Sheringham school celebrates

One of Norfolk's biggest primary schools is celebrating being praised as “outstanding” by inspectors.

Sheringham Primary has earned grade one top marks for all eight areas judged by an Ofsted team last month.

The 584-pupil school was outstanding thanks to an interesting curriculum, lively teaching which made learning relevant and fun, exemplary behaviour, and superb leadership from head Dominic Cragoe.

Lead inspector Godfrey Bancroft quotes a parent who said: “We could not have asked for a better start to our daughter's education.”

Pupils achieved “exceptionally well”, entering the nursery with lower-than-expected standards and leaving in Year Six well above average.

It was based on very effective teaching and learning and an outstanding curriculum which created meaningful links between subjects, with flexibility in the timetable to allow pupils to study topics in depth.

The school had made major improvements in computer technology where standards were exceptionally high.

Pupils were confident, respectful and proud of their school, which one said was “one big family”. They also learned citizenship through duties as librarians, school council members and prefects

Head Mr Cragoe said: "This is a quite stunning report which is a real tribute to our wonderful children, our incredibly hard-working staff, the supportive governors and brilliant parents,” but added “we still have things to work on and we will really strive to make the school even better.”

Sheringham was lucky to have the three “fantastic” schools - the high, primary and Woodfields special school.

“Often in the Press Norfolk is portrayed negatively against the national picture and against our neighbours in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Hopefully, this report redresses the balance a bit and demonstrates that Sheringham schools and a great many others across Norfolk are every bit as good as the best," he said.