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Welcome to Ribbon Academy
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Ribbon Academy.
At Ribbon, we believe that every child deserves to feel valued, respected and inspired to achieve their very best. Our school is a warm, inclusive and nurturing community where children are encouraged to grow in confidence, develop a love of learning and discover their unique strengths and talents.
Our motto, ‘Growing Together’, sits at the heart of everything we do. We are a ‘team’ where everyone works together to achieve the best possible outcomes. We recognise that learning is a journey that flourishes through strong partnerships between children, families, staff and the wider community. By working together, we create a culture where everyone feels they belong and is empowered to succeed.
We are proud of the values and virtues that shape life at Ribbon. We encourage our children to demonstrate kindness, respect, resilience, honesty, responsibility and aspiration in all that they do. These qualities help our children become confident learners, caring friends and responsible citizens who are ready to make a positive difference in the world.
At Ribbon, diversity is celebrated and individuality is cherished. We understand that every child learns differently and has their own pathway to success. Through high-quality teaching, enriching experiences and personalised support, we ensure that all children are challenged, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Our broad, ambitious and engaging curriculum inspires curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning. Alongside academic achievement, we place equal importance on personal development, wellbeing and character education, ensuring our children leave us as confident, compassionate and capable young people.
Visitors often comment on the welcoming atmosphere within our school. Ribbon is a special place where children feel safe, happy and proud to be themselves, where families feel valued and where staff are dedicated to helping every child thrive.
I hope our website gives you a flavour of what makes Ribbon Academy such a special place. Whether you are a current family, a prospective parent or simply interested in learning more about our school, we look forward to welcoming you into our community and sharing in the exciting journey ahead.

Mrs Ashleigh Sheridan – Head Teacher
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 Wednesday 2nd September 2026 to Friday 25th September 2026. It’s so important that our children make the most of every single minute in school.
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‘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.’
‘Pupils thrive in an inclusive, nurturing environment where their accomplishments are celebrated.’
‘Pupils feel safe and have positive attitudes towards learning, understanding and demonstrating the school’s values.’
‘Parents are highly supportive of the school, agreeing that their children are happy and well-supported.’
‘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.’
‘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.’
‘Reading is a priority, with an effective phonics program starting in early years, fostering a love for reading among pupils.’
‘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.’
‘Behaviour and attitudes are rated “Good”, with pupils showing positive behaviour both in and out of lessons.’
‘The Ribbon Academy is rated as “Good” overall, reflecting high standards in various aspects of school performance.’
‘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.’
‘Early years provision is rated “Outstanding”, with staff providing a magical learning journey that encourages curiosity and independence.’
‘Personal development is “Outstanding”, offering a wide range of experiences that prepare pupils for success beyond the school.’
‘The school has a strong safeguarding culture, with effective systems in place to ensure the welfare and safety of all pupils.’
‘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.’
‘Leadership and management are “Good”, demonstrating high ambitions for all pupils and a strong culture of mutual support among staff.’
‘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.’
‘The quality of education at the school is “Good”, with a broad and inspiring curriculum that builds knowledge progressively.’
‘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.’
‘The school provides rich extracurricular opportunities, such as “Ribbon Radio” and the “Poets’ Podium”, which help develop pupils’ confidence.’
‘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.’

Photos from Durham Constabulary's post ...
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**🍂 Reception's Halloween Forest Adventure 🍂**
Reception enjoyed a fantastic morning in the forest as part of their Halloween-themed learning. The children had great fun playing pumpkin hide-and-seek, creating spooky clay monster faces and taking part in face painting activities. 🎃 ...
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upporting One of Our Own: New Book Release! 📚
We are delighted to celebrate the achievement of one of our school community members, Samantha Scollen, who has recently published her new novel, Blood Moon.
As a school, we are proud to support the talents and successes of our wider community, and we know many of you enjoy discovering new authors and local achievements.
🌙 Blood Moon follows Elena, who arrives in Clearwater seeking a quiet life immersed in nature and wildlife research. However, she soon discovers that something about the forest feels strangely familiar, and as mysterious events begin to unfold, she finds herself drawn into secrets that have been hidden for generations. With ancient mysteries, supernatural intrigue and a compelling story at its heart, this is a novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy and adult fiction.
📖 The book is available now on Kindle and in hardback, with the paperback edition releasing on 30th October.
🔗 Amazon: amzn.eu/d/0eR1957a
🔗 Author website: www.samanthascollen.co.uk
📱 Follow Samantha on TikTok: @SDScollen
Congratulations, Samantha, on this fantastic achievement. We wish you every success with the launch of Blood Moon and look forward to following your writing journey. ...
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** SENDIASS Neurodevelopmental Family Support Drop-In **
Durham SENDIASS is hosting two free drop-in events for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND or neurodevelopmental needs.
These sessions provide an opportunity to speak directly with professionals and local support services, ask questions, access advice, and find out what support is available for families across County Durham. Whether your child has a diagnosis, is awaiting assessment, or you are simply looking for guidance, everyone is welcome.
📍 Peterlee Leisure Centre
📅 Thursday 22 October 2026
🕧 12:30pm - 2:30pm
📍 Seaham Town Hall
📅 Monday 2 November 2026
🕤 9:30am - 11:30am
✅ Free to attend
✅ No booking required
Families can access information and support relating to SEND, Autism, ADHD, education, health services, family support, community groups, activities and opportunities for children and young people. ...
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