Norristhorpe Junior & Infant School

We are delighted that our former pupil, Sam Teale, has now produced 2 fabulous videos for our school. These are both available to see on this website.

One video is our main school video and the latest production is to introduce our school to our new Reception Year pupils due to start in September 2020.

Despite only being 17 Sam already has his own company, Sam Teale Productions!

Pollie was a 'Norry girl' from 2009 to 2016. She started dancing at  the Sutton School of Performing Arts when she was just 2 years old; a hobby throughout Primary School become more serious when she started as a CAPA Junior in Year 7 (Performing Arts High School in Wakefield) and is now in her second Year at CAPA College in Wakefield heading for a career in Musical Theatre. 

In 2016, at the age of 11, Pollie was selected as a child dancer with TEAM GB Tap Dance Team. Unfortunatly that year she had to turn her place down. In 2018 she successfully auditioned again;  in December she travelled to the World Championships in Germany and became a World Bronze Medallist with the Team Formation. 2019 saw her dance with Team GB again, this time as dance captain! She was successful in winning two World Gold medals with Team Formation and Junior small group.  

In 2020 Pollie was selected to solo at the World Champs!  Unfortunately, due to Covid, the World Championships in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled.

2022 saw their return in Zagreb, Croatia.  Now 17 years old, Pollie danced her way to World Solo Bronze Medallist! She also won another Bronze with her trio and Gold with Team Formation - a fantastic return to the World Stage! 

Exciting times for Pollie!

Former student Kieran left Norristhorpe in July 2024.  Kieran is a fantastic athlete and we are keeping an eye on his achievements.  He began running at a very young age, his first race was age 3.  At age 7 he ran for Kirkwood Hospice raising £200 for them.  Kieran joined Spenborough Athletics Club at age 9 and he was awarded ‘Best Male performance, Track and Field and Cross Country’.  In 2023 Kieran was the most decorated athlete at Spenborough AC.  2 Years in a row Kieran represented our school at the National Schools Cross Country Championships in Leicester and won a silver medal.Former student Kieran left Norristhorpe in July 2024.  Kieran is a fantastic athlete and we are keeping an eye on his achievements.  He began running at a very young age, his first race was age 3.  At age 7 he ran for Kirkwood Hospice raising £200 for them.  Kieran joined Spenborough Athletics Club at age 9 and he was awarded ‘Best Male performance, Track and Field and Cross Country’.  In 2023 Kieran was the most decorated athlete at Spenborough AC.  2 Years in a row Kieran represented our school at the National Schools Cross Country Championships in Leicester and won a silver medal.

Lewis a former Norristhorpe pupil, has appeared in a number of television and film productions.  His most recent work whilst a pupil with us was his appearance in The Railway Children Return.

Well done Lewis, we are proud of you and will keep an eye out for you on screen in future!

Ben a former Norristhorpe pupil, came in to school and led a Key Stage 2 assembly. He told pupils about his semi-professional boxing career. Ben is currently the Midlands lightweight champion with an unbeaten record. Ben spoke about the attributes you need to be successful and happy!

Well done Ben, we are proud of you and will follow your future with interest!

Dylan started playing rugby when he was 8 years old.  Dylan progressed through the age groups and by the age of 10 he started to play for the year above him. Once Dylan started at Spen Valley High School he helped the Year 10 team win the Yorkshire Cup final and runners up in the National school finals.
Dylan was scouted by Huddersfield Giants last year and has signed a 2 year scholarship contract with them in the hope of being offered a position in the academy when he leaves school.  

I was a pupil at Norristhorpe from 2008 - 2015. I started dancing at the age of 6 at Lauren J Dance Academy in Liversedge; I quickly realised I had a passion for dance and started to take various classes weekly. At the start of 2017, I moved to Silkstone Academy of Dance in Batley so that I could further my training and gain some more performing experience through competitions. Since April 2017, I have been successfully competing in local festivals and regional championships all over the country. In February 2020, I placed 5th at the Valentine TDCI Senior Song and Dance Championship in Sheffield. Throughout lockdown, I auditioned for and gained places at both the Northern School of Contemporary Dance CAT Scheme and Acro Dance Associates UK. After a successful audition in February 2020, I enrolled at CAPA College in the following September, where I started my vocational training in dance and performing arts. I have gone from strength to strength since then, performing in two college showcases and demonstrating in virtual workshops for schools around the country. At the start of 2022, I began my auditions for performing arts conservatoires and received two offers from my top choice universities: Performers College - Essex and Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts. After one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make, I decided to accept my offer at Wilkes Academy, where I will be training from September 2022 with some of the best performers and artists the industry has to offer. Most recently, in March 2022, I had the opportunity to perform at MOVE IT - the world’s biggest dance convention, on the Main Stage at Excel London with CAPA College after 2 rounds of auditions; this is an experience I will never forget.

Ava began cycling aged 8 and for the last 5 years she has trained 4 days a week and has competed on Saturdays and Sundays. She cycles in both Closed Circuit and Cycle Cross events.

In 2012 she was ranked 1st nationally in the Under 12's and in 2013 she was ranked 2nd. In 2014 she moved into the Youth category and was once again ranked 1st.

In 2015 she moved clubs to PH-MAS VCUK Women's Cycling Team and was ranked 1st nationally again!

Ava returned to Norry in June 2023 to do a two week placement as part of her Primary Education course at University.

November 2021 - Sam has signed a 2 year scholarship with Huddersfield Giants.

Freddie was a very accomplished table tennis player and competed in many tournaments 

February 2020

We have just received an email to school from Bradford Bulls who advised us that not just one, but two of our former pupils have "turned Pro" with Bradford Bulls this month!

Well done Jacob & Reece, Norristhorpe is very proud of you. 

We are delighted that former Norristhorpe boy, Bradley Walmsley, a member of The Brothers of Dance,  competed in the TV show "The Greatest Dancer" this year, 2020.

22/02/20- After another spectacular performance from The Brothers of Dance this weekend they were voted to be in the Semi Final next weekend with 96.2% of the audience vote.

8/2/20 - This week The Brothers of Dance danced as their given prop which was "chessboard pieces".

The judges comments were

"What I want to say is it was so awesome you were doing very technically difficult moves whilst still staying in your individual squares, while still telling a story"

"“Checkmate! You guys are so epic!”

 1/2/20 - The group were part the first of the live shows and achieved the highest ever audience score and were voted by viewers to go through to next weeks show. The group performed a routine with the theme of Peaky Blinders.

Bradley is certainly fulfilling his dream!

Bradley's ballet career started at a young age, attending dance classes at Timesteps School of Dance. At 8 years old, he successfully auditioned to become a Junior Associate with The Royal Ballet School.

From there, he has performed with The English Youth Ballet and worked alongside The Northern Ballet and The Professional Dance Experience

His first audition with Central Ballet School was back in February in Leeds; he was then chosen to attend the final round, which he attended in London. 1000's apply – it’s very competitive - ballet pupils attend from around the world. At the beginning of April '15 he found out he had been successful and moved to London that September.

Having always loved playing football, especially in goal, Cameron's first signing as a goalkeeper was with Halifax Town Centre of Excellence in 2008 where he stayed for 3 years. From there in 2011 he was scouted by Huddersfield Town Academy where he played successfully in the U14's, U15's and U16's teams.

Cameron put his football career on hold to concentrate on his "A" levels but now at Edinburgh University he is back in goal again, this time for Spartans FC, Under 20's. Spartans Under 20s are the current East of Scotland u20s League Champions. Announcing Cameron's arrival on the Spartan's website " Cameron Feather (ex England Schools and Huddersfield Youth Keeper) is available for selection as he prepares for life at University in Edinburgh.”

After winning his first senior British medal with 1500m Freestyle bronze as a 14-year old in 2010, Matthew Johnson took international competition in his stride the following season.

He won four individual golds at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabazon, Turkey then made three individual finals as the youngest British male at the World Youth Championships in Lima, Peru.

In 2012, Matthew made his European Junior Championship debut in Antwerp, winning double gold over 200m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley as well as 400m Freestyle silver.

After making a senior debut at the 2012 World Short Course Championships in Istanbul,

He returned to the European Junior stage in 2013, defending his 200m Butterfly title as well as collecting silver medals over 400m Free and 400m IM.

Matthew narrowly missed the podium at the 2014 British Gas Swimming Championships, finishing fourth over both 200m Butterfly and 400m Individual Medley.

Taken from:

http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/swimming/mens-profiles

Tom played junior rugby league for Dewsbury Moor before moving to Bradford Bulls in 2011. In 2012 he represented England Knights in the European Cup and in 2013 he played for England again in the Rugby League World Cup. 2014 saw him in the Four Nations Series.

Tom has played for Australian South Sydney Rabbitohs since 2012.

George trained with the Bradford Bulls before being signed with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2012. That year he also played in the England Knights team.

In 2013 he was named as the Daily Mail Rookie of the Year and was selected to play for England in the Rugby League World Cup. He was also honoured with the International Federations Rookie of the Year award for 2013.

2014 saw George being selected for the England national rugby team again and playing in the Four Nations series.

George continues to play for Australia's Rabbitohs team.

Danica played football for her high school team, Castle Hall School,when they were 4 year winners of the Spen Valley Schools Cup. She went on to play for Leeds City Vixens who won the Northern Combination League.

In 2010 Danica began to play for the USA college soccer team, the Lady Bobcats, when she won a scholarship to Jones County Junior College. In 2012 she was chosen to star in "Walkabout" a recruiting video  showcasing Lady Bobcats Soccer Team and the Jones County Junior College campus. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4oiH79uMjI

Danica now attends the University of Southern Mississippi and her soccer success continues as a recent match report confirms "USM's Danica Roberts notched her 12th goal in 11 games with a right footed blast that found the back post netting."

Sam ( nickname "Slammin' Sam") began his career playing rugby league with Bradford Bulls and moved in 2010 to South Sydney Rabbitohs. Sam was the first South Sydney player in 43 years to be awarded the Clive Churchil medal for Best Player in the Grand Final. He has also represented both England and Great Britain. In 2014 Sam moved back to England and switched to Rugby Union & now plays for Bath. He was selected to play for England in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

After Luke left Norristhorpe he went to Heckmondwike Grammar School. He began his rugby league career playing Prop on loan to London Harlequins followed by a spell at Leeds Rhinos. In 2008 he was the inaugural winner of the Albert Goldthorpe "Rookie of the Year" award. In 2011 Luke moved to Australia to play for South Sydney Rabbitohs and  in 2015 he moved to Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.