Welcome to Ribbon Academy

I am very proud to welcome you to Ribbon Academy Trust.

It is a privilege to lead such a wonderful academy, full of happy, well-behaved, hard-working children who are a pleasure to teach, and to be part of a caring, talented and dedicated team of adults.

At Ribbon, we strive to make every child and adult feel that they are valued and unique and that they are an important part of the school as we strive to ‘Grow Together’. We seek to create an inclusive community, where everybody is valued and nurtured. People routinely comment on the friendly atmosphere that exists in the school, but also notice that it has a great sense of purpose and quality.

We are committed to the achievement of every single child regardless of his or her ability. We are proud to say that our children make excellent progress from their starting points and achieve outstanding outcomes. All staff endeavour to make every lesson engaging and enjoyable for all pupils and, as a result, our children are keen to learn and to try their very best because they want to succeed. Children at Ribbon are are polite, well mannered, courteous and have excellent attitudes to learning.

We hope you enjoy finding out more about Ribbon by exploring this site!

  • Mrs Ashleigh Sheridan – Head Teacher

We firmly believe that each child has individual needs and a right to develop at a pace that ensures each one reaches his or her full potential.

We aim to do this by:

 

✓ Having high aspirations and achievable expectations;
✓ Providing a broad and balanced curriculum;
✓ Offering opportunities in all areas of learning;
✓ Adapting teaching styles;
✓ Encouragement and valuing children’s contributions;
✓ Effectively planning and assessing children’s work;
✓ Providing appropriate resources;
✓ Offering broad moral, cultural and spiritual support.

Our Current School Attendance

At Ribbon, we value highly both attendance and punctuality with our weekly target of 97%+ attendance and our strive to get all children into school before 9:00am each day.

Here are our Attendance Charts from September 2024 to Friday 18th July 2025. It’s so important that our children make the most of every single minute in school.

Reception attendance – 87%
Year 1 attendance – 95%
Year 2 attendance – 95%
Year 3 attendance – 96%
Year 4 attendance – 93%
Year 5 attendance – 95%
Year 6 attendance – 95%
Whole school attendance – 95%

A film about our school

Latest news from Facebook

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Ribbon Academy – Job Opportunity
🌟We’re looking for a Cleaner to join our team!🌟

📅 Fixed Term: January 2026 – August 2026
🕒 Hours: 10 per week (Mon–Fri, 4:30pm–6:30pm)
💰 Pay: £12.85 per hour (Grade 1, SCP 3)
📍 Location: Barnes Road, Murton, Seaham, SR7 9QR

If you take pride in creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for pupils and staff, we’d love to hear from you!

Deadline: Friday 12th December, 9:00am
Interviews: Week commencing 15th December
Start Date: Monday 5th January 2026

👉 Apply via recruitment@ribbonacademy.co.uk or by handing in an application to Main Reception

📞 Contact: 0191 517 5900 | recruitment@ribbonacademy.co.uk
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🎄 Advent Book Calendar – Day 1! 🎄

We’re excited to begin this year’s Advent Book Calendar! Each day in the countdown to Christmas, we’ll be choosing one winner from Early Years/Key Stage 1 and one winner from Key Stage 2 to receive a special book.

Today marks Day 1, and our first two lucky winners have been chosen! 📚✨

Keep an eye out each day as we spread festive cheer and celebrate the joy of reading across our school community.
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** 🎉 Celebrating a First Parkrun! 🎉**

We are delighted to share that one of our children completed his very first junior parkrun at Hetton Lakes yesterday – what a fantastic achievement. He 'runs' into school every morning so we're not surprised that he's taken part in a parkrun!

Junior parkrun is a free, fun, and friendly 2km event for children aged 4–14. It takes place at Hetton Lyons Country Park every Sunday at 9.00am.

✨ Key details for families:

Location: Hetton Lakes, Hetton Lyons Country Park

Time: Every Sunday at 9.00am

Planned cancellations: Only for Hetton Carnival or cycle events (none until June 2026)

Weather updates: If paths are unsafe due to snow/ice, cancellations will be posted on the junior parkrun Facebook page, Instagram, and X.

Volunteering: Parents and even school staff sometimes join in to help – it’s a great community event!

We’d love to see more of our pupils (and families!) taking part. Whether running, jogging, walking, or volunteering, it’s a brilliant way to start your Sunday and celebrate healthy living together. 🌟

Follow the link to register:
www.parkrun.org.uk/hettonlyonscountrypark-juniors/

Let’s cheer on our young runner and encourage others to give it a go – who will be next to join the start line? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️
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** 🎉 Celebrating
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‘Pupils feel safe and have positive attitudes towards learning, understanding and demonstrating the school’s values.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘The school has a strong safeguarding culture, with effective systems in place to ensure the welfare and safety of all pupils.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘The school provides rich extracurricular opportunities, such as “Ribbon Radio” and the “Poets’ Podium”, which help develop pupils’ confidence.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘The Ribbon Academy is rated as “Good” overall, reflecting high standards in various aspects of school performance.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Early years provision is rated “Outstanding”, with staff providing a magical learning journey that encourages curiosity and independence.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Behaviour and attitudes are rated “Good”, with pupils showing positive behaviour both in and out of lessons.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Quality of Education: The quality of education provided is considered “Good”. The curriculum is broad, inspiring, and well-thought-out, enabling pupils to build on their knowledge progressively.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Community and Extracurricular Activities: Pupils engage in activities like ‘Ribbon Radio’ and the ‘Poets’ Podium’, developing confidence and showcasing their talents. The school also runs breakfast clubs, after-school activities, and a community café, enhancing the sense of community and belonging.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Personal development is “Outstanding”, offering a wide range of experiences that prepare pupils for success beyond the school.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Leadership and management are “Good”, demonstrating high ambitions for all pupils and a strong culture of mutual support among staff.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Leadership and Management: Leadership and management are rated “Good”. Leaders have high ambitions for every pupil, and there is a strong culture of mutual support and teamwork among the staff. The governing body and trustees are knowledgeable and committed to the success of the pupils.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Early Years Provision: The provision for early years is rated “Outstanding”. The staff provide an exceptional range of carefully planned learning activities that encourage curiosity, independence, and the development of spoken language from day one.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Behaviour and Attitudes: Behaviour and attitudes at the school are rated “Good”. Pupils exhibit positive attitudes towards learning and demonstrate a strong understanding of the school’s values.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘The quality of education at the school is “Good”, with a broad and inspiring curriculum that builds knowledge progressively.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Parents are highly supportive of the school, agreeing that their children are happy and well-supported.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Pupils thrive in an inclusive, nurturing environment where their accomplishments are celebrated.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Safety and Well-being: Pupils feel safe at the school, describing it as a “safe spot”. There is a strong culture of safeguarding, with effective systems in place to report and follow up on concerns. The pastoral team works tirelessly to ensure the welfare of all pupils.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Reading and Literacy: Reading is prioritised, with an effective phonics program starting in the early years. Pupils’ love for reading is nurtured through various competitions and a well-stocked library.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Reading is a priority, with an effective phonics program starting in early years, fostering a love for reading among pupils.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Inclusivity and Nurturing Environment: The school is described as inclusive and nurturing, with high expectations for pupils’ behaviour and achievements. Celebratory displays showcase pupils’ accomplishments, creating a positive and inspiring learning environment.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

‘Personal Development: Personal development at the school is rated “Outstanding”. The curriculum provides a wide range of experiences that prepare pupils for success beyond the school gates, including educational visits and active citizenship opportunities.’

OFSTED COMMENTS