An Overview of Fulbridge’s History

A more detailed account of our school's history follows but first of a brief overview.

In the October of 1935, Fulbridge Council School opened on the Keeton Road site. Mrs Grace Bailey became Head of the Infant School and in 1936 Mr Morris Bailey became Head of the Junior School.

The school opened as Fulbridge Council School in 1935 and in 1945 Fulbridge Council School became two schools and was renamed Fulbridge County Junior and Fulbridge County Infant School.

In 2004 the school once again became one school, named Fulbridge School. In its long history the schools on the Keeton Road site have only had eleven Headteachers between them. They were Mrs Grace Bailey, Mr Morris Bailey, Miss Bridgestock who was at the school for less than two years – she left to get married, Miss Monica Leverett, Mr John Rickerby, Mrs Margeret Francis, Mr Gordon Smith, Mrs Maureen Ashby, Mr Colin Deans, Mr Iain Erskine and Mr Ben Erskine.

In 1952 a new Head was appointed to the Infant School. Her name was Miss Monica Leverett. It was not until 1962 that the Head of the Junior School changed, Mr John Rickerby became the Head.

Councilor Charles Swift OBE was our longest serving Governor of the School for 61 years and Mrs Helen Bath our Chair of Governors was also a governor of the school for 50 years, retiring in 2022.

In 1978 Mrs Margaret Francis was appointed as Head of the Infant school and in 1979 after having been a class teacher and Deputy Head Mr Gordon Smith became Head of the Junior School. Eight years after Mr Smith was appointed Mrs Maureen Ashby became Head of the Infant School. In 1994 Mr Iain Erskine became Deputy Head of the Infant School and in 1996 when Mrs Ashby retired he became Head of the Infant School.

In September 1978 Mrs Helen Bath became Chair of the Governing Body but in 2000 the Governing Body that ran both schools had to separate into two Governing Bodies due to new government legislation. 

At that time the Junior School failed an Ofsted inspection. Mr Gordon Smith retired and Mr Colin Deans, the Deputy Head took over as Head for less than a year. This led to Mr Iain Erskine leading both schools and the eventual amalgamation of the Infant and Junior Schools This was after successfully being removed from Special Measures in 2003.

At midnight on August 31st 2004 both the Infant and Junior schools closed as the clock ticked past midnight. As the 1st September arrived they opened as a Primary School.  The number in each year group was reduced from 99 to 90.

In June 2008 the school was assessed by the government’s flagship for creativity, Creative Partnerships, to become a National School of Creativity. Fulbridge was successful and became one of only 56 schools nationally across all education sectors to gain this prestigious status.

In March 2012 the school was inspected by Ofsted and was graded ‘Outstanding’ in all five judgment areas that Ofsted judge schools upon. This is the highest grade that Ofsted can give. A year later the school converted into an Academy on March 1st 2013 and became known as ‘The Fulbridge Academy.’

In the summer of 2013, it was agreed that the Fulbridge Academy would expand from a 3-form to 4-form entry school. This meant that a new school building would be built on a neighboring site two minutes walk away, behind the houses that face the school on Keeton Road. The new site was named Fulbridge Academy High, the Charles Swift Wing.

In March 2017 Fulbridge formed a Multi-Academy Trust, ‘The Four Cs Trust’, with a Peterborough secondary school, Arthur Mellows Village College, another ‘Outstanding’ school in Ofsted terms.

As the MAT was created, the long standing Head at Fulbridge, Mr Iain M Erskine, decided to start a phased retirement process. After two years as joint Principal, with his Vice-Principal, his son Mr Ben Erskine, Iain retired from Headship. Ben Erskine became Executive Principal of the primary schools in the 4Cs MAT.

After rigorous assessments Fulbridge not only gained the national Platinum Award for its Arts provision but also the internationally renowned award of ‘World Class Status’. 

Twelve years after their last inspection, Ofsted arrived again, in March 2024. Once again Fulbridge was awarded 'Outstanding' in all areas that Her Majesty's Inspectors judge. We believe it is unique that the Head of the school is succeeded by his son and that both, in turn, lead the school to an 'outstanding' Ofsted judgement.

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A More Detailed History:

The Fulbridge Academy is a large primary school in New England, Peterborough. It hosts just over 130 members of staff and approximately 900 pupils from over 35 different countries, every one of whom matters.

The first school in the New England area was New England Church of England School opening in 1860 and closing in 1902. From 1902 to 1911 children went to New England Council School and from 1911 to 1945 children attended Lincoln Road Council School. In 1935 Fulbridge Council School opened on the Keeton Road site.

On the 3rd October Rosemary Constance Hardcastle, daughter of Wilfred Hardcastle, of 24 Brownlow Road became our school's very first pupil.

Fulbridge Council School cost £20,000 to build. The architects were Dodson and Son. The main corridor is over 300 feet long. The classrooms and staff room could be found along one side of the corridor. The assembly halls, cloakrooms, toilets and storerooms on the other side. The whole building was centrally heated. At the back was a large playground and field. It was the first Peterborough school to be built with a field as part of its grounds. Hot water pipes were in the cloakrooms so that the children’s coats would dry out during the day if it had been raining. The builders were called Ellington and Son. In 1949 and 1960 extra corridors and classrooms were built as more families moved into the area.

In the October of 1935, Fulbridge Council School opened on the Keeton Road site. It has never been on Fulbridge Road or called 'Fulbridge Road School'! Mrs Grace Bailey became Head of the Infant School when it opened. A year later, in 1936 Mr Morris Bailey became Head of the Junior School. They were not related or married. It was just a coincidence that they had the same surname. The school day was from 9.00am to 12 noon when all the children had to go home for lunch. The afternoon session began at 2.00pm and finished at 4.30pm. There were about 45 children in each class! On your birthday Mr Bailey would let you go home at 4.15pm. You had collected a ‘new penny’ from him which you would go and spend at ‘Jumbo’s, the corner shop.

Below is a letter from Mr Bailey to the parents, a school report from 1940 and a photograph from that time. The girl with the cross above her head is Jean Wallace, the recipient of the school report. We do not however think the photograph is taken at Fulbridge Council School.

The school was built with iron railings along the front. In 1940 they were taken down and melted to help with the ‘war effort.’ The school was used as a center for evacuees from London. They were allocated to homes from the school. At the beginning of the Autumn Term 1939 the start of term was delayed by about three weeks. This was whilst the brick built air raid shelters were built at the front of school where Keeton Road now is. The closest that bombs came to the school was Lincoln Road. If there had been an air raid during the night you did not have to come into school until 10.00am. When there was a raid during the day you had to enter the air raid shelters. You were not allowed to go home until someone arrived to pick you up. This could have been a long time and the shelters were not very comfortable. One day Mr. Bailey ran down the school corridors, when the air raid siren went off, shouting to stay in the classrooms and get under the desks! As he was doing this a German plane flew overhead and the sound of machine guns was heard.

Two years after the school opened in 1937, Mrs Joan Rigby who many years later was to work at the school as a Learning Support Assistant, started as a pupil in the school. One of her friends at the school was later to marry one of Britain’s best loved comedians and become Mrs Ernie Wise. Joan remembers that she was famous for her tap dancing during the war years at school concerts. She was a member of the ‘Embassy Babes’ which is where she met Ernie Wise.

The school opened as Fulbridge Council School in 1935. In 1945 Fulbridge Council School became two schools and was renamed Fulbridge County Junior and Fulbridge County Infant School. In 2004 the school once again became one school, named Fulbridge School. In their long history the schools on the Keeton Road site have only had 11 Headteachers between them. They were Mrs Grace Bailey, Mr Morris Bailey (not related), Miss Bridgestock who was at the school for less than two years – she left to get married, Miss Monica Leverett, Mr John Rickerby, Mrs Margeret Francis, Mr Gordon Smith, Mrs Maureen Ashby, Mr Colin Deans,  Mr Iain Erskine and now Mr Ben Erskine, who unlike the Baileys, were related - father and son.

In 1952 a new Head was appointed to the Infant School. Her name was Miss Monica Leverett. It was not until 1962 that the Head of the Junior School changed, Mr John Rickerby became the Head. In 1966 Miss Hodgson started teaching in the Junior School. She was to teach there for over 30 years until very sadly she passed away, not long after retiring from teaching at the school. In 1970 another long standing teacher started teaching in the Infant School, that is Miss Brenda King. Miss King decided to retire from full time teaching in 2002.

Councilor Charles Swift was a Governor of the School for 61 years and Mrs Helen Bath, Governor and Chair of Governors had been a governor of the school for 50 years until she retired in 2022.

In 1978 Mrs Margaret Francis was appointed as Head of the Infant school and in 1979, after having been a class teacher and Deputy Head, Mr Gordon Smith became Head of the Junior School. Eight years after Mr Smith was appointed Mrs Maureen Ashby became Head of the Infant School. In 1994 Mr Iain Erskine became Deputy Head of the Infant School. In 1996 when Mrs Ashby retired he became Head of the Infant School.

In September 1978 Mrs Helen Bath became Chair of the Governing Body. In 2000 the Governing Body that ran both schools had to separate into two Governing Bodies due to new government legislation. Mr Ian Millar became Chair of Governors in the Junior School for a short period of time. Cllr Charles Swift OBE then briefly took over in 2001.

Both schools were to have Ofsted Inspections that went very well in 1994 and 1996. In 1999 the Infant School had another successful Inspection. It followed with two consecutive National Awards for being one of the most improved schools in the country. Unfortunately just as Mr Smith was about to retire the Junior School failed an Inspection and was put into ‘Serious Weaknesses’ for a year. During that year Mr Smith retired and Mr Colin Deans who had been at the school for over 20 years as Deputy Head became Head for a year. He left the school in  October 2001.

The Junior School was inspected again in May 2001 and was judged as not having made enough progress. It was put into ‘Special Measures’ for two years. Mr Deans decided to resign in October 2001.  The Local Education Authority and the Governors asked Mr Erskine to run both schools.

In September 2002 the schools became a ‘Partnership of Schools’ and for the first time since 1945 became one school again. The Junior School was significantly modernised during the period after Mr Erskine’s appointment. The school made significant progress in that time against all the action points in the schools Action Plan. In June 2003 the Junior School was removed from Special Measures, having made good progress against the criterion that put the Junior School into Special Measures.

At midnight on August 31st 2004 both the Infant and Junior schools closed as the clock ticked past midnight. As the 1st September arrived they opened as a Primary School.  The number in each year group was reduced from 99 to 90.

The school took on a creative approach to teaching the National Curriculum which it went to develop significantly over the next few years. Fulbridge became the lead school in a group of Peterborough schools. The group wanted to put creativity, first hand experience and use of the local environment at the centre of their approaches to delivering the curriculum. The group was called ‘Oasis’ and was guided by an educationalist called Roger Cole. Roger introduced us to Mick Waters. Mick was director of QCA, the body that was responsible for maintaining and developing the National Curriculum. Mick had a huge influence on the school's thinking. We worked with him for many years.

In November 2005 the new primary school had a successful Ofsted Inspection. By September 2006 the school environment had been transformed with themed corridors, including an Anderson Shelter, an Egyptian Tomb, a Tudor Banqueting Hall, a Victorian school room, kitchen and living room as well as a castle with a dungeon and an African Lion King area amongst other such themed role play areas.

In June 2008 the school was assessed by the then government's flagship for creativity, Creative Partnerships, to become a National School of Creativity. We were successful and became one of only 56 schools nationally across all education sectors to gain this prestigious status. November 2008 also saw another Ofsted Inspection that went well but highlighted the need to raise standards in KS1. This was followed, a year later with a successful monitoring visit from an HMI to look at KS1 standards.

In December 2010, the KS2 SATs results and league tables were published and we discovered that we are one of the most improved schools nationally – over a three year period. This was very pleasing but schools should not be judged solely on some tests done in a week in May each year. The tests only focus on three areas: reading, writing and mathematics. The tests are flawed and sometimes reflect how good schools are at teaching to the test. A good level can be achieved by having a good memory and regurgitating answers. Pupils could potentially do well with little understanding of what they have learnt. Fulbridge has always avoided this approach of teaching to the test. Instead the school focuses on the needs of each child whilst delivering a broad and balanced creative curriculum.

By 2010 Fulbridge School had become a very large primary school. It hosted over 130 members of staff and approximately 700 pupils from over 30 different countries. The school was providing and exciting and varied curriculum with themed corridors and inspiring classrooms.  The school was changing constantly. It had added the Children's Centre on site at the front of school as well as a 0-2 Nursery.

In March 2012 the school was inspected by Ofsted and was graded ‘Outstanding’ in all five judgment areas that Ofsted judge schools upon. This is the highest grade that Ofsted can give. 

Ofsted Report Quotes:

• “Fulbridge is an outstanding school that provides its pupil with a creative, stimulating and innovative curriculum”

• “Pupils thoroughly enjoy coming to school as they are so motivated by the wide range of interesting activities on offer”

• “Achievement is outstanding …. Pupils make rapid and sustained progress year on year”

• “Teaching is outstanding … teachers have strong subject knowledge  …. Imaginative teaching methods and high expectations”

• “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary …. Highly positive attitudes to learning … consistently polite and considerate towards each other”

• The leadership of teaching and management of performance is outstanding.”

• “Led by a highly effective Headteacher the school constantly strives to improve its work”

• “Characteristic of all lessons are high expectations and excellent relationships”

• “Central  to the schools success is the curriculum”

A year later the school converted into an Academy on March 1st 2013 and became known as ‘The Fulbridge Academy.’

In 2013 Fulbridge was invited to become a Cambridge Primary Review Trust (CPRT) Alliance school. This meant we were part of this nationally recognised Schools Alliance. It consisted of a national group of outstanding primary schools committed to CPRT ideals and CPRT priorities, led by Robin Alexander. The CPRT was launched in October 2006 as a fully independent enquiry into the condition and future of primary education in England. The Review, directed by Professor Robin Alexander, is the most comprehensive enquiry into English primary education since 1967. We were very proud to have been invited to be part of this highly regarded national alliance. The Academy was also invited to be a ‘Pathfinder School’ for the prestigious national network called ‘Whole Education.’ Fulbridge has become known nationally for its academic success and innovative creative approach to the curriculum. Iain Erskine, the principal, delivered talks all over the country, as well as in Guernsey and China at conferences about the school’s successful curriculum approach. Fulbridge has had educational visitors from all over the country on a regular basis, including India. It is recognised as being at the forefront of educational innovation.

In the summer of 2013 it was agreed that the Fulbridge Academy would expand from a 3 form to 4 form entry school. This meant that a new school building would be built on a neighbouring site. The site is two minutes walk away, behind the houses that face the school on Keeton Road. The site was formerly a bowling green and after the war, an Italian prisoner of war camp. 

The expansion was in response to the lack of required school places in Peterborough but particularly in our area of the city. Fulbridge at this point had waiting lists of up to 50 or 60 children in some year groups. The then new site had 8 class bases, a hall, office, staff room and meeting room and was for Years 5 and 6 but has over time hosted almost all the year groups. There were also some modifications to the existing site, including extending the main hall and building a new class room. The new school building will have a performing arts theme. The class bases are named after famous places associated with the Arts, like Abbey Road, West End, Broadway ….

In December 2014 the new building was opened. At the end of January an official opening ceremony took place and two stars of the West End, Sophie Linder-Lee and Paul Collings did the official opening. The new part of the Fulbridge Academy is called ‘Fulbridge Academy High: The Charles Swift Wing.’ Named after Cllr Charles Swift in recognition of all his years as a Governor and over 60 years as a councilor for the North Ward.

There were other improvements to the site during the 21st Century in addition to the new 8 class building expansion on the new site, (Fulbridge Academy High). These include an all weather pitch, expanded car parking, a Children’s Centre, a Forest School, a covered PE and play area on the main playground, an art room, Design Technology Room) and a science room. There was further development of the themed learning areas in the corridors. The breakfast club facilities were modernised as part of a new kitchen and dining area. There was also a high quality independent meeting room built, named the Helen Bath Lodge. 

We can confidently predict that there will be further exciting new prospects on the horizon in the future, both in terms of improving the site, pedagogical approach and the curriculum. 

 

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In more recent times Fulbridge formed a Multi-Academy Trust with a Peterborough secondary school, Arthur Mellows Village College, another ‘Outstanding’ school in Ofsted terms. The Trust is called the 4Cs; with the ‘Cs’ standing for ‘Curiosity, Courage, Constancy & Confidence’.

The Executive Principal said: ‘There comes a time when the desire to provide a high quality education for all must be matched by actions. Our two successful schools aspired for all children in the wider locality to achieve their potential.’

It was with this thought in mind that the idea of the Four Cs MAT originated in 2016. The two schools, Arthur Mellows Village College and Fulbridge Academy came together with a common interest in improving the standards for all children in Peterborough. 

The Four Cs MAT became a legal entity in March 2017. 

The Trustees and Governors of the institutions are fully committed to valuing the success of every child and providing excellence in the classroom. They are focused on the needs of their communities and the wider needs of Peterborough and believe that this coming together of like-minded educationalists can only be a positive force in the area.

In 2017, as the MAT was created, the long-standing Head at Fulbridge, Mr Iain M Erskine, decided to start a phased retirement process. After two years as joint Principal, with his Vice-Principal, his son Mr Ben Erskine, Iain retired from Headship. Ben was appointed by the Governors and Trustees as Executive Head both of Fulbridge and the Primary Schools in the Trust.

In recognition of his achievements at Fulbridge, the Sports Hall was named after Iain, reflecting his love for PE and his career starting point as a secondary school PE teacher.

Five years later in 2022 Mrs Helen Bath retired as Chair of Governors after a remarkable 50 years at the school in this voluntary role. Behind the main school building at the back of school a meeting room had previously been built and called the Helen Bath Lodge in recognition of her outstanding service to Fulbridge. 

Very sadly, that same year, on August 16th, 2022, another long serving Governor, left us. Cllr Charles William Swift OBE died aged 92. He was our longest serving governor at Fulbridge from 1961 to 2022. He will be very sadly missed and his contribution to Fulbridge and our community is incalculable.

 In memory of Charles we named part of our school, Fulbridge Academy High (FAH), after him when it opened in 2013. 

Our school, community and the City owe him a great debt of gratitude. Charles was born on July 2 1930 and died on August 16 2022.

Meanwhile another Primary School, Discovery in Walton, Peterborough, had joined the Trust and the 4Cs took over Hampton Vale Primary School, after failing its Ofsted. The Trust also won bids to open a primary and a secondary free school in the east of the city: The Manor Drive school.

Fulbridge went from strength to strength under the new leadership. After a rigorous assessment Fulbridge gained ‘World Class Status’ in 2018, an internationally renowned status. Later that year Fulbridge also gained a top national award, a  Platinum Award, for its Performing Arts provision.

Mr Ben Erskine became Executive Primary Principal of the 4Cs Trust.  Fulbridge, under his leadership, continued its innovative curriculum and Teaching & Learning approach, working with some of the country’s top educationalists. The Academy went in a different direction with the curriculum, in line with more recent educational thinking and research. 

Fulbridge Academy has now designed an innovative, knowledge-rich curriculum that will PREPARE children for their future. Informed by research and shaped to meet the needs of our wonderful local community, our curriculum enables each child to develop an ACTIVE mind, identity, heart and voice. The knowledge and skills of the curriculum are thoughtfully sequenced to ensure that children remember what they learn and appreciate the key ideas of each subject. There are specialist teachers in PE, performing arts, art and Forest School ensuring that every subject is taught with the expertise it deserves.

The overriding aim is to ensure that all children at Fulbridge fulfill their potential by developing the resilience, curiosity, knowledge and skills required to be successful. This has meant stopping many primary pedagogical approaches that have been around for decades as the school forges ahead following the latest research into how children learn best. 

This innovative approach was recognised by Ofsted again on the 19th and 20th March 2024. Fulbridge Academy was rated outstanding by Ofsted, an achievement equalled by just 4% of schools nationally during the last academic year.

The inspectors shared feedback on how: 

• “Pupils love their school and are profoundly happy”

• “Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary”

• “Pupils are eager to learn” 

• “They listen attentively and take turns”

• “Pupils make a considerable contribution to the school and local community”.

Mr Erskine (Executive Principal) said: “During the two days, inspectors spoke about how the children love their school and express themselves so eloquently. How the school gives children opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have; the depth of the clubs, their love to perform in drama, dance and music as well as their passion for sports.”

The outcome was that the Academy is outstanding across all areas: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management and Early Years.

The Ofsted team were very complimentary about the schools curriculum explaining how: 

• “Ambition permeates the school’s broad curriculum” 

• “The curriculum is so carefully thought through for every learner in every year group.” 

• “You are crafting, nurturing and caring for super citizens of now and the future”.

• “Pupils’ looked out for their friends with SEND. They are patient and kind.” 

• “Pupils’ knowledge of world religions and cultures is strong. They celebrate differences. They focus not on what divides them but on what unites them”.

The full report can be accessed on the website.

Please click here to view the latest Ofsted report.

To achieve ‘Outstanding’ in the current Ofsted regime, is an incredible achievement. It surpasses the 2012 achievement. In addition to this it is very rare for a son to succeed his father in Headship in the same school but unheard of for both to lead that school to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ grade from Ofsted.