Brown's Primary School in Horbling recognised as one of the best for reading
A small village primary has been recognised by two government ministers as one of the best for reading.
Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, and School Standards Minister Nick Gibb have written to Brown’s Primary School in Horbling to congratulate it on its Key Stage 2 assessments last year.
All its 78 pupils have reached or exceeded the expected standard in reading for 7-11 year-olds making it “in the top one per cent of primary schools in England”.
The ministers told headteacher Sally Howley: “Thank you for producing such high standards through your hard work and professionalism, and congratulations again to you and your staff for all that you have achieved.”
Mrs Howley joined the school as its headteacher in October 2017 and says since then the school has undergone a transformation and all staff are proud at what they have achieved.
Two new teachers have been employed to create an exciting and engaging curriculum and classroom space has been reorganised to create a new Early Years setting in the main building instead of a mobile classroom.
Mrs Howley, who moved from Wakefield, when her musician husband secured a job with the RAF Cranwell Band of the RAF College, says she and staff have worked tirelessly to improve standards.
But the school needed to increase pupil numbers by showing it offered as an attractive proposition to parents.
It has just been selected to receive gigabit fibre broadband, which will also provide internet services to the village.
It is also rated ‘good’ by school inspectors Ofsted.
Brown’s Primary is also running community events to the village, such as a parent and toddler group called families Enjoying Everything Together on Wednesday mornings. It is also hosting a music-filled Horbling Beer festival on June 28-29.
The school has also joined the Archbishop of York Trust Award scheme to develop young leaders and fundraises for the Alberti Breakfast Clubs in Argentine to help its children become global citizens, making a contribution locally and globally.
Mrs Howley added: “We are very lucky to have such a wonderful school and such a lovely community. We are all working closely to support our children and families.”
