KNIT’S the most wonderful time of the year for staff and students from a family of North-East schools.

Schools from across the Advance Learning Partnership (ALP) embraced the Christmas spirit by taking part in Save The Children’s Jolly Jumper Day today.

The big-hearted educational trust is a keen supporter of the charity event every Christmas, and jolly jumpers were out in force today.

The ALP schools supporting Save The Children today were: Moorside Primary, at Consett; Greenfield Academy, at Newton Aycliffe; Whitworth Park Academy, Spennymoor; Bishop Barrington Academy, at Bishop Auckland; Skerne Park Primary, in Darlington; and New Brancepeth, in Durham.

Other ALP schools have plans in place to wear jolly jumpers on other days in the run up to Christmas. They include Dene Academy, in Peterlee; Wolsingham School; Staindrop Academy; Hartside Primary, at Crook; Middlestone Moor Primary; Parkside Academy, at Willington; and Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington.

Those schools will again be raising money for Save The Children as well as other chosen charities. For example, Dene Academy is supporting Friends of Dene, and Wolsingham School’s efforts are in aid of Stray Aid.

Antony Bibby, Assistant Head Teacher at Bishop Barrington Academy, said: “The aim is to help children who are more vulnerable than most, and ensure they have an uplifting Christmas.

“One of our school values is ‘respect’ and we teach the students to not only respect themselves but others too. Jolly Jumper Day is a lovely chance to put that into action, with lots of students and staff entering into the spirit of the day, as well as donating online.”

Students at Bishop Barrington Academy earn positive behaviour points and they were able to donate them in return for the school making a charitable donation, with each point worth a penny.

ALP Chief Executive Kelvin Simpson said: “We encourage all our family of schools to think about others, and it’s a joy to see so many students and staff taking part in Jolly Jumper Day – not only raising money for good causes but thinking of others less fortunate than themselves.”