.
A Government official has visited a Pudsey company to learn more about its highly successful apprenticeships program.
The Chair of the Department for Education’s Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Anthony Impey, visited mechanical, electrical, and public health provider G&H and its in-house training partner, Building Futures Together (BFT).
His visit, during National Apprenticeship Week, aimed to spotlight work being done by small and midsize employers and gather insights from the business to share with policy makers.
Mr Impey met students and got some hands-on experience wiring a plug. BFT provides young people – including students who are struggling with the curriculum in school or are missing from education – the opportunity to receive hands-on learning and a pathway into the construction sector.
Paul Churchill, Development Manager at G&H, and BFT Co-Founder and Managing Director John Thornton showed Mr Impey around G&H, which is currently supporting 22 apprentices. Training school facility BFT delivered 1,645 vocational learning places last year.
Mr Impey said: “I set out at the start of this week with the aim to meet 100 small and midsize businesses and shine a light on the brilliant work these employers are doing with apprenticeships. So, it’s great to see the inspiring work that G&H are doing to invest in the skills they need to drive the growth and productivity of their business.”
G&H’s Paul Churchill said: “Apprentices are essential to the sustainability of our business and the wider sector, especially in light of the current skills shortage in the construction industry. We pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive apprenticeship programme designed to attract top talent and provide young people with real-world experience.
“It’s an honour to host Anthony during National Apprenticeship Week and showcase how we’re creating pathways for the next generation into the construction industry. We hope it has provided an insight for policy makers.”
G&H launched its apprenticeship scheme in 1999 and provides NVQ Level Three, Four and Five for onsite operatives, design and Revit technicians, and senior leadership roles.
Community Interest Company BFT was co-founded in 2020 to help prevent young people from adding to the growing number becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET). It supports students by encouraging them to consider an alternative career option and helps schools to engage with pupils who struggle with the curriculum or are missing from education.
Horsforth residents are invited to join the climate conversation at an event next Thursday.
Organised by Horsforth Climate Action the “Climate Conversation – Air Quality and Community Action” event will take place at St Margarets Parish Centre on Thursday, 20 February between 6.30pm and 8.15pm.
The event, during which there will be two guest speakers followed by an interactive workshop, is aimed at the general public and will discuss air quality in the local area and how the community can respond to it through their actions.
The first of two speakers is Dr Jim McQuaid from the University of Leeds. Dr McQuaid worked on the Air Quality Stripes project.
He will be discussing what drives air quality and how the local community can impact on the global picture.
The second is Andrew White from Leeds City Councils Leeds Air Quality Strategy Team who will present on the city’s efforts to impact on air quality.
Refreshments will be provided and booking is essential via Eventbrite.
A man and a youth have been arrested over a series of offences targeting businesses in west Leeds this week.
The 47-year-old man and 17-year-old male were detained shortly before 4am this morning in Armley after specialist road policing officers pursued a vehicle linked to a ram raid burglary at the Morrisons Daily store in Belle Vue Road, Burley.
The store was targeted at about 3.15am this morning when a white VW Golf was reversed into the shutters. Items were stolen before suspects left the scene in the Golf and a black Hyundai.
Both vehicles were recovered in Armley following the pursuit and were identified as having been stolen in a burglary in Pudsey in the early hours of Monday.
Detectives from Leeds District Crime Team are linking them to a number of other offences.
These include a knifepoint robbery at an industrial unit in Wyther Park, Bramley at 4.40am on Monday, a burglary at the Cardigan Arms pub in Kirkstall Road, Burley, at 4.50am the same day and a burglary at Morrisons Daily, in Bradford Road, Pudsey at 5.15am that day.
The most recent offences in the series also include an attempted burglary at Gull’s convenience store, in Nora Place, Bramley, at 2.23am this morning and a burglary at the Fairfield Local store, in Fairfield Avenue, Bramley, at 2.27am this morning.
The two males arrested remain in custody and officers from Leeds District Crime Team are continuing to carry out enquiries into the series of offences.
Anyone who witnessed any of the offences or who has any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact officers via 101 quoting crime reference 13250082142 or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat.
Under fire Farsley Celtic chairman Paul Barthorpe has resigned from the crisis-hit football club.
The Celts have not played at their home ground this season due to delays installing a new artificial surface. Home fixtures are currently being held over 60 miles away at Buxton’s Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.
The Celts today confirmed that four of its directors are set to take over the running of the football club.
In a statement issued via Farsley’s website, Mr Barthorpe said: “I have held talks with the board about taking a step back and resigning from the chairman role and letting the board take full control in running the club, which they have effectively been doing for the last week anyway, and when this is finalised I’m sure they will announce it.
“Having put in so much hard work and money over the last six years, for it to be like this really hurts.
“But I hope this act means there will be more support and more positivity towards the club and the board, as they are all, like me, volunteers, all good guys and all have the club at heart, and we are all desperate for this to work out.”
Directors Paul Glover, Josh Greaves, John Stubbs and Jon Wickham will be taking the lead in running the football club and its associated business FC2010 Ltd.
In a statement, they confirmed chairman Paul Barthorpe had resigned from the football club after almost six years.
All four said: “It’s a great honour to be the custodians of this incredible football club and we are excited by the challenges that lie ahead. We are very proud to be involved and our focus now is to work together with stakeholders and fans to build a sustainable and successful club on and off the pitch for the long term.
“We’d like to call on all supporters, the wider Farsley community, everyone connected with the club and local businesses to come together and back us as we look to forge a sustainable future for Farsley Celtic FC.
“A lot of work lies ahead, but if we are all united we are confident we can achieve a stable future for the club we all love.”
They said further information on the laying of a new pitch at The Citadel will be provided in due course.
The club will hold an open meeting sharing further information at a date to be confirmed next week. The meeting will be open to supporters and members of the public. A meeting with supporters’ club members will be held tomorrow (Thursday).
Mr Barthorpe currently retains his stake on the holdings company, FC2010 (Holdings) Ltd.
A spokesperson for the Farsley Celtic Supporters Club said: “Farsley Celtic Supporters Club welcomes Paul Barthorpe’s resignation from football club operations.
“We’re looking forward to supporting the club as it looks to move forward.”
Farsley Celtic announce new manager
Farsley Celtic have announced David Stockdale as their fourth manager of the season.
The former Fulham, Brighton and Ipswich goalkeeper has huge experience as a player, ranging from Premier League to National League level. David was most recently the manager at Blyth Spartans.
He said: “I’ve been to The Citadel to watch Farsley before, I have friends who have played for Farsley in the past and I’m a local lad – I was born in Armley and I live in Farnley. I’m a local lad and I want to help. I’ve been coming here for a long time.
“I’ve spoken to the directors and I was impressed with what they are aiming to do with the club.
He added: “Plans are in place for moving forward and I’m looking forward to helping the club get back to its former self.”
Stockdale had already spoken to the players and also met some of the board last night.
“It was great to meet some of the fantastic people connected to the club. Hearing from the women’s team, deaf team and the youth set up about what they have been doing during some unsettled times at the club was inspirational.”
Clayton Donaldson was sacked in September, his replacement Pav Singh left as manager in January. Stockdale replaced former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn, who quit after less than three weeks in charge last Thursday.
Farsley Celtic sit third from bottom in the National League North and are without a win since Boxing Day.
Organisers of Kirkstall Festival have said farewell to two long-standing committee members and now need new volunteers to fill the void.
Fiona Butler and Linda Raine are retiring from their committee roles after 40 fabulous years and now new volunteers are required to fill several available positions. Other committee members are also looking to retire this year, meaning there are vacancies to help in playing a vital role in organising this vibrant community event.
There are committee roles available for fundraising and for stall planners. All committee roles are voluntary.
Ideally the fundraising (grants and sponsorship) role can be filled by someone with experience of grant applications. Applications are also invited for the stall planners roles as multiple people are required to cover this.
Festival day volunteers are also encouraged. Just turn up at the information point and you will be given a job that helps the festival run so smoothly every year.
This years festival will be held on Saturday, 12 July and this year’s theme is Kirkstall Toyland. For anyone interested in having a stall at the event stall applications will open in early March.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the vacancies on the committee should contact festival Chair Roger Plumtree via email on chair@kirkstall.org.uk.
The first Kirkstall Festival took place in 1981. You can read alderwoman Liz Minkin’s fascinating history of the formation of the Kirkstall Valley Community Association and the subsequent organisation of the festival on the festival website.
The already thriving Women’s Institute movement is set to have a new group join its ranks soon with Horsforth set to gain a second group.
The WI already has a very active presence in Horsforth through the Horsforth St James group but now it’s hoped there will be another to join it.
Residents of Horsforth who identify as a woman are invited to attend an “expression of interest” meeting on March 6 at 7pm at Truly Scrummy on Town Street with a view to forming the Sisters of Horsforth.
The WI seeks to bring together women to share their knowledge and skills for the good of the community.
The seeds have been sown by Claire Evans, who many will already be familiar with through her work in the Horsforth community including as manager of Horsforth Community Assets Project.
Claire has previously been a member of Leeds WI’s Buns and Roses group and wants to bring together like-minded women to form a new WI for Horsforth.
The first meeting will be to discuss how to move the idea forward and to discuss ideas and committee roles. Book your place here.
Check out WLD‘s what’s on section for more local events and activities.
An artist's impression of a mass transit system in Leeds
By Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leeds West & Pudsey MPRachel Reeves
During the general election campaign last year, I was clear that economic growth to make working people better off would be the priority of an incoming Labour government.
Thanks to the trust the people of Leeds West and Pudsey put in me, and voters up and down the country put in Labour, it is now my mission as Chancellor to deliver on this promise.
That is why last month I delivered a speech about how this Government is going further and faster to get our economy growing.
Without growth we won’t get more money in people’s pockets. We won’t be able to cut hospital waiting lists, put more police on the streets or give the next generation the opportunities to thrive.
This Labour government is determined to tear down the barriers to growth and take the right decisions in the national interest, decisions that the previous Conservative government ducked for far too long.
We want to see growth in all corners of the country – and our region is no exception.
The new National Wealth Fund, based in Leeds, will be key to harnessing billions of pounds of investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries and, as announced in my speech, the National Wealth Fund will work in collaboration with Combined Authorities, establishing strategic partnerships to provide deeper, more focused support for city regions such as Leeds.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves.
The Government is backing plans to deliver a new mass transit system in West Yorkshire which is expected to transform connectivity in the city region, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is already using £200 million of Government funding to develop the scheme.
Furthermore, the TransPennine Route Upgrade will see the delivery of a multi-billion-pound programme of east-west improvements across its 70-mile route that will tackle inequalities and better connect cities including Manchester to York via Leeds and Huddersfield. This is a key part of our commitment to improving rail connectivity across the North.
As I said in my speech, our great northern cities have so much potential and promise, and as both your Chancellor and as the proud Member of Parliament for Leeds West and Pudsey, it is my duty to harness this potential and drive our city and our region forward.
It has been fantastic spending time across the various communities in West Leeds that I have the privilege of representing in Parliament.
Since my last column two months ago, I’ve had lots of excellent school visits, caught up with local charities, as well as recording a podcast in Farsley and even meeting Santa at New Wortley Community Centre.
During this time my team and I have continued to assist constituents with casework. If you are a constituent and there is something you think I and my office will be able to help with then please do get in touch via rachel.reeves.mp@parliament.uk or 0113 255 2311.
A retrospective application for extension and change of use of former Pudsey Grangefield School science block building into ten apartments/studios has been submitted.
Plans for a new electric vehicle charging zone and jet wash bays in the car park at Kirkstall Morrisons have been approved by council planners
Applicants Motor Fuel Group have received permission to remove 31 parking spaces in the car park and replace them with eight bays powered by four new electric vehicle chargers. Three new jet wash bays will be added.
There would be a reduction of 19 parking spaces if the proposals were approved.
A council planning officer’s report approving the proposal concluded: “The proposal is not considered to have a significant detrimental impact on amenity nor contribute toward flood risk within the area or down stream.
“The development creates new electrical vehicle charging infrastructure, vehicle washing facilities and does not lead to the creation of a sensitive end use within Flood Zone 3 and is thus considered acceptable.”
The WOW Barn is moving to Kirkstall Valley Farm. Photo: Leeds 2023
By John Baron
Plans to install much-needed indoor space at community run Kirkstall Valley Farm have been submitted to Leeds City Council.
Kirkstall Valley Development Trust KVDT aims to rebuild the WOW barn, which was a centrepiece of Leeds 2023 City of Culture – on the farm, which is nestled between the busy A65 and the River Aire.
KVDT was gifted the Leeds 2023 WOW Barn after its use at Woodhouse Moor where it was erected in May 2023 by a 300-strong team of volunteers, all of whom were women, girls or non-binary people, worked in shifts and through the night. It become a hub for the city’s first WOW (Women of the World) Festival.
Kirkstall Valley Farm.
A letter submitted with the application by Kirkstall Valley Development Trust said: “We already have excellent attendance during the summer for our Healthy Holidays, tots at the farm and forest school sessions.
“This valuable farm space is enjoyable to many Leeds residents, especially those in Kirkstall and Burley that do not have gardens or yards at their homes, however these are outdoor activities that are currently so weather dependent.”
KVDT say the WOW barn will allow them to expand their community activities and events.
The barn would be built on an embankment higher than the recently installed FAS2 flood wall in a bid to prevent the barn from flooding.
KVDT’s letter adds: “There is no alternative position on site to achieve this and minimise any risk of damage from a future flood event. In addition, the Calverley embankment and gate system will reduce the flooding risk further by enabling excess water to be released over time.”
A petition calling for the reinstatement of the 508 bus service through Farsley has gathered over 1,100 signatures as concerns over accessibility and connectivity for passengers grow.
The 508 was rerouted last year amid a series of changes to bus services in Leeds to operate along the ring road and Stanningley Bypass, but miss out Farsley.
The campaign, launched in November 2024 by resident Simon Banoub, highlights how the removal of the direct service has left Farsley residents inconvenienced.
“This is more than just a bus route – it’s a lifeline for many in our community,” said Mr Banoub. “The removal of the 508 has forced people into unnecessary journeys, extra costs, and even giving up jobs.”
Despite the petition’s growing support, First Bus has not announced any plans to restore the service. The company has stated that it is ‘monitoring demand’ but Mr Banoub says the company has not shared further details with him.
“First Bus has ignored us at every step despite overwhelming support for bringing the service back,” said Banoub. “We need them to listen and act.”
Calverley & Farsley’s councillors, have written to both First Bus and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
Councillors Peter Carlill and Craig Timmins (both Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said: “Thanks to all who continue to campaign on this issue. It was made clear to First Bus at the time how unpopular this change would be – but they went ahead anyway.
“We joined with councillors from Bramley and Stanningley to oppose these changes, and have continued to actively do so ever since. This campaign led to the creation of the 60a route alongside Transdev/Keighley Bus with funding from the Mayor’s office, which helped return some of the connections lost, but clearly does not replace the 508.
“When First Bus originally made the change they said it was hoped speeding up the route would increase passengers, however following our last letter asking them to once again review this decision, we found unsurprisingly that the service is now carrying fewer people than it was before.
“We would again ask that First Bus take account of the real impacts this loss of service is having on our community as clearly displayed in the petition, and think again – especially in an area already impacted by poor provision and connectivity.”
Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) said: “Simon Banoub is doing a great job in continuing to raise awareness of the fact that the 508 bus service re-route still does not properly serve the Farsley area.
“As he rightly says, First Bus are simply not listening, but worse than that, neither is the Mayor or the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. All we get is ‘promises of jam tomorrow’, which is just not good enough.”
A spokesperson for First confirmed the company was not currently looking to reinstate the 508 in Farsley.
“There is an alternative bus service in place to support customers travelling from Farsley to Leeds,” the spokesperson said. “This weakens the potential for the passenger usage that would be required to make a re-instated service sustainable.
“We are not planning to make any changes to the 508 service but will continue to monitor demand. We are also aware the Combined Authority has responded to the complaint regarding service 508 and explained its policy position relative to existing bus services in the area.”
The petition to find a solution to restore the transport link can be found here.
