Children at St Pius X Catholic Primary School loved attending school – so much so they wanted to work there, reported The Mail in 2006.

The confident pupils were eager to take on new responsibilities.

Headteacher Patricia Tumelty had recently had  a pile of job applications to read, not for a staff post, but from children wanting to take charge of the Schneider Road school’s new library.

Mrs Tumelty said: “Their applications and interviews were all fantastic.

“We have ended up with 13 librarians.”

She said that the pupils enjoyed being at the school.

“They really respect the environment and want to look after their school,” said Mrs Tumelty.

The four to 11 years school, in Barrow, had an active school council. From this group the play pal scheme was introduced. These were children who promoted inclusion in the playground and around school.

Mrs Tumelty, who had been head since March 2004, said: “We are a loving, caring and inclusive school.

“The children really look after and care for each other, and try to encourage each other.

“Children have an excellent standard of education, but we also try to give pupils the values of living a good life, prepare them for secondary school and the challenge of being a citizen of the world.”

The school had close links with St Pius’ Roman Catholic Church, reported The Mail in its ‘school of the week’ feature.

The school was strong on specialisms, including having specialists in ICT, DT, PE, music and languages.

And Mrs Tumelty said the school was trying to develop performing arts with new drama and singing clubs, plus guitar and recorder clubs

In February 1998 it was in the news again as The Mail reported how more than 200 children from the school were performing the popular show Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the musical which brought Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber to international prominence.

The musical received positive reviews from those who saw it, and the cast were praised.