Thetford School on a good journey

October 28, 2022

The Bishop’s Church of England Primary Academy in Thetford, part of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT), has received its fourth positive Ofsted report in recent months as it is on a progressive journey to ‘good and beyond.’

The Academy scored ‘good’ in two areas showing positive improvement.

The Ofsted visit that was carried out in September 2022 outlined that teachers have put in place a curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils and that pupils are proud of their school and its place in the community.  It reported that the school is an increasingly calm place for pupils to learn and that children in early years learn quickly and they follow school routines.

Other factors within the report said, that most pupils enjoy their learning, pupils study a range of different subjects and topics which excite their interest and leaders have improved the teaching of reading where pupils talk about the books that they enjoy and that their love of reading is growing.

In response to the latest Ofsted report, Mrs Lorraine Ratcliffe, the new headteacher

said: “We are delighted with our recent Ofsted report which reflects the hard work of the team and rapid improvement across the school since the last inspection in June 2021.”

She added: “Owing to Covid, our attendance last year was not as high as we would have liked with families isolating. The school is now working hard with the community to ensure children attend school as much as possible. We value the support of our families to achieve this.”

With a new headteacher in place and a dedicated and established teaching team, the school has all it needs to continue its journey to good and beyond.

Oliver Burwood CEO of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT) said: “We have worked hard, collectively, to get The Bishop’s Church of England Primary Academy in a place where we can see real and impressive improvements. Our focus continues to be on taking these even further. The outcome is testament to the staff at the academy, who have worked tirelessly and to the community that has put its faith in them. We have a fantastic leadership in place and a talented new headteacher who will lead the school to the next level.”