--- title: "St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Barnard Castle Promotes Water Safety with Community Officers" url: "https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/news/2026-06-23-st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-in-barnard-castle-promotes-water-safety-with-community-" school: "St. Mary's Catholic Primary School" --- Admissions Consultation BHCET schools in County Durham [Click Here](https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/governance/admissions-consultation) **Tel:** 01833 637029 **Email:** office@stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk # St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Barnard Castle Promotes Water Safety with Community Officers ![Water safety lesson](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-rc-primary-2/images/news/724894386_1023897183480033_4906771749164507525_n.jpg) 23 June 2026 Situated in the riverside town of Barnard Castle, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School has been helping pupils prepare for the summer holidays by hosting an important water safety session with local community police and fire officers. ## Learning Vital Water Safety Skills Near the River With the school’s location close to a river in Barnard Castle, water safety is a key priority for both staff and families. During the visit, Year 5 and Year 6 pupils took part in practical discussions designed to help them stay safe when spending time near water. The session covered: - The risks linked to rivers and open water - Safe behaviours when near water - What to do in an emergency This learning is especially important as the summer holidays approach, giving both the school and parents greater confidence that children understand how to keep themselves safe. ## Strong Engagement from Pupils Mrs Lewandowski praised the pupils for their excellent attitude throughout the session. She highlighted: - High levels of engagement - Thoughtful and carefully considered questions - A genuine interest in learning about safety Their enthusiasm helped make the visit both informative and impactful. ## Reinforcing Positive Behaviour Expectations Alongside water safety, pupils also revisited their understanding of anti-social behaviour. They demonstrated that they could: - Clearly describe expected behaviour within the community - Identify actions that are unacceptable and should not be tolerated This important discussion supported the school’s wider focus on respect, responsibility, and community awareness. ## Building Strong Community Links in Barnard Castle The visit also strengthened valuable links between the school and local emergency services in Barnard Castle. Staff and pupils expressed their gratitude to the community officers for giving their time and sharing their expertise. --- ### About St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Barnard Castle St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom. Through strong community partnerships and meaningful experiences, the school ensures children develop the knowledge, confidence, and awareness needed to stay safe and make positive choices. --- As the summer holidays draw closer, this session serves as a timely reminder of the importance of water safety, particularly for children growing up in a riverside community. [Enrichment](https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/news/tag/enrichment) [ Inspiring Futures at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Barnard Castle: Mini Police Visit Sparks Big Ambitions](https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/news/2026-06-08-inspiring-futures-at-st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-in-barnard-castle-mini-police-visi) [St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Pupils Thrive at Lockerbie Manor Residential ](https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/news/2026-06-29-st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-pupils-thrive-at-lockerbie-manor-residential) ![St. Mary's Catholic Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-rc-primary-2/images/logo/Bishop_Hogarth_and_Hexham_Logo_new_(1).png) ### St. Mary's Catholic Primary School Birch Road Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 8JR 01833 637029 - [Online Payments](https://www.mychildatschool.com/MCAS/MCSParentLogin) - [Teams FAQs](https://bhcet.org.uk/information/teams-faqs/) - [Office 365](https://outlook.office365.com/carmel.org.uk) - [Remote Access](https://remote.carmel.org.uk/) - [Liturgy](https://liturgy.bhcet.org.uk/) ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/StMarysPrimaryBarnardCastle/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/stmarys_barnardcastle/) ### Translation ### Office 365 [Sign in to Office 365](https://outlook.office.com/) © Copyright 2025–2026 St. Mary's Catholic Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://stmarysbc.bhcet.org.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)