Surlingham Primary School, located in a small village in Norwich, Norfolk, has recently undergone an inspection that highlighted its overall effectiveness as good. The school, which caters to pupils aged four to eleven, has a strong emphasis on fostering respect and appreciation for diversity among its students. Pupils are taught to treat one another with kindness and respect, creating a positive and supportive environment. The curriculum is well-received, and students enjoy various extracurricular activities, including learning to play the ukulele and participating in karate club. Feedback from pupils is overwhelmingly positive, with one student expressing a desire to give the school a million out of ten, reflecting the happiness and camaraderie among the students.
The school has established good relationships between pupils and staff, fostering an atmosphere where students feel safe and supported. Parents have expressed satisfaction with the school's nurturing approach, which contributes to their children's success. Behaviour in the school is commendable, with pupils demonstrating good conduct during lessons and at break times. Lunchtimes are described as sociable, and the school community works together to maintain a calm and purposeful atmosphere.
Surlingham Primary School has designed an ambitious curriculum that effectively links different subjects and outlines what pupils need to learn. Leaders ensure that teachers utilize assessment effectively to identify areas where pupils may require additional support. The curriculum is also well-structured in the early years, allowing children to settle quickly and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for Year 1. Daily phonics sessions are well-planned, enabling pupils to learn to read effectively. The school provides ample opportunities for practice, ensuring that less confident readers receive the support they need to catch up.
The curriculum is adapted to meet the needs of mixed-age classes, particularly in subjects like mathematics, where lessons are engaging and tailored to the pupils' interests. Leaders have also made adjustments in subjects like art to ensure that pupils have opportunities to work with materials they may have missed during remote education. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are included in the same high-quality curriculum as their peers, with teachers adapting their plans to meet individual needs.
Pupils take pride in their school and actively participate in school trips and clubs. They are taught the school's core values of respect, responsibility, resilience, and reach, which are integrated into personal, health, social, and economic education. However, some pupils struggle to connect their learning in this area to the broader context of British values, indicating a need for clearer links in the curriculum.
Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school, with many expressing a willingness to recommend it to others. Leaders from the Sapientia Education Trust and local governors are well-informed about the school's priorities and actively monitor the effectiveness of leadership actions in improving educational quality. The school has a strong culture of safeguarding, with staff well-trained to recognize and respond to potential concerns.
To further enhance the educational experience, the school should focus on ensuring that all pupils understand British values and how these relate to their learning in personal, health, social, and economic education. This will better prepare them for life in modern Britain. Overall, Surlingham Primary School demonstrates a commitment to providing a high-quality education and fostering a supportive community for its pupils.
