Harleston Sancroft Academy: Pioneering a Unique Educational Journey
In the charming market town of Harleston, Norfolk, an innovative educational experiment has been flourishing. Harleston Sancroft Academy, a Church of England school, recently received well-deserved recognition from Ofsted inspectors who awarded it an overall “Good” rating, with its Early Years provision achieving the coveted “Outstanding” designation. What makes this achievement particularly notable is the school’s pioneering structure as an “all-through school,” seamlessly educating children from age 3 to 16 across two nearby campuses. This comprehensive approach, relatively rare in the English educational landscape, allows students to experience a continuous 13-year educational journey within a consistent environment guided by enduring Christian values. The inspectors specifically highlighted the school’s development of an “all-through curriculum that is both broad and ambitious,” noting that staff have “set high expectations for pupils’ achievement through the curriculum.” The school’s commitment to excellence reflects a deep understanding that educational foundations laid in early childhood can be nurtured and developed throughout a child’s formative years when approached with consistency and vision.
Headteacher Rob Connelly describes the school’s philosophy as a “cradle-to-career” approach, acknowledging both the opportunities and challenges this unique model presents. “We as an Academy occupy unique territory in St Benet’s MAT, and nationally, welcoming children and families from Nursery all the way to the conclusion of their Secondary Phase education,” Connelly explains. This continuity represents a tremendous strength, allowing educators to develop deep, meaningful relationships with students and families over many years. The school has also broken new ground by becoming the first institution nationally to implement the Secure Base Model, adapting attachment theory research from social care into educational practice. This innovative approach demonstrates Harleston Sancroft’s commitment to placing “the Christian values of community, love and understanding in the daily life of our school,” creating an environment where students feel secure, valued, and ready to learn. The results of this caring approach were evident to Ofsted inspectors, who specifically noted the “calm and respectful” behavior of pupils throughout the school.
The Right Reverend Ian Bishop, Bishop of Thetford and Lead Bishop for Education in the Diocese of Norwich, enthusiastically celebrated the school’s achievement: “To have Good and Outstanding results is absolutely wonderful news. Congratulations to the teaching staff, the governors, to everybody associated with the school, but especially to all the pupils who have obviously done an amazing job.” His words highlight the collaborative effort behind the school’s success, recognizing contributions from every level of the school community. Such recognition is particularly meaningful for an institution charting new territory in educational practice. The accomplishment represents years of dedicated work to create a coherent educational vision spanning more than a decade of a child’s development, unifying traditionally separate primary and secondary approaches into a harmonious whole.
Harleston Sancroft Academy’s journey toward becoming an all-through school began in 2018 when both the primary and secondary schools in Harleston joined St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust. The formal unification occurred in September 2022, creating a unique entity among the 19 academies comprising St Benet’s MAT. Unlike its sister schools, which operate as either primary or secondary institutions, Harleston Sancroft had no established template to follow in creating its comprehensive educational model. This absence of precedent, while challenging, has spurred remarkable innovation. Headteacher Connelly and his team have reimagined every aspect of school life and improvement with a singular focus: enabling seamless transitions for children and families throughout their educational journey. This has required rethinking traditional grade-level boundaries, curriculum progressions, teaching methodologies, and community engagement approaches to create a truly cohesive educational experience.
Perhaps the most profound benefit of the all-through model is its impact on relationships within the school community. Staff and students alike describe these relationships as “the cornerstone of the school’s vision.” In an era when educational continuity is increasingly rare, Harleston Sancroft provides students with the opportunity to develop long-term connections with teachers who truly know them, understand their learning styles, and can support their individual growth over many years. These enduring relationships extend beyond the classroom to encompass the entire rural market town of Harleston, where the school serves as a central community institution. Families engage with the school over generations, creating a rich tapestry of shared experiences and mutual support. Teachers can collaborate across traditional school divisions, sharing insights about curriculum progression and student development that might otherwise be lost in the transition between primary and secondary education. This relational approach embodies the school’s Christian ethos in tangible ways, demonstrating how communities flourish when continuity, care, and connection are prioritized.
Sam Nixon, CEO of St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust, captured the collective pride in Harleston Sancroft’s achievement: “We’re delighted that this Ofsted result reflects the hard work and dedication put in by the staff at Sancroft and the support offered by the Trust. Staff, parents and students can be very proud of this outcome.” Indeed, this recognition represents far more than a favorable inspection report; it validates an educational vision that challenges traditional divisions between primary and secondary education. As educational systems worldwide increasingly recognize the importance of seamless transitions and developmental continuity, Harleston Sancroft Academy stands as a compelling model of innovation grounded in enduring values. By combining the nurturing environment typically associated with primary education with the academic rigor of secondary schooling, the academy provides its students with the best of both worlds. The success of this approach, now confirmed by external evaluation, suggests that this pioneering Norfolk school may well be indicating a direction for the future of education—one that prioritizes continuity, relationship, and holistic development throughout a child’s educational journey from the earliest years through adolescence.
