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 2025 to Friday 19th June 2026. It’s so important that our children make the most of every single minute in school.

Reception attendance – 92%
Year 1 attendance – 96%
Year 2 attendance – 95%
Year 3 attendance – 96%
Year 4 attendance – 95%
Year 5 attendance – 93%
Year 6 attendance – 95%
Whole school attendance – 95%

A film about our school

Latest news from Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

** School Diversity Week 2026 **

This week, Ribbon is taking part in School Diversity Week (22nd > 26th June) — a national celebration run by the charity 'Just Like Us'. This week is all about kindness, respect and celebrating the wonderful diversity within our school community.

Throughout this week, children are taking part in age‑appropriate activities that explore themes such as different families, inclusion, friendship and celebrating what makes us unique. As the guide reminds us, “diversity makes your school community a more welcoming, united and vibrant place” and even one activity can make a big difference.

🌈Rainbow Friday – 26th June🌈

To finish the week, this coming Friday, Ribbon will be joining schools across the UK for Rainbow Friday. Children are invited to come to school wearing bright, colourful clothes to celebrate the message that it’s OK to be different.

Why we’re taking part:

Research shows that celebrating diversity helps:
✅build respect and understanding
✅reduce unkind language
✅create a safer, happier school environment for everyone

Our aim is simple: to help every child feel accepted, valued and proud of who they are.

Thank you for your support!💚

Mrs Bingham (PSHE Leader)
... See MoreSee Less

** School Diversity
View Comments likes Like love 1 Comments: 0 Shares: 0

**😎 Ice Treat! 😎**

With the unusually high temperatures today, the children were treated to a well-deserved ice lolly this afternoon. It’s safe to say they were absolutely thrilled and extremely grateful - our children have beautiful manners! 🍭💚
... See MoreSee Less

**😎 Ice Treat! �
View Comments likes Like love 15 Comments: 0 Shares: 0

🌟Celebrating Duolingo Consistency🌟

We would like to celebrate a fantastic achievement by one of our pupils, who has recently reached an incredible milestone of 1,000 days of learning on Duolingo!

Leo began his language-learning journey nearly three years ago with Spanish and has shown remarkable dedication, practising almost every single day. Along the way, he has also explored maths and chess, and for over a year now has been developing his skills in French.

This achievement is a wonderful example of perseverance, curiosity and a love of learning beyond the classroom. We are incredibly proud of Leo for his commitment and determination – and it’s clear he is rightly very proud of himself too!

🌟 Well done, Leo – what an inspiring accomplishment!
... See MoreSee Less

🌟Celebrating Duol
View Comments likes Like love 6 Comments: 0 Shares: 0

** FREE Summer Activities for Children **

As parents/carers are already aware, Durham County Council will not be issuing food vouchers to families this summer.

However, there are lots of fantastic free events and activities running locally throughout the Summer Holidays.

Children can attend these activities free of charge, and hot food will be provided for all who take part.

To support families in accessing these opportunities, staff from Seaham Family Hub will be at Ribbon Academy on Thursday 25th June 2026, from 3.00 > 4.00pm in the Studio, to help parents/carers sign their children up.

Please see the attached information for details of activities available in the local area.

Mrs Maddison (Family Support Advisor)
... See MoreSee Less

Image attachment
Image attachment
View Comments likes Like 0 Comments: 0 Shares: 0
Load more

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

‘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

‘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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Pupils feel safe and have positive attitudes towards learning, understanding and demonstrating the school’s values.’

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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