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 Thursday 2nd April 2026. It’s so important that our children make the most of every single minute in school.

Reception attendance – 91%
Year 1 attendance – 96%
Year 2 attendance – 96%
Year 3 attendance – 95%
Year 4 attendance – 95%
Year 5 attendance – 92%
Year 6 attendance – 94%
Whole school attendance – 95%

A film about our school

Latest news from Facebook

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** 🏆 DODGEBALL COUNTY CHAMPIONS 🏆**

Today, our incredible Year 5/6 Dodgeball team travelled to Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre to compete in the Durham County Sport Dodgeball Finals, having qualified by winning the Easington SSP Finals back in December.

Here is Mr Lowerson's report:

Drawn in a challenging group of six regional winners and runners-up, the team started in superb fashion with an emphatic 11–1 victory over Belmont. This was followed by a hard‑fought 7–5 win against Vane Road, an impressive 8–4 victory over Hartside, and a confident 9–3 win against St John’s to round off the morning.

After lunch, the team completed the group stages in style with a dominant 12–0 win over East Stanley, finishing as undefeated Group B winners. A convincing 9–3 semi‑final win against Thornhill then secured our place in the final.

In a thrilling final, we faced Vane Road once again. With the match finely balanced at 4–4 and just two sets remaining, our team showed remarkable determination, teamwork and resilience, winning both sets to take the title with an 8–4 victory and be crowned County Champions!

Next up, we head to the North East Finals, where we will proudly represent the Durham region with the aim of qualifying for the National Finals.

Huge thanks to Durham County Sport and Sam at Hartlepool Mavericks for organising such a fantastic event, to Easington SSP for their continued support, and to RCW Windows, Doors and Conservatories for sponsoring our kit.

Ribbon's on fire! 🔥💚
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🎉 We’re so proud to share some fantastic news! 🎉

Ribbon Academy has once again been awarded Centre of Excellence status for Inclusion — for the second year running. This nationally recognised award reflects our deep commitment to ensuring every child feels safe, valued, supported and included.

The assessor highlighted that:

“From the moment you enter, you can feel that inclusivity is a key part of Ribbon Academy. Children are at the heart of all decisions and everything that staff do.”)

This recognition celebrates the daily work of our staff, pupils and families in creating a school where belonging truly comes first. The report praises the way our team know children as individuals, building strong relationships and removing barriers to learning:

“Staff see the child and their talents, not their struggles or their disability.”

Inclusion at Ribbon isn’t an add-on — it’s who we are. Our nurturing approach, emotional support systems and flexible routines were recognised as strengths that help every child thrive:

“Everyone feels that they are part of ‘one big family’ and nothing is too much for the staff if it means the child gets their needs met.”.

Families’ voices were also strongly reflected in the review, with parents sharing how reassured and proud they feel:

“Parents feel heard and that children can learn at their own pace and that every child is accepted.”.

Perhaps most powerfully, the assessor concluded:

“What sets Ribbon apart is how staff wrap themselves around the children and the level of compassion is rare.”.

This achievement belongs to our whole Ribbon family — staff who go above and beyond, pupils who show kindness and respect every day, and parents and carers who work so closely alongside us.

💜 Thank you for being part of a community where everyone is included in everything we do at Ribbon. We couldn’t be prouder. 💜
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** 📖Book of Books📖 **

Our latest 'Book of Books' review comes from this fantastic Year 3 reader, who spent the Easter holidays reading 'The Hobbit' and then took the time to write a thoughtful review.

Who will be next to share their love of reading and write a review for our Book of Books?💚
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** 📖Book of Books
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** 📖'The Word' - National Centre for the Written Word 📖**

Children in Year 1 had a fantastic time at this state‑of‑the‑art cultural venue, right in the heart of South Shields, which is full of exciting experiences, activities and facilities.

During their visit, the children listened to the story 'Too Much Stuff' and learned all about different materials. They searched through a tray of rice to find hidden pictures, then sorted them by the materials they were made from. To finish, the children got creative and designed their own sock – just like the one the birds found in the story!

A brilliant day of learning, exploration and creativity.💚

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‘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

‘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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

‘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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS