North West Norfolk MP James Wild pays visit to Castle Acre Primary School

As part of his focus on helping to improve education in North West Norfolk, MP James Wild visited a village school to meet its executive head teacher and pupils.

Mr Wild was shown around the Castle Acre Primary School by head and deputy head pupils, who explained the school’s focus on values which are weaved into the curriculum.

The school’s current focus on ‘hope’ and ‘courage’ is reflected through their studies and activities. One example included pupils wanting to adopt rescue battery hens for the pupils to care for.

As a Church of England school, the school focuses on strong Christian values, which form the foundation of daily school life.

Being part of the Nar Valley Federation of Church Schools also offers pupils the opportunity to mix in both educational and social settings with children from neighbouring schools in the same federation.

Head teacher Anne Neary spoke of the advantages this offers pupils when they move to secondary school.

Mr Wild met teachers from the classes and spoke of efforts to promote the creative and engaging curriculum teachers offer the pupils, learning how the children often engage in art projects and drama performances.

Later, Mrs Neary and pupils showed the MP the outdoor facilities the school is able to offer pupils – including play equipment, a mini orchard and allotments.

Mrs Neary spoke of the importance of the school’s community connections, which involve them offering apples grown in school to the local church.

Mr Wild said: “It was a pleasure to visit Castle Acre Primary Academy and hear about how this village school offers an engaging environment where children are encouraged to grow and develop including through music, arts, drama, cultural, sporting and outdoor activities.

“I enjoyed meeting the school council to answer their questions and listen to their ideas and plans to help improve the school.”

Mrs Neary added: “It was excellent to have the chance to share our wonderful, small, friendly village school with James, to let him know that there are only a few places remaining in our small classes, and to enable our head and deputy head pupils to show James around our school and our fantastic, smart and enthusiastic school council to quiz James about democracy.”

Izzy, one of the school’s head pupils, said: "It was really good to meet our MP, show him around our school and also to have the chance to ask him questions."