BEST SCHOOL: Orchards Middle School looks to retain its title

THE winner of a Community Stars Award is in the running to retain its title.

Orchards Middle School, in Nelson Road, Goring, has once again been nominated for Best School in this year’s award.

The school caters for children in year four to year seven and prides itself on its friendliness and the role it plays in the community.

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Parents, Allison and Noel Shields, of St Andrew’s Road, Tarring, have praised the school which their 10-year-old son, Oliver, attends.

Allison, 44, said: “Orchards Middle School is a school that changes children’s lives for the better.

“From the moment we looked around Orchards for the first time and saw the rapport between the staff, pupils and parents, we knew this would be the school for our son.”

Noel, 45, added: “He has gone from a child who often cried about going to school to one who cannot bear to miss a day.

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“We just wish all children could experience a school as wonderful as Orchards.”

Sybil Kelsall’s grand-daughter, 10-year-old Kathryn Stacy, also attends the school. Sybil, 82, of Cumberland Avenue, Goring, said: “She has done so well ever since she started there.

“It is a welcoming environment and all the teachers are so willing to help.”

Head teacher Paul Jones said he was “delighted” the school had been nominated again.

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He said: “We won it last year and it really did mean a lot to us.

“We had a fantastic year last year with a lot of success and a lot of things happening.

“We had a really good Ofsted and won the Community Star and later on we became the only school in West Sussex to get the gifted and talented school status and got the best test results.

“We spent a lot of the summer trying to make the school even better.

“To get the nomination and win it meant a lot to us.”

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