This film by Andy Burns features Carr Infant and Nursery school at Acomb near York and its transition from old premises to new premises. This is a school very much at the heart of the locality and is supported by parents, pupils, and the wider community as can be seen in this uplifting film. Title: Car Infant School The opening shows a view across a playground to a single storey building with a glass-covered awning sheltering a pathway, and a row of windows behind it. Parents walk their...

This film by Andy Burns features Carr Infant and Nursery school at Acomb near York and its transition from old premises to new premises. This is a school very much at the heart of the locality and is supported by parents, pupils, and the wider community as can be seen in this uplifting film. Title: Car Infant School The opening shows a view across a playground to a single storey building with a glass-covered awning sheltering a pathway, and a row of windows behind it. Parents walk their children to the school entrance; they pass a sign which reads ‘Carr Infants School’. Commentary provided by the former headteacher Susan Bell outlines the history of the school, and she continues on screen. Title: Susan Bell Headteacher 2006-2017 General views show parents talking amongst themselves in the playground area, as their children wait to go into school. The children enter and hang up their coats. In the school hall adults sit down on rows of seats, the view changes to show a teacher talking to her class. A number of children follow a member of staff down a corridor. They go into the school hall where the adults, presumably parents or relatives, wait. The children then go on to the stage. Susan Bell introduces the school's 2016 Easter production to the audience. On stage, the children recite a rhyme, which involves jumping up as part of the performance. The audience shows appreciation. Another group of children wearing orange tops, black trousers and wearing green strands, and a cut-out of a fish on their heads perform a song. The next view shows a number of children on stage and in front, forming part of the tableau as they sing. As background music provides the music of ‘Easter Parade’ children walk across the stage wearing decorated hats. The children are guided off the stage, and a view of one of the school corridors follows. Susan Bell describes the problems they have had with the maintenance and fabric of the building. Views follow of children in the playground. On screen Susan outlines more details of repairs and improvements needed in the old building. The children sit down for a meal in the school canteen, views follow of artwork the children have done for various displays. A black and white photograph shows the interior of the school possibly taken near the time of the old school’s opening in 1948. Another display shows a collection of class photographs taken over a number of years as on screen, teacher Andrea Burton describes, how in 1975, cracks were beginning to appear in the walls of the school. Title: Andrea Burton Teacher Views follow of the childrens’ artwork connected with the building of the new school. More views follow of their creative artwork. In a school hall area, children and parents look around display boards, showing more of the children’s artwork, and the display of old photographs. In commentary Susan Bell outlines the opportunity that came forward, under a government initiative, to rebuild the school. Some of the adults look at new plans for the building which are on display. Representatives from the building contractors ‘Kier’ are in attendance. Photographs show children in high visibility jackets and wearing protective headgear being shown around parts of the building site. Other photos show the progress of interior work and scaffolding around the exterior of the new building. Static views show the site offices, and the structure of the new building as builders work amongst the scaffolding. Susan Bell appears in the playground and rings a handbell to gather the children together so they can return to their classrooms. Children create some new artwork supervised by a teacher as he sits with them. Title: Samantha Walker Deputy Headteacher Samantha describes the school’s achievements in the old building. Off camera she continues as children study the ‘Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the title being displayed on a classroom whiteboard. Another group of children use coloured pencils to draw and write, others are shown at work using computers. General views show children in class and going out into the playground. General views show children leaving school with their parents and a cleaner hoovering near a display of old photographs. Other staff tidy up and doors are made secure. Title: Carr Infant School Title: 2016 The film along with a commentary about the school’s history shows the row of windows along one side of the single storey building seen at the beginning of the film. The commentary states that the old building was demolished in 2016. Title: 2017 The film shows children and adults walking towards the completed new building. On one wall a sign reads ‘Carr Infant School’. Above a doorway further along a sign reads ‘Nursery’. General views show children and adults milling around outside the new building. Title: Susan Bell Headteacher 2006 – 2017. Susan outlines the positive feedback the school received from many who attended an open event at the new school. Views of children show them playing in newly equipped play areas. Members of staff lead the children along brightly painted and lit corridors to their classrooms. Children go through a drama routine in the gym with a visiting teacher, Lee Threadgold Title: Dawn Dyson and Lee Threadgold Animated Objects Theatre Company Lee outlines his appreciation of the new facilities. Lee is shown at work going through some routines with his class in the gym, Dawn works with her group, they then all sit in a large circle on the gym floor A school disco is in progress, with a sound system and light show. Parents and children have their names checked from a list near the entrance to the building. In a hall, the children in full voice energetically dance the Hokey Cokey Title: Nicky Parent Nicky on screen gives a very positive assessment of the new school environment. A dance soundtrack follows with individual children dancing for the camera. A view follows of children engaging in sport, sprinting on a grass running track in bright sunshine. It’s a school sports day, as parents and relatives watch the events which include an egg and spoon race. Then it’s the adults turn as a group of women race for the finish on the sprint track, followed by members of staff in a mixed race. Some of the children try their hands at basketball. Title: Samantha Walker Deputy Headteacher Samantha outlines the positive effects the new building has had on the children and staff. General views show children at play in the new play areas and engaging with teachers in class. On camera children give their impressions of the new school, some compare what they have now with facilities they had at the old school. Samantha Walker explains that the new building gave the opportunity to install state-of-the-art information technology equipment and infrastructure. Children watch a large colour display screen in class; others work in an IT suite with laptop computers. For those children that require adaptive technology, there is greater access to a range of facilities. Accessibility is important and because the school is built on more than floor views follow of a lift, which accommodates mobility equipment also new disabled access washrooms and toilets are available. In a hall on tiered seating children, sing a song for parents and relatives. It accompanies film of schoolchildren, dancing and performing for the camera in a field. A title at the end reads ‘Enjoy your Summer holidays’ At the new school, Mayor Barbara Boyce gives a speech in front of parents and children gathered outside for the official opening in 2017. The mayor praises the new school and also announces that headteacher Susan Bell is retiring. The Mayor and Susan stand together as Mrs Bell prepares to cut a ribbon that officially opens the new school. In the background, red and white balloons are released from a large net and the ribbon is cut. The film ends as it cuts back to the children in the hall who are finishing their song and the audience applauds. Title: Carr Infant School Credit: A film by Andy Burns www.burnsfreelance.co.uk Credit: Funded & Supported by Friends of Carr Schools Credit: With thanks to Kier Group PLC www.kier.co.uk Credit: With thanks to Yorkshire Film Archive www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com