A village school is celebrating after Ofsted inspectors suggested they were moving towards an ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Kedington Primary Academy underwent an ungraded (Section 8) inspection from Ofsted in July – and retained its Good status achieved in March 2019.

But as part of the report, inspectors said: “The evidence gathered suggests that the

inspection grade might be outstanding if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out

now.”

The recent report paid tribute to pupils’ behaviour, describing it as “exemplary”, and said pupils “delight in coming to school”.

It added: “Classrooms are awash with learning because pupils have highly positive attitudes toward their work. Classrooms are vibrant, happy places.

“While pupils have much fun and laughter with their friends, they know that when play stops and work starts, they are expected to concentrate and try their best. This is exactly what they do. Adults expect much of pupils, and pupils live up to these expectations.”

Executive headteacher, Vicky Doherty, and head of school, Hayley Ahlquist, said they were pleased that the report represented what they see on a daily basis.

They said: “We were delighted to receive a Good rating and the suggestion that Kedington Primary School could achieve ‘Outstanding’ just motivates the staff even more to keep enhancing the education we provide to our children.

“This report is testimony to all the hard work of staff, students, families and our school community and we thank them all.

“It perfectly highlighted our school offer, not just the academic success but also the nurturing and enriching opportunities we give to children.”

Inspectors paid tribute to the fact a “culture of respect flows through the school” and the opportunities offered to pupils – including pupils running lunchtime clubs and the ‘Kedington 50’ which offers pupil 50 different enrichment opportunities.

The report added: “Pupils across the school learn exceptionally well. They develop deep and detailed knowledge across the curriculum.

“The school ensures that pupils learn to read extremely well. The youngest pupils build strong foundations in their phonic knowledge because adults are expert in teaching reading.

“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve exceptionally well.”

Other areas of praise was the caring and nurturing environment for children in Reception class and the fact staff were highly valued by the school with a range of training and development opportunities offered.

Tim Coulson, chief executive of Unity Schools Partnership of which Kedington is a member, said: “Not only is the trust delighted at the acknowledgment of success at Kedington Primary Academy, we are very proud that this is happening at the same time as the school is working closely with Steeple Bumpstead Primary.

“The two schools have a shared leadership structure with Vicky Doherty leading both schools and this is paying dividend at both Kedington and Steeple.”

An ungraded (Section 8) inspection from Ofsted is a routine inspection carried out at schools that have been given a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rating.

A huge congratulations to every GCSE student who picked up their results today.

We would also like to praise all our school staff members for their support, hard work and commitment.

Breckland School said they were thrilled with the performance of students picking up their GCSE results.
Annabelle Culley-Tea, Head of School, said: “All of our students have worked incredibly hard to secure the platform for their future successes and we are looking forward to hearing of their bright and exciting futures.
“These results reaffirm the school’s commitment to ensuring that the school continues to be one which the town of Brandon and surrounding villages can be proud of.
“The school thanks the staff, families and the wider community for their support of the cohort of 2024.”

Castle Manor Academy are celebrating with Year 11 as they collect their GCSE results this morning.

The Class of 2024 achieved excellent results and were praised for showing real resilience and working incredibly hard.

Headline figures at Castle Manor are once again strong, with 56% of students gaining grades 4+ in English and Maths.

Headteacher Vanessa Whitcombe said: ‘The students should be so proud of their results. “Our congratulations go to all of them, along with best wishes for their next steps.

“They have been expertly supported by teachers and support staff and of course parents, and I would like to thank everyone involved in helping our students to reach their goals.”

70% of the 187 students taking GCSEs at County High School achieved a Grade 4 in English and Maths with 45% achieving a strong pass in those subjects.

Sally Kennedy, headteacher at County High School, said: “I am very proud of our students who have worked hard in their studies as well as contributing so positively to school life and the positive community of our school. They have demonstrated our school values of ambition and determination in their examinations.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who worked so hard to support every student achieve their potential and we wish all our alumnae the very best in their next steps.”

GCSE and Level 2 BTEC students at Felixstowe School have been praised for showing remarkable determination and resilience throughout the last few challenging years.

The school paid tribute to the achievements of students picking up their results with many choosing to stay on at the school for sixth form.

Headteacher Emma Wilson-Downes said: “This year, our students have been incredible in rising to the challenges they have been presented with.

“The work ethic they have built and continually demonstrated will serve them well in future, and the grit and determination they have shown throughout has been nothing short of inspirational.

“We are delighted in particular with the success in our Modern Foreign Languages department, where we have seen spectacular results in French.

“We are also delighted with outcomes in Triple Science, which echoes the successes seen in the sixth form science outcomes this year.

“This year, we are thrilled that so many of our year 11 students have chosen us as their further education provider and we know they will continue to impress us as they enter the sixth form and embark on their Level 3 journey with either A Levels or vocational qualifications.”

The headteacher of Newmarket Academy has praised the hard work of students and staff following the recent GCSE results.

Headteacher Martin Witter said: “We would like to congratulate all our fantastic Year 11 students who have received their GCSE results. 

“We are delighted with the results from our students this year and we would like to pay tribute and thank all the young people, their families and all the staff at Newmarket Academy for all of their hard work over the years.  

“We are sure our students will go on and do fantastic things and we look forward to seeing and celebrating their future achievements.”

More than 220 students from Samuel Ward Academy in Haverhill collected their GCSE results.

The school has paid tribute to students after 65% achieved Grade 4 or higher in both English and maths. 

Dr Kev Geall, Head of School, said: “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to see so many students delighted that their hard work has paid off. 

“I congratulate them, the staff who have worked so hard to guide them and the families who have supported them. The future is bright for this cohort of great young people.”

St Edward’s Academy was thrilled to announce another year of exceptional GCSE results – a testament to the hard work and dedication of both students and staff.

The school said they were immensely proud of the remarkable achievements across the board, with many students attaining the highest grades and setting a new benchmark for excellence at the school.

Jodie Hassan, Executive Headteacher of St Edward’s Academy, expressed her pride in the students’ accomplishments: “I am incredibly proud of all our students for their tremendous effort and commitment, which have led to these fantastic results.

“Their hard work, coupled with the unwavering support from our dedicated staff, has truly paid off. These results are a reflection of the resilience and determination our students have shown, and I couldn’t be more pleased with their success.

“This is an exciting time for St Edward’s Academy as we continue to innovate and invest in our students’ futures.

“Starting in September 2024, every student in our Sixth Form will receive an iPad as we transition to becoming an Apple School. We are confident that this advanced technology will not only enhance the learning experience but also help drive further academic success – making St Edward’s Sixth Form an institution of choice for students across East London.”

Students at Sybil Andrews Academy have been praised after achieving the school’s best ever set of results in non-Covid times.

Grade 5 figures for English and maths at the Bury St Edmunds school increased by 10% to 50% while the Grade 4 percentage for English and Maths increased by 9% to 71%.

Almost one fifth of pupils in the year group also averaged a Grade 7 or above. 

Kevin Blakey, Executive Headteacher, said: “I would like to say well done to all pupils and staff for their hard work and to Sybil Andrews parents for their support.

“This set of results validates the good judgement received from Ofsted. We are also confident that we are on an excellent trajectory for GCSE results over the coming years.” 

Joe Pointon, Head of School, added: “We know that some pupils have overcome significant personal challenges in their preparation for these qualifications and we are delighted that their perseverance and resilience have been rewarded.”

After 74% of pupils at Thomas Gainsborough School achieved a Grade 4+ in English and maths, Helen Yapp, headteacher at Thomas Gainsborough School, said: “We are delighted by our GCSE results this year.

“They are a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the students and the staff. This cohort have risen to the challenges they have faced during their secondary education, and we look forward to their continued success as they start their A-level and college courses.”

Post-16 students across Unity Schools Partnership have today been celebrating following the publication of their Level 3 results.

Praising their hard work and commitment, Tim Coulson, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “Today is a day of pride and celebration.

“It is our privilege as educators to watch young people develop and mature and we look with pride on what they have become.

“We celebrate their successes and wish them well in the next stage of their education and lives. We are proud too to have staff with the skill and dedication that has helped young people achieve all we can see today has come to fruition.”

*****

The final sixth form cohort at County High School in Bury St Edmunds have graduated on a high with 41.5% of grades being awarded an A or A* and 64% A*-B. 

Headteacher Sally Kennedy said: “We are very proud of our sixth form students who have all worked very hard and supported each other to fulfil their potential. 

“We know the personal challenges some of our students have faced and we are very proud of the resilience and determination they have demonstrated over the past two years. 

“We wish them the very best as they move onto their next adventure and look forward to them returning to inspire the next generations of students at County High School.”

Despite the challenging circumstances of the past few years, and the return to pre-pandemic grading, Felixstowe School students are celebrating their recent Level 3 qualifications, which show strongly improving headline figures on last year, particularly in the numbers of students achieving the top grades.

Headteacher Emma Wilson-Downes said: “The students at Felixstowe School can be rightly proud of their achievements, and proud of being Felixstownians, Alumni of Felixstowe School Sixth Form.

“The support and kindness they have shown to each other, alongside the work ethic they have built and continually demonstrated, will be a huge asset to them in their future careers.

“It is a great testament to their continued high aspirations that 60% of this year group will be going on to study at University, the highest proportion the school has seen move on to Higher Education.

“We are so proud to call them our alumni, and look forward to hearing the great things that they go on to achieve in the future.”

Students at Haverhill Community Sixth Form are celebrating after picking up their Level 3 qualifications – with many achieving their first choice of university and apprenticeships.

The sixth form’s vocational results were also the best in their history.

Pete Wilson, Head of Haverhill Community Sixth Form, said: “I congratulate students and staff on all the hard work that has gone into achieving these results.  

“I’m pleased that so many of our students are moving on to their first choice of university, apprenticeship or employment.” 

A-level students at St Edward’s Academy in Romford have been praised for the “hard work and dedication” shown over the last two years.

School leaders said the results announced today reflected the tremendous effort and potential of all students.

Executive headteacher, Jodie Hassan, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students and the results they have achieved this year.

“Their hard work and determination and their lovely positivity and demeanour makes this a standout year group.

“Our students’ successes are a testament to the support from our dedicated staff and the vibrant learning community here at St Edward’s Academy.”

A-level students at Thomas Gainsborough School have been praised after 99% received an A to E grade and 81% achieving A to C’s.

Both figures were a rise on the last set of pre-Covid grades and headteacher Helen Yapp praised the commitment of students sitting exams this year.

She said: “We are very proud of the hard work, determination and resilience shown by our A-level students.
“The results are particularly pleasing when compared to the 2019 results and when we take into account the disruption to learning during their GCSEs.”

Unity Day 2024 was our biggest and best staff development day yet with more than 1,500 people joining us at Thomas Gainsborough School.

We welcomed some amazing keynote speakers, session leaders, exhibitors and wonderful staff from across our schools and Trust.

We would like to thank everyone who supported and attended the day.

You can relive Unity Day 2024 in this special video…

Staff and students at Felixstowe School are celebrating after achieving a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating – the first one in its history.

The school achieved a ‘Good’ rating in every category with students described as “happy, safe and cared for” following the inspection last month.

Headteacher Emma Wilson-Downes said: “As a school, we are delighted with the outcome of the inspection where the overall effectiveness of Felixstowe School was seen to be good.

“In all five areas, the school was judged to be good, including in our Sixth Form, which was particularly praised for its nurturing atmosphere and excellent support.

“Personal development was also highly praised, with students in receipt of a well-planned programme of study and careers education throughout the school.

“We are excited to continue our work to ensure that we continue to drive all areas further over the next months and years to come.”

Felixstowe School, which is run by Unity Schools Partnership, was previously graded as ‘requires improvement’ by the education watchdog in 2021.

The latest full inspection said pupils enjoy an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum, which means they are well placed for a range of future study or career options.

This includes in the sixth form, where students benefit from the strong subject knowledge of teachers, and teaching that focuses on individual needs.

Inspectors commented that sixth form students are consistently positive in their behaviour and attitude and are highly supportive of one another.

The curriculum also came in for praise for how it supports students with special educational needs.

Students themselves were also praised for their behaviour and their high expectations for both future achievements and making a positive contribution to society.

Tim Coulson, Chief Executive of Unity Schools Partnership, said: “Families in Felixstowe for too long did not have a secondary school graded ‘good’ in their town.

“We are proud to be associated with staff that now provide the education children should receive.”

The inspection report said the trust has provided highly effective support to the school, including adding capacity in terms of leadership which has helped to accelerate the pace of improvement.

The school was also recognised for the consideration it gives to staff wellbeing when making decisions and this has resulted in the school attracting and retaining great teachers.

We all know the importance of reading.

It can open up a world of new ideas, stories and opportunities. It can broaden horizons and education and increase development and communication and social skills.

Promoting a love for reading at a young age can help children become readers for life – something that should never be underestimated.

We might know all the benefits. But that doesn’t stop worrying statistics from the National Literacy Trust.

Did you know that only one in two children and young people said they enjoy reading or that one in 15 children and young people aged eight to 18 do not have a book of their own at home?

At Unity Schools Partnership, we place literacy among our top priorities as we know there is a clear correlation between promoting a love of reading at a young age and success as you go through education and then post-education employability skills.

Of course, it is easy to write this in a newspaper column.

But our schools are also constantly putting this into practice, as seen by a number of examples recently (photos above).

One senior staff member at Tollgate Primary School in Bury St Edmunds recently instigated a literacy fundraiser that encouraged pupils to become ‘book millionaires’.

They wanted pupils to read for 10,000,000 seconds over a month and also turned the event into a sponsored one to raise money for more school reading books.

Even better, they encouraged staff members, governors and families to take part in pursuit of the grand total – something that was impressively surpassed before the month was out.

It was a great way to engender a love of reading and also promote reading in both the classroom and at home.

In keeping with one of the key aspects of our trust – supporting each other – one primary school has seen such a surge in reading among pupils that they have imparted lessons learned to other schools within our Trust.

And just last week, County High School in Bury held a Book Mastermind and invited six feeder primary schools, in and out of the Trust, to compete in an event that I know impressed all.

I’m also reminded of one of our headteachers who spends his lunchtime reading with a few younger pupils who perhaps need that extra support.

It is about going the extra mile to ensure our young minds have a love of learning that helps them for the rest of their lives.

By Tim Coulson, Chief Executive, Unity Schools Partnership

A brand new Norfolk primary school has begun the search for its first ever headteacher.

Silfield Primary Academy, near Wymondham, is due to open in September 2025 and will have an expected capacity of 420 pupils once full.

Alongside recruiting a new headteacher, which is now being advertised, the building tender for the school has also gone out with work expected to start on site in late July.

It will be run by Unity Schools Partnership which currently has 35 primary, secondary and special schools and will increase this to include seven schools across Norfolk by the end of the year.

Tim Coulson, chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be opening a new primary school for the growing community of Silfield and we can’t wait to recruit a headteacher who shares this excitement.

“As with all our family of schools, we will provide a highly ambitious curriculum and use the experience and knowledge of opening five previous new schools to ensure Silfield Primary School is a school of choice.

“We look forward to working with other local schools and Norfolk County Council to ensure the area is a beacon for education.”

The new school will benefit from the highly respected and evidence-led CUSP Curriculum, designed by Unity and used by more than 450 schools across the country.

Unity Schools Partnership currently runs three Norfolk-based schools – Robert Kett Primary in Wymondham and Colman Infant and Colman Junior schools in Eaton – and is due to lead a new special school being built in Great Yarmouth.

Later this year, it will also add Heartsease Primary Academy, Lingwood Primary Academy, Valley Primary Academy and Henderson Green Primary Academy after the HEART Education Trust was granted permission to join the Unity Schools Partnership.

It is envisaged that the new headteacher would start in January with parent and community consultations also planned.

When asked what makes a great school, I always answer that we want it all for our children – high standards, great joy and every opportunity. A holistic approach is the secret.

Therefore, we strive to ensure so much good work goes on – in and outside the classroom. This is never more true than when we start exam season and, often at the same time, the sun shines bright on our corner of the world and staff and pupils are able to enjoy the great outdoors.

I write this just days before students prepare to begin their GCSE examinations. It is always an important time in any child’s education, but I know every effort has been made to ensure they are ready, both in terms of their learning and also their preparation.

It can be a stressful time, but talking to peers, family members and school staff can help, as well as planning breaks in between revision.

I wish everyone starting their GCSEs and A-level examinations all the very best and know that their hard work will be rewarded.

Alongside this, we want to give as many opportunities as possible to take learning outside – something that should never be underestimated.

Over the Easter holidays, Unity Schools Partnership were delighted to fund two new outdoor learning spaces for the youngest children at Steeple Bumpstead Primary School and West Row Primary Academy.

Both areas were in desperate need of work and the difference a new outdoor space has made to both schools is fantastic to see.

One staff member said: “Our new learning environment is engaging, enabling, stimulating and challenging. There are opportunities for turn-taking, risk-taking, communication and resilience and plenty of scope for investigation and enquiry.”

It is a fantastic explanation as to why these areas are so important for all pupils, and in this case, those in early years.

For anyone living and working in Suffolk, there was a rather big celebration across the county over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Whether you enjoy football or not, regardless of who you may support, we have all been Ipswich Town supporters over the last few days. The whole of Suffolk should enjoy being associated with a club that has defied the odds to win back-to-back promotions and now prepare for life in the Premier League of English football.

And even if you don’t like football, it is still a fantastic achievement which will give such a boost across all areas of Suffolk.

It was a triumph of teamwork, leadership, the whole being greater than the sum and for everyone pulling in the same direction.

It is a great lesson for us all and I would like to congratulate everyone involved in Ipswich Town.

The newly-appointed nursery manager of a brand new childcare facility in Haverhill has spoken of her excitement about the new role. 

Unity Stars will open in June and will be headed by Karen Thompson, who has 17 years experience in early years provision.

While the building is on the grounds of Coupals Primary Academy, the nursery will be open to all families from Haverhill and surrounding areas.

Karen said: “We want to build something the whole town can be proud of.

“I have always been hugely passionate about childcare and the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young children. 

“I am excited about the challenge of starting a nursery from scratch and offering the best possible childcare.

“Haverhill remains a growing town and I think more childcare provision is great news for the whole community.”

Karen was formerly manager of Linton Granta Preschool, which achieved an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted grade and deputy manager of Castle Fields Preschool in Haverhill. 

Having lived in the town for more than 20 years, Karen has also been a parent governor, a Haverhill Show committee member and a volunteer for Reach.

The nursery will be run by Unity Education, an arm of Unity Schools Partnership. 

Unity Stars will offer provision for children aged 0-3 years, between 7.30am to 6pm, 51 weeks of the year. 

Anyone who would like to know more about childcare places or working at Unity Stars should email info@unitystars.org.uk. 

Construction has officially begun at Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds to create a new SEND unit for 18 pupils.

Representatives from the school, Suffolk County Council, Unity Schools Partnership, Concertus and Barnes Construction gathered on-site to celebrate the start of work of ‘The Abbey’ – which is part of the county council’s £55million investment into creating more than 1,000 new SEND placements across the county.

Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Suffolk County Council, said: “It is always an exciting milestone for any school when the first spade goes into the ground. This unit will make a significant difference to SEND families in the community and will be a great asset to the school. We set out in 2019 to provide more than a thousand new specialist placements for SEND pupils across the county, with around 741 new places already created and another 84 to be ready by September. This investment of £55million continues to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Joe Pointon, head of school at Sybil Andrews Academy, added: “We are delighted that building work has started on The Abbey, which is a cognition and learning Unit for pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4. The plans show that the unit will have bright and airy classrooms, an outdoor learning area and break-out spaces. Once it is completed, the unit will provide a broad curriculum which will prepare the pupils for life beyond school. We can’t wait to see the new building develop over the next few months and we look forward to welcoming our first pupils in September.”

The final phase of Sybil Andrews Academy was completed back in Summer 2020 and now the original design and property consultants and main contractor who delivered these works four years ago, have returned to create a new single-storey SEND unit.

New grass and asphalt areas will be created with external canopies, helping to elevate the learning environment for the children by encouraging outdoor learning. The unit location allows for new vehicular and pedestrian access to be created. Although separate access to the dedicated and discrete learning area will be provided, careful consideration went into the location of the unit to enable students to be included in mainstream school life when needed.

Steven Ryles, Associate for Concertus, said: “We are passionate about supporting Suffolk County Council in creating calming and inspiring environments to allow pupils to develop independence and self-confidence. A highly valued relationship has been created between the project team and the school over the past nine years so we are confident that the needs of the children will be met with the creation of the new unit. We are thrilled that the project has hit this fantastic milestone”.

Damien Kerry, Associate Divisional Director at Barnes Construction, said: “We are delighted to be back at Sybil Andrews Academy helping Suffolk County Council and Concertus to release this exciting new SEND facility.”