LESSONS at Kildwick Primary School have a new ring to them.

Bell casting has been added to the skills learned by pupils.

Members of the school's bell ringing club – the Kildwick Mini Ringers – have casted bells using ancient, traditional methods.

"The aim of the exercise was to both learn about the methods used and produce a lasting memento of the club's first year," said headteacher, Tim Whitehead.

First the pupils produced a mould, using a mixture of fireclay, fine sand, horse hair and horse manure – whose organic qualities help bind the materials together and prevent cracking.

The shape is obtained through a strickle – a metal profile of the required bell.

Molten metal is poured into a bell-shaped gap, created when two halves are joined.

"Breaking the casting from the mould was the exciting bit – but it had to be cooled first!" added Mr Whitehead.

The Mini Ringers, led by Chris Wright, have enjoyed a successful first year.

They competed at Skipton Music Festival, winning their category.

Meanwhile, children in class four have taken part in weekly geology workshops and staged an end-of-term exhibition.

The sessions were led by Mike Windle, from the North Yorkshire Geological Trust.

The class also visited Robin Hood's Bay, with parent and artist Denisa Francis, to look for fossils and create landscape art in the style of Andy Goldsworthy.

The project was part-funded by an Awards for All lottery grant.

Mr Whitehead said: "The sessions were designed to help the children develop their enquiry and investigative skills, which can then be applied to all their future learning.

"Parents have commented on their children's enthusiasm for learning about history by examining rocks and fossils."

The closing weeks of term at Kildwick also included a successful sports day, which had twice previously been postponed due to bad weather.

Youngsters competed in various events, including traditional sack and egg-and-spoon races, and were awarded stickers for their achievements.

There was a good attendance of parents, grandparents and other visitors.

The venture was supported by the PTA, which supplied refreshments to raise funds for the school.

And there was an end-of-term farewell assembly for Babsey and Graham Cooper, who have stepped down from managing the before-and-after-school club.

They were presented with gifts and cards.

Babsey showed the children some bunting she had produced over the years from their pictures, and she calculated she had made 34,561 pieces of toast over the past 16 years!