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 12th 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

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** A Visit from the Police **

We welcomed Fay from Durham Constabulary this morning to work with Year 6 on an important session about hate crime.

The children learned what hate crime is, its impact, and the importance of respect, tolerance and inclusion. They also discussed what to do if they witness or experience it.

We were incredibly proud of how maturely and thoughtfully our pupils engaged in this session. 💚
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** A Visit from the
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** Year 3 visit Beamish **

A large group of Year 3 children are enjoying an exciting residential visit to Beamish, where they will spend today, tonight and tomorrow exploring everything the museum has to offer. From stepping back in time to experiencing life in different historical periods, the visit promises to be both educational and memorable!

The highlight of the trip will undoubtedly be the much-anticipated sleepover in the Masonic Hall. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to build independence, strengthen friendships and create lasting memories as part of their Ribbon journey.💚
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** Water Safety with the RNLI **

Ahead of the summer holidays, we welcomed volunteers from the RNLI into school this morning to speak with our Key Stage 2 pupils about water safety.

The children took part in an engaging assembly, learning how to stay safe near water and what to do in an emergency. This is particularly important as we approach the summer break and many families spend time near the coast or open water.

We are grateful to the RNLI for supporting our pupils and would encourage you to continue these important conversations at home.💚
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**💰 NatWest Thrive💰 **

We’re excited to be taking part in NatWest Thrive.

Last week, our Year 6 pupils took part in sessions to build confidence with money, learning about saving, fraud, budgeting and making smart choices for the future. A fantastic opportunity to develop real-life skills and self-belief. 💚
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**💰 NatWest Thriv
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‘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

‘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

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

OFSTED COMMENTS

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

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: 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

‘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

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

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

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

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

‘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