There was a dawning of a new era in September 1999 when Ormsgill Primary School was formed from two separate schools.
At one time children on the estate would go to Ormsgill Infants School and then on to Ormsgill Junior School.
Eventually, the cost of running two buildings was proving too much for Cumbria education authority’s purse strings and one school was created.
Before then, however, The Mail was a regular visitor at both schools to report and take photographs of their various activities and achievements.
In May 1989, pupils at Ormsgill Infants School had a smashing time when they visited Stan’s Dismantlers’ scrapyard.
They saw old cars being crushed and watched the fire bridges demonstrate how hydraulic cutters are used on cars when they rescue passengers.
Gordon McKenzie, of Candleworks Garage, organised the event.
Barrow fire brigade sub-officer Derek Davies told the children they were going to open a door to release a man ‘trapped’ inside.
Using specialist gear, the door was removed in seconds and Les Routledge, playing the car crash ‘victim’, was released.
In 1993, Ormsgill Infants School was praised by dental chiefs. Pupils had not been allowed to bring sweets into school since 1988 and the number of children with tooth decay had fallen from 54 per cent to just 28 per cent during that period.
As well as the no-sweets rule, teachers had decided to positively encourage children to eat fresh fruit by opening their own fruit shop.
Run on a not-for-profit basis, the shop sold mainly oranges, apples and bananas and the children were encouraged to bring their own.
Headteacher James Abott said: “We wanted to develop the children’s self-awareness about their own bodies and looking after their health.”
In 1998, OFSTED inspector’s praised Ormsgill Junior School for providing a safe and caring environment for its pupils’ personal and social development.
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