Pupils at Flitcham, Sandringham and West Newton schools dress up for Comic Relief

Comic Relief celebrations and a visit from their local MP made for a busy day at two rural West Norfolk schools.

Flitcham primary, celebrating its 150th anniversary, was on the visiting list of North West Norfolk MP James Wild, who also took the opportunity to spend time at Sandringham and West Newton primary on Friday, March 21.

The visit coincided with Red Nose Day, with pupils enjoying a pyjama day while learning about Comic Relief’s mission, and supporting people in need across the UK and beyond.

At Flitcham, Mr Wild was given a tour by executive head teacher Catherine King. He visited classrooms and spoke to pupils about their work, which featured a discussion on what future schools might look like and how technology will evolve.

He saw the new Coronation Library, opened by King Charles last January, and was told how it is being put to good use by both pupils and staff.

At Sandringham and West Newton, Mr Wild joined students working on spelling and times tables - part of the school’s initiative to ensure strong multiplication skills across all year groups.

He also looked at the key challenges the school faces, including policy changes and SEND provision, as well as the school’s role in nurturing personal development and encouraging students to form their own opinions.

Following the visit, Mrs King said: "We were honoured to welcome our local MP to our schools on Friday, where we shared the vibrant learning environment we foster at both Flitcham and the Sandringham and West Newton schools whilst celebrating Comic Relief.

“With 45 pupils on roll at Flitcham and 71 at Sandringham and West Newton, our intimate class sizes allow us to deliver a high-quality, nurturing educational experience that truly feels like a 'home from home'.

“At our schools, we prioritise personalisation, tailoring each child's learning journey to meet their unique needs. We take pride in our personal development curriculum, which was judged to be outstanding during our Ofsted inspections in 2023.

“Small class sizes facilitate strong relationships between our staff, pupils, and families, enabling us to provide vital support when it is needed most.”

Speaking about the visits, Mr Wild said: “It was great to visit Flitcham and Sandringham and West Newton primary schools and to see the pupils’ pride in their school and the care staff share in creating a nurturing learning for each and every child.

“It was also valuable to discuss issues such as SEND provision, curriculum, and budgets.

“Having had a strong focus on improving educational outcomes since being elected, I’ll continue working to ensure schools across North West Norfolk have the support they need to help every child succeed.