Some Reviews
You can see reviews on some of our award sites, linked from the Front Pages.
We've collected a few here -
In October 2000, Research Machines EduWeb said -
"Who's this week's winner?
"Holmston Primary School. Take a look for yourself at
http://www.hz06.dial.pipex.com/holmston.htm
"Why did they win?
"Holmston Primary School certainly believes in keeping their
readers up-to-date with school events. The online newsletter on
its website is updated every fortnight, to give dates for the
diary and report on events the children have recently been
involved in.
"The school, in Ayr, Scotland, is currently celebrating its
175th year. They are holding a number of events to celebrate
both this and the Millennium, which can be seen in their
2000/175 News section. There has been a competition to
design the Holmston School Tartan; and a Scottish Country
Dance teacher, along with senior pupils, has developed
the Holmston Jig, a dance which the school will use in
future years.
"The Life Outside Holmston section is regularly updated
with details of school trips and events away from the school.
These include a visit to the Kirkcudbright Wildlife Park,
where the pupils saw a surprise baby llama! There was also
a trip to the Viking Festival at Largs where Norwegians
and Scots come in costume every year, to commemorate the
famous Scottish victory over the Vikings at Largs in 1264.
Here you may be surprised to find out why the humble thistle
is the emblem of Scotland!
"The school has an interesting history, and a regular
feature of the site are the History pages. They tell
us that until 1930, the school was known as Smith's
Institution, after Captain John Smith, a local mariner.
He bequeathed £2000 to start a school for the poor,
and Smith's Institution opened in 1825. The Holmston
Time Machine section features accounts from former pupils
about how life used to be at the school throughout the 20th
century. In particular, former pupil Jim Fairlie,
who was at the school between 1935 and 1941, contributes
some fascinating stories about soldiers, bombs and evacuees.
"Congratulations to Holmston Primary School - it's good
to see a regularly updated and interesting site which
benefits the whole school community."
Also in October 2000, Wendy McClung sent us e-mail from Baxter EduNet in Toronto -
"Congratulations, I have reviewed your site and am pleased to offer you
the EduNET Choice Award for providing and maintaining valuable educational
content..."
In November 2000, Education 2000 said -
"A well written website produced by two of the school's
parents.
There is no mystery about who is writing or doing things and how
the site is being financed (with difficulty). But the content
is lively, with an outward-looking approach. Appropriately, in
the school's 175th year, there is an interesting history of the
school. There is also much about and from former pupils. We
enjoyed our visit to this distinctive website."
In December 2000, Perenne Rice sent us e-mail from the US SchoolZone site -
"Dear Alan,
"What a wonderful school site. I
thoroughly enjoyed browsing around.
"You have good navigation and great content. Congratulations on earning a
School Zone School Site Award!
Best regards,
Perenne Rice"
In October 1999, we got the "Teacher's Corner" web-site Award of Excellence for Education Web Sites.
In April 2000, we received Southwold School's Educational Website Excellence Award.
In May 2000, Snow Rogers School in Alabama awarded us their A+ Excellence Award.
In May 2001, Phil Collie of Schoolzone UK wrote -
As you may know, Schoolzone links to your site, Ayr Holmston
Primary, 175th Anniversary Pages... it has been chosen by our team of 400 UK teachers in recognition of the fact
that it is a useful and suitable education resource.
In November 2000, the US Teacher Plus Directory added
us to their listing.
In October 2001, Gigglepotz.com, an educational supply company
in Daly City, California, gave us their Site of the Week Award.
In September 2001, TheSchoolPage.Com, a division of PDRS Computer Systems in Glassboro, New Jersey,
wrote -
"Hello from The School Page,
"The team responsible for awarding the School Page’s Web
Site Excellence Award wants to let you know that your site has
been chosen as a recipient. This means that your web site has
been found to be among the best on the web.
"The selection criteria we used were:
1. The major focus for the site is education.
2. The audience is either teachers or students, at any age level.
3. The site is content oriented.
4. It is a non-commercial site.
5. It is visually appealing and interactive.
6. It is "Kid-Safe".
7. It exhibits that "something extra".
... Congratulations and keep up the good work!"
In February 2001, Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky added us to their
list of "School Voices" as a "great school web site".
We're also approved for listing in international children's directories such as yahooligans.com - we're in their UK Primary Schools
listing and their
Scottish Education
listing.