Headteacher's welcome

Welcome to Ruswarp Church of England Primary School

On behalf of our children, staff, and governors, it is my privilege as headteacher of Ruswarp Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School to warmly welcome you to our small and vibrant village school nestled in the heart of Ruswarp, North Yorkshire.

As a maintained primary school, we are proud to serve our local community and families from surrounding areas, offering a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child can flourish.

Our website contains information about many aspects of our provision and the Parents tab will be particularly relevant if you are considering enrolling your child at Ruswarp School.  

Below, I invite you to get a sense of what makes our school such a welcoming and happy place to learn and grow, though we highly recommend a visit to experience firsthand the magical qualities of our school, where our children proudly share what makes Ruswarp so special.

 Think for yourself and act for others

At Ruswarp, our guiding principle is "Think for yourself and act for others."   This reflects our commitment to cultivating independent, thoughtful learners who are also compassionate members of our community.  

This principle is firmly grounded in our theological heritage which you can find out about here:  Our Christian Vision and Values. 

We want to teach our children to be strong, independent and resilient – both in the classroom and in the wider world.  We want our children to embrace challenges in the classroom and have the ability to persevere and persist with their learning.  We want our children to have courage and faith in their own beliefs and convictions and to have the strength to stand against something that isn’t right.  We want to help develop children’s moral fibre and equip them for the skills they need to flourish in the 21st Century.  Our school is for those of all faiths and none, but our Christian message is that God will support us.

Based on Christian teachings, we want our children to be kind, respectful and generous. We want children to be thankful and humble and to support their peers. We want our children and staff to recognise their roles and responsibilities within the school community and the wider world.

Our school is deeply rooted in Christian values, which shape our ethos and daily life.  These values—Kindness, Respect, Friendship, Forgiveness, and Thankfulness—are the foundation upon which our children grow and thrive.  We believe that embedding these principles alongside our ambitious curriculum encourages children to develop strong character and a lifelong love of learning. 

Here, every child is known, valued, and supported as they grow into thoughtful, caring individuals ready to embrace the challenges of the future and contribute positively to the world around them.

Ruswarp is more than just a school; it is a hub for our village and wider community.  We value all our stakeholders and welcome families of all faiths, fostering respect and understanding through learning about diverse cultures and beliefs.  Our close relationship with our church family enriches school life, with regular visits and shared activities that strengthen our sense of belonging.

Our children come from Ruswarp and beyond, including Whitby, Sneaton, Sleights, and Goldsborough, starting their educational journey in our Nursery or Reception (Learners Class).  We celebrate the diversity of their backgrounds and experiences, knowing this enriches our school community.

We are a close-knit school family where independent thinking and compassionate action guide everything we do.  We nurture each child to develop their own voice, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and confidence, while fostering a deep sense of kindness and responsibility towards others.

Our spacious grounds provide an exceptional setting for learning and play, featuring a large playing field, playground, wildlife gardens, and dedicated forest school areas. The beautiful North Yorkshire coastline and nearby national park offer unique opportunities for outdoor learning, which we integrate fully into our curriculum to inspire curiosity and respect for the natural world.

We warmly invite prospective parents and community members to visit Ruswarp School. Our Year Six pupils would be delighted to give you a tour of our welcoming school and grounds.  Please contact our school office to arrange a convenient time.

If you have any questions or need information not found on our website—or would prefer a paper copy—our friendly office team is always happy to help.

We have a very active social media account which celebrates some of the highlights of our provision:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ruswarpcofeschool/

and vibrant weekly newsletters which are published here:  Newsletters.

Thank you for considering Ruswarp as the next step in your child’s educational journey. We warmly invite you to join our school family, where your child’s unique potential will be celebrated and their journey of thinking for themselves and acting for others will be cherished.

Best wishes, 

Mrs Helen Isaac, Headteacher