AN award-winning £12m development is breathing new life in to the south eastern stretches of Carlisle.

It is a year since Pennine Way Primary School moved into its plush purpose-built complex which forms a large part of the Harraby Community Campus.

The last 12 months have proven so successful that the primary school, for the first time, has enjoyed a three-form entry intake of reception pupils in September.

Parents of a further 48 children have also chosen to switch, enrolling them in other year groups.

Headteacher Sue Blair said: "The whole campus has become a hub for the community all around it, and from all across the city and wider area because of the facilities it has.

"It has something much more to offer everyone than just a school and exceeded all our expectations.

"Here at school we've noticed so many more parents are getting involved now. Sometimes that is just picking up their child and going straight into the cafe and reading books from the library."

She added: "This campus now gives us access to the theatre and when acts come we're able to work with operator GLL to see if we can meet them and give the pupils new opportunities to learn about what they do and how shows are put together. There are also more regular theatre and dance groups the children are getting access to now because it is here.

"Our teachers are also benefiting because we have so much more space now for training."

Mrs Blair also reports that children have become more calmer and the atmosphere is more relaxed than its operation in Silverdale Road.

"Pupils are taking great pride and care in their environment," she said.

"They were asked about what features they wanted before the campus was built and there are things we now have following that and so they want to protect them. They want to keep them looking smarter."

Pupils also have new opportunities to learn outside. Each classroom has direct access to its own outdoor space.
"It makes learning fun and we know that has a lasting impact," said Mrs Blair.

Teachers and pupils who moved in a year ago were followed a short time later by the staff and volunteers at Harraby community centre.

The Harraby Community Campus also boasts new facilities for the community centre, Barnardo's Carlisle South children's centre, the privately-run St Aidan's Day Nursery, a community cafe and a 250-seater theatre run in conjunction with leisure operator GLL.

St Aidan's Day Nursery moved in last January after its Victoria Place base was flooded.

It has proven so popular that nursery trustees have decided to expand by retaining its Harraby site whilst pushing ahead with plans to return to reopen its city centre nursery next month.

Harraby Community Theatre has already attracted impressive acts including comedians Romesh Ranganathan, Seann Walsh and Marcus Brigstocke and regular events include a free monthly cinema club which meets again on Monday (DEC 12).

Existing sports facilities at the sprawling Edgehill Road site - which started life in the 1950s as Harraby Secondary School - have been enhanced with new pitches and facilities and have hosted events such as a 24-hour football match marathon in August in memory of local man Karl Pederson.

Work on a new 1km competition-quality cycle track, which is expected to attract enthusiasts and athletes from across the north of England, is also due to start next year.

Teresa Mulholland is the administrator of the Community Development Centre (CDC), which now runs more adult learning courses since the relocation.

She also chairs the school's PTA which hosts its community Christmas Fair today (DEC 9) in the on-site cafe from 2pm until 4pm.

The innovative campus scooped a hat-trick of design awards at the 2016 Education Estates Awards last month.

It is also a hit with Pennine Way's pupils.

Romy Davidson, aged eight, said: "It is nice and big."

Year four classmate Paris Piasekka (CORR) added: "It has loads of space and we can get easy access to everywhere."

Older pupils, aged 9-11, are also happy to have their own playground away from younger children.

Pennine Way Primary School's relocation 12 months ago unexpectedly freed up its old Silverdale Road home to become the temporary site for Newman Catholic School in January.

The primary school moved out the day before Carlisle fell victim to Storm Desmond and Newman School's Lismore Place site was devastated by floodwaters.

Newman School's headteacher John McAuley was able to use the Harraby Community Theatre to address hundreds of his pupils as they moved in to the area.

The Harraby Community Campus, designed by architects Atkins, was created with funding from Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council.