All Saints' School
All Saints’ CE Primary School is situated within the parish of All Saints, a short distance from the church. The school visits the church for services throughout the school year and our clergy regularly lead collective worship at the school. In addition, many school families have links with the church through worship, baptism and the Jigsaw toddler group. All families are very welcome to attend church services, especially our 10:15 am Sunday services, and special services for events such as Harvest Festival, Mothering Sunday and Christingle.
Visitors to the school often comment on its friendly welcoming atmosphere. The staff team is talented and committed; they know and care about each individual and help each child to achieve to the best of their ability. The school believes that children are happiest and learn most effectively when there is a close home-school partnership and works hard to strengthen this. Christian values, such as compassion, forgiveness, perseverance and respect, are actively promoted and the children are encouraged to think about how they can develop these values in their own daily lives.
There have always been close ties between the school and the church – in fact, the school owes its very existence to All Saints Church! In October 1868, when the Revd TR Govett arrived in Newmarket to take up the role of Vicar of All Saints, he found that there was no school in this part of the town, and he decided that this needed to change. Despite being told that he “could never accomplish the scheme he was taking in hand”, his “kind-hearted energy” inspired the whole community to work together. The Duke of Rutland gave “an excellent site adjacent to the Vicarage-grounds” and contributed generously, as did the Vicar himself and many other local people. All Saints’ National School was opened on 18 November 1869, just over a year after the Vicar’s arrival in the town.
When the foundation stone was laid on May 5th 1869, those gathered there expressed their hopes for the future of the new school:
- children would receive a “good and sound education”, firmly based on religion, so that “the armour of education” could protect them in “the battle of life”, and so that they could learn to become “good citizens”
- the school “would prove a great and lasting blessing to this neighbourhood”
- thousands would be educated there, so that “all of the present generation, and even those in ages yet to come, would acknowledge that they owed a debt of gratitude to the Revd Mr Govett” for the benevolence and earnestness he had shown “in the interest of the children of that parish”
Quotations from Cambridge Chronicle, 15 May 1869;
Bury and Norwich Post, 18 May and 27 Nov 1869.
The school is proud that in its last SIAMS inspection in May 2024, the Inspector concluded that the “inspection findings indicate that All Saints' Church of England Primary School is living up to its foundation as a Church school.” He judged the school’s strengths to be:
- Adults and pupils flourish at All Saints' as a result of its aspirational and inclusive Christian vision. Its impact changes lives and equips people to grow and be the best they can.
- The school’s curriculum provides ‘knowledge gems’ that are challenging and enable pupils to become critical thinkers. Adaptions are made to meet pupils’ wide-ranging needs, resulting in transformational moments in their lives.
- Collective worship reflects the deep Christian roots of the school and is central to this vibrant worshipping community. A secure understanding of spirituality enables pupils and adults to flourish by encouraging them to be curious and reflective.
- Positive relationships underpin this school and are enriched by the pupils holding roles of responsibility within the community. All Saints' serves, and is served by its community, enabling pupils and adults to thrive.
- Religious education (RE) is well planned and promotes enquiry which drives the whole approach to learning. RE has a high profile and enables pupils to appreciate a range of beliefs leading to them understanding diversity.
All Saints’ CE School is committed to being the best Church School it can be – this means living by its values and constantly reviewing its performance to check that it is supporting all school members – children, staff, families and volunteers – to meet the demands of life in this particular place and time. The SIAMS Inspector gave the school one area for development and this is already in hand:
- Develop planned opportunities in the curriculum that explore injustice and inequality. This is so pupils can make informed decisions when leading social action projects
If you are interested in your children attending All Saints’ CE Primary School, or if you would like to join the school as a volunteer, please contact the Office Manager, Mrs K Tuite, at admin@allsaints.suffolk.sch.uk or on 01638 662835.
