THE first thing that hits you about Upton Cross Primary School is the playground. Decorated with a bright range of colours, benches and even willow trees, the area is very hard to miss.

The playground is being developed following discussions. A total of £6,000 has been raised for playground equipment and any money the school's PTA raises this year will also go towards the area.

Headteacher Laura Galvin, who has been in the position for a year, points out that the school doesn't just use the playground for fun, but also as an environment for the children's learning.

As a recognised 'Healthy School', games and markings are used to give pupils a ten-minute burst of energy during their breaks throughout the day on a marking called 'The Heart Line'. This includes activities with beanbags and skipping.

Upton Cross was opened in 1878, after being planned by the Linkinhorne School Board. First headmaster was Richard Veall, headmaster of the British school at Rilla Mill.

Now with a pupil list which has grown from 69 to 88 in the past year, the school is looking to the future.

With only three main classes and four teachers at present (Laura, Jackie Wray, Nes Fradgley and Bev Etherington), current demand for space means that the staff and governors are looking for more creative use of space within the building to possibly expand to four classes.

Rilla Mill pre-school also meet at Upton Cross every Tuesday.

They are hoping for approval for a purpose built pre-school building on the school site which will strengthen the links with the school.

The school is also helped by a group of support staff who Laura describes as a 'very loyal and dedicated team'.

Most of the decisions at the school are a team effort with every pupil involved in a whole school council meeting each month in the main hall.

Laura sits down with the children and talks through current topics pupils raised by them. Children take the minutes, set the agenda and help chair the meetings.

Points for action are agreed and the minutes are then distributed around the school and shared with parents and governors.

Pupils are currently part of a buddy system, which sees older pupils helping their younger friends. A group of year five and six children have developed a 'Playground Squad', and are teaching games to friends and other pupils, who are then encouraged to pass on the games to others.

At the back of the school building, Upton Cross has the benefit of having a large field (which includes a football pitch and a cricket pitch) and a wild area, where children can start to