Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Press Release

  Fri 13 Feb 2026 DJ

  PRESS RELEASE

  
  13 February 2026 [FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

  
  Sacred Heart Primary School to Begin New Chapter in Swaffham

   

  A Swaffham school is set to transfer from a Catholic school to a non-denominational primary school to help ensure its future success for children in the town.

   

  Sacred Heart Primary School will stay open for pupils but under a new academy trust. The decision will not affect plans to rebuild the school.

   

  The change follows a review by the Diocese of East Anglia in partnership with the St John the Baptist Multi Academy Trust which concluded that the needs of the local community have evolved and that a school model shaped more closely around those needs will provide the greatest benefit for children and families in the area. This will include a transfer to a non-Catholic Multi Academy Trust and really positive discussions with potential Trusts are already underway to secure the school’s future.

   

  Although Sacred Heart has been a valued part of the Diocese’s family of schools for many years, the number of Catholic pupils on roll has significantly reduced. It is now the right moment to ensure the school is more closely aligned with the current educational requirements of the community in Swaffham.

   

  The decision was made by Bishop Peter Collins, with assurance that the interests of pupils, staff and families, under the stewardship of the Trust, remain at the forefront throughout this period of change.

   

  Bishop Peter explained: “The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Swaffham has served generations of children. I am conscious of its history and of the great work undertaken by the Daughters of Divine Charity. Whilst grateful for the legacy we have inherited, it is time for the school to evolve so as to better address the needs of the contemporary community in Swaffham. The decision that has been taken will enable the School to strengthen the provision of educational opportunities for all pupils. The needs of the children have always been paramount in fashioning what is planned. I am most grateful to those at the Department for Education and at Norfolk County Council

  who have facilitated the processes that have led us to this announcement. Let us look to the future with great confidence.”

   

  Joe Richardson, CEO of St John the Baptist Multi Catholic Academy Trust, commented: “Our commitment has always been to do what is best for the children, staff, and wider community. The decision to transfer the school to another Trust will increase choice for parents and carers in the local community and provides a path for the delivery of a new school building promised to the community some years ago. As we work towards a transfer, parents, carers and children can be assured that we will continue to do all that is possible to support the school as it prepares for a new chapter.”

   

  Norfolk County Council is in discussions with the Daughters of Divine Charity about the acquisition of the site, with a proposal going to the council’s Cabinet on 2 March.

   

  Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council commented: “Our priority is to ensure that children in the Swaffham area can have a good education within their local community, so we are proposing that we buy the school site to secure its future. We have a duty to ensure there are sufficient school places for children locally and we see this as an exciting opportunity to secure a new building as part of the government’s School Rebuild Programme, with a new trust. We want parents locally to have a choice of high performing schools.”

   

  A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The DfE is committed to continue progressing rebuilding Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Swaffham through the School Rebuilding Programme, and will continue to work closely with stakeholders. It is great that students will be able to soon enjoy a brand-new school that meets the needs of all students now, and in the future. We have just launched our new 10-year plan to transform the education estate with a decade of renewal, including almost £20 billion for the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034-35 - rebuilding over 500 schools across England with 250 additional schools to be selected by early 2027.”

   

  The Department for Education, St John the Baptist Multi Academy Trust and Norfolk County Council will oversee arrangements for the necessary changes to the school moving forward. Their shared endeavours will ensure stability and continuity for pupils, while supporting a strong future for education in the area.

   

  ENDS

   

  Contact Charlie Bohan-Hurst, Director of Communications for more information: communications@rcdea.org.uk

  

• February 6th

  Fri 06 Feb 2026 DJ

  Serving God and others in Love, Faith and Hope
  Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
  Sporle Road, Swaffham, Norfolk. PE37 7HL
  01760 721330 Email: admin@sacredheartcps.uk

  
  Headteacher’s Memo – February 06, 2026

   

  Dear Parent/Carer

   

  We have had a busy week in school with visits from both our governors and Trust leaders who have commented favourably on the progress the school is making in relation to our school improvement plan. This is borne out by the phonics data for both Reception and Year 1 which is already up on last year’s final outcomes. We are also seeing more children working at or above expected level in core curriculum areas. Despite this we still have more work to do, and further catch-up intervention is needed to help all children reach the levels we would like to see. To that end, we ask parents to support with the homework being set on Numbots, TT Rockstars, My Maths and Lexia for KS2 pupils. The online platforms are fun and crucial in helping children to maximise their potential.

   

  Ms Stuart’s assembly this week focused on ‘Belonging’, and the importance of making school a place where people feel they belong.

   

  The following pupils have been commended by their teachers for demonstrating this quality over the course of this:

   

  Reception - Maeve:
  For always being so thoughtful and caring with her classmates.
  Year 1/2 - Riley:
  For helping our new class member feel welcome at school.
  Year 3/4 - Mia
  For speaking out and being a caring member of the class.
  Year 5/6: Kenny
  For encouraging children to engage in their learning and work together within the classroom.

   

  This week we also celebrated the following:

   

  Secret Students

   

  A student is chosen anonymously and randomly at the start of each school day. The class teacher will then monitor the positive behaviour of the secret student throughout the day and that student is named if they have demonstrated our school values throughout the day.

   

  The secret students who were celebrated in our celebration assembly this week were:

   

  Reception – Elijah, Rena, Lucas, Evie, Skylah
  Year 1/2 – Delilah, Amelie, Luna, Maggie
  Year 3/4 – Layla – Jo, Harley
  Year 5/6 – Kenny, Sienna

   

  Well done to you all for demonstrating good, positive behaviours.

   

  Attendance Matters

   

  As you all know students thrive and strive when they are in school. Year 3/4 were this weeks’ best attenders - Well done!

   

  Maths homework

   

  To support your child's Maths learning we have set them up on an interactive platform called MyMaths. This should help your child to structure their maths work and enable you to see how they are progressing. Coming home this evening is a letter detailing their username and password. Please go to www.mymaths.co.uk and follow the instructions on your letter to help your child to log-in, initially using the school username and password. You will find games and activities on the dashboard, which can be completed at any time. They will then need to log in to their portal and complete activities set for them by their teacher. This may be a lesson to watch and then a homework activity.

   

  Please find engagement statistics below – we need these figures to increase so if there any barriers, please do let us know so that we can help.

   

  Times Tables Rock Stars
  Times Tables Rock Stars is an award-winning maths learning platform where children can practise their times tables like a rock star! The programme takes the worry out of learning times tables and has a proven track record of boosting children’s fluency and recall in multiplication and division. Your child should now have login details next week, please let us know if that is not the case. This is the same as last year. Please encourage your child to interact with the platform.

   

  Numbots

   

  This week, Reception have been given their own username and password for Numbots which they can access from home. This game is from the same people who created Times Tables Rock Stars and will help children progress from counting to calculating. Please encourage them to engage as much as possible at home.

   

  The statistics this week show a decline in engagement (highlighted in red from Reception and Y5/6). Homework is integral to success and that success helps with positive emotions such as motivation and pride. All parents need to encourage their children to engage and let us know if there are any barriers to engagement.

   

  Year 4 MTCs

   

  Year 4 students have to undertake multiplication tables check in the summer term. Using the link below and TT rockstars, children can practice and improve their ability to complete these assessments and develop a key arithmetic skill necessary for other mathematic functions.

   

  Year 4, Key Stage 2, Practice Times Tables Tests (Multiplication Tables Check)
  Year 6 Booster sessions
  Year 6 students are invited to attend booster sessions for both English and Maths after school on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm.
  Phonics - Supporting your child at home.

   

  We would like to signpost you to the 'For Parents' area of the Little Wandle website for further resources to help you support your child with phonics at home. Here you will find some useful videos and information packs which demonstrate how to say the sounds and how we teach writing the letters. You can search via the Little Wandle website or alternatively, click on the link via our school website under 'Our Phonics Curriculum' area.
  www.littlewandle.org.uk

   

  Year 6 students are invited to attend booster sessions for both English and Maths after school on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm.

   

  Wider Curriculum Development

   

  Swimming

   

  We are pleased to announce that we will be starting our swimming lessons for KS2. Please can I remind you to complete the consent form sent home this week.

   

  School trips

   

  To enrich the curriculum, we will be increasingly organising school trips. It is vital that consent forms are completed on time for these events to occur.

   

  Year 6 students are invited to attend booster sessions for both English and Maths after school on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm.

   

  Friends of Sacred Heart

   

  We are looking forward to seeing you at this Friday’s
  Valentine’s Disco and our first FOSH event of the year!
  Please see the poster for further information.

   

  Breakfast Club

   

  We are delighted to introduce our Breakfast Club, running every school day from 8:10 AM to 8:40 AM. This is a great way for your child to start the day in a calm and positive environment. Please contact the school office if you would like a place for your child.
  The sessions will be free of charge and will be run by Mr Greenwood and Miss Patel.

   

  What’s on the menu? To begin with, we’ll be serving toast to all children who attend.

   

  Year 6s will be working on Maths and/or English.
  Details:
  Time: 8:10 AM – 8:40 AM
  Location: Y5/6 Classroom

   

  School Food Bank – watch this space!

   

  We are working closely with Tesco to offer families support with provisions during times of hardship. We will be notifying parents once we have received the donations.

   

  Notices
  Please can you be reminded that children bringing in scooters and bicycles should walk them when they pass the main school gates for safety reasons.
  Please can you ensure that your child/ren come to school in full school uniform, if you need help with this, we have been donated lots of uniform or can assist in getting funds to help support you with this.
  We are a ‘nut-free’ school. To that end, please do not send your child in with nuts for packed lunch or use peanut butter for sandwiches.

  Please find a questionnaire that we encouraged you to complete before the Christmas break. Parent / Carer survey - SHS – Fill out form.

   

  Dates for the diary
  Friday 13th February: FOSH Valentines DISCO
  Thursday 5th March: World Book Day. Details to follow
  Week Beginning 9th March: Parents Evening Sessions. Details to follow