WHEN all else failed, Ella Carrigan still made it to lessons through thick snow – thanks to a tractor.

Staff at Bishopstone School couldn’t believe it when they saw the six-year-old hop out of the farm machine yesterday morning.

The little girl was originally going to school in the family’s Land Rover but when it struggled stepfather Dan Sharpes pulled up in the tractor instead.

Ella said: “It was great fun coming to school by tractor.”

Headteacher Sue Walton, who lives in Bishopstone, was impressed by Ella’s enthusiasm in getting there.

She said: “It was a fantastic sight seeing Ella turn up in the tractor. Everyone is being quite resourceful in how they get to school.

“It is my duty to keep the school open if at all possible.”

The school has put up a sign with the message ‘business as usual.’ But Sue’s determination was not welcomed by everyone – with a few disappointed moans from children that the school was open.

Twenty-three children out of 39 managed to get to the primary in the village yesterday by foot.

A snowman building competition was organised so they did not miss out on fun had by thousands of other children whose schools were shut.

“It is a very jolly atmosphere,” said admin officer Sue Tremlin.

“The children have been very excited that they have been allowed out.”

Letters were sent out to assure parents that the primary would not shut.

The head reorganised the lessons around the winter conditions.

“We have used it as an opportunity to do teamwork,” she said. The older children have been supervising the younger ones. We had a lovely day.”

Electricity and heating was still working so the head said there was no reason to deny children lessons.

Teaching assistant Debbie Sherwood, who doesn’t live in Bishopstone, has even been staying in the village so she can get to work.