West Norfolk primary praised for inclusivity and ambition

Heacham Primary School offers ambitious and well-considered curriculum.

Pupils at a West Norfolk school thrive in the inclusive, welcoming environment where expectations are high and wider development is a priority.

A recent Ofsted inspection at Heacham Junior School praises it for its ‘ambitious and well considered curriculum’ and says children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included in all aspects of school life.

“The provision for pupils with SEND is a considerable strength of the school. It has ensured that staff are well trained to identify and support pupils with a wide range of needs. Successful adaptations to learning tasks are made. These mean pupils with SEND access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers,” it says.

The report concludes that the school has maintained the standards identified at the previous inspection (May 2019), which resulted in an award of Good for overall effectiveness.

A member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, the school has 100 pupils on its roll aged from seven to 11, and Louise Jackson is the Executive Headteacher.

“The entire school community is delighted that the Ofsted report highlights so many positive aspects of life at Heacham Junior School. We aim to enthuse our pupils about their learning and deliver a bespoke, knowledge-rich curriculum,” she said.

Executive Headteacher Louise Jackson (right) with Executive Deputy Headteacher Emma Hunt  

“We are a highly inclusive and supportive school, working with families in equal partnership and the report rightly reflects the high expectations we have for our pupils while ensuring they benefit from a wide range of opportunities to enhance their learning.”

Chair of the Trust Roger Livesey, said: “We are delighted with this positive report and congratulate everyone involved with the school on ensuring our high expectations for achievement are at the heart of everything. The Trust always strives to provide an outstanding education for all of our pupils, and the hard work is reflected in positive Ofsted reports like this.”

Children at the school enjoy a comprehensive list of experiences, from public speaking to sporting clubs and learning from a variety of musical instruments, the report notes. There are also a number of roles with responsibility, from Head Pupils to Sports Leaders and School Councillors, which allow the children to widen their horizons.

“They come together with pupil leaders from other trust schools to make decisions about school events,” the report says.

“The school prioritises pupils’ wider development. They have considered what their pupils need most and actively promote diversity and raising pupil aspirations through their curriculum and extra-curricular offer.”