Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, has praised the progress that has taken place at North Fawdon Primary School under the leadership of headteacher, Alison Cairns.

Catherine visited the school this month to hear about improvements in numeracy and literacy over recent years, as well as a range of different activities on offer at the school to support pupils’ learning and behaviour – from the Greggs-supported breakfast club, a wide variety of lunchtime and after-school sports clubs funded by Children in Need, and the school’s golden points reward system.  

Current Year 6 pupils were even able to attend a school-funded weekly educational visit throughout the summer holidays – to places including Alnwick Castle, Beamish and the National Glass Centre in Sunderland – to keep the learning alive and their attainment on track during the summer break.

The school’s most recent Ofsted report, undertaken last year, assessed the school as being ‘rapidly improving because of the effective actions of the headteacher’.

Following her visit, Catherine said:

‘I was so impressed by the work that is being undertaken at North Fawdon Primary in what can often be challenging circumstances. All of the pupils were very hard at work on literacy tasks during my visit, and clearly enjoying being challenged and engaged at school.

‘The school is providing a fantastic range of activities to support the pupils’ learning, and the innovative approach to improving performance and behaviour at North Fawdon is clearly reaping results.’

Headteacher Alison Cairns said:

‘We endeavour to find and nurture every one of our children’s talents through offering as many different skills and opportunities as possible. Our children know that together with their parents we will do everything we possibly can to help them be the very best they can be. 

‘It is vital that we prepare our children effectively not just for the rest of their education but for a successful adult life. In my three years as head teacher at North Fawdon it has been truly wonderful to see our children’s aspirations rise significantly and all of our staff agree – North Fawdon is such an exciting place to be!’