About White Woman Lane School

When your child begins White Woman Lane School you will be entering into a partnership designed to develop the potential of your child. We welcome you to our school and we look forward to a happy and successful association over the coming years. We would like you to feel welcome, to be part of the life of the school and, by encouraging a close relationship between teachers and parents, provide an environment for each individual to develop academically and socially.

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to come in and discuss them. You may also have some information about your child’s interests or achievements out of school, which you would like to share with us. We value the contributions, which you are able to make to your child’s experiences and learning in school.

White Woman Lane School is a school with good standards of achievement and attainment, where pupils are well behaved and the staff is working together as a team with a clear sense of purpose and a genuine interest in the children's welfare and progress.

We offer a well-taught, balanced curriculum to all pupils, whatever their abilities. Our teachers are enthusiastic, have considerable expertise across all areas of the curriculum, and our assessment procedures enable us to monitor the progress of our pupils. We believe in educating the ‘whole person’. We encourage the pupils in music, art, drama and all sports, to aim for very high standards, with opportunities to participate in drama productions, music performances and in competitive and non-competitive sports. We believe all pupils should have these opportunities and we believe they should do them well. Activities are available at lunchtimes and after school. We believe much is to be gained from making visits outside of school, museums, galleries, historical sites, the theatre and even football matches. Residential trips are also available, to all, as they pass through the school.

All our teachers give freely of their time, to talk and to listen, for we know this helps promote good teacher-pupil relationships, so essential to encouraging good attitudes to learning and school. We also develop pupil relationships and children are encouraged to talk through any problems and sort them out to their satisfaction.

Our children are keen to learn and enthusiastic. We have clear, high expectations of them; that they work hard to achieve, in a happy, well ordered and purposeful environment. This website provides part of that environment and is built to attain interest from Parents, Children, Teachers and Governors.

We value the successful partnership we have built between our parents, teachers and governors working together for the benefit of our children. School is about preparing young people with the many skills that they need to be independent and lifelong learners. All our efforts are directed towards encouraging children to enjoy the challenge of learning. Our vision is to build a learning community where all pupils achieve their full potential, whatever their ability. Our mission is to raise achievement and self esteem. We value intellectual curiosity, hard work, respect for others and respect for self.

We know that after four years your child will be well prepared for the transfer to Secondary school and our success in this respect is due, in no small part, to the active co-operation between home and school. 

School Of Sanctuary

We are pleased to announce that White Woman Lane School has now achieved School of Sanctuary Status. We are very proud to have been recognised for this award and are committed to continuing our hard work to enhance our inclusive practices and allow our students to take pride in their school as a place where everyone feels safe, welcome, and included.

What is a School of Sanctuary?

• A school, nursery or sixth-form that fosters a culture of welcome and safety for people seeking sanctuary, including asylum seeking and refugee families.
• A school that educates the whole school community about the experiences and realities of people who have been forced to flee to foster empathy and understanding.
• A school that plays an active role in building a culture of welcome by connecting with and supporting local refugee organisations, collaborating with other institutions to raise awareness and advocate for a kinder approach towards those seeking safety.

At White Woman Lane we do this through our:

• Welcoming Environment

The school strives to create a safe, valued, and supportive environment for sanctuary seekers. We collaborate with support organisations and local refugee networks to understand specific needs and challenges.

• Inclusive Curriculum

The curriculum includes diverse perspectives, literature, and historical narratives to promote understanding and empathy among sanctuary seekers.

• Language Support

Specialised language instruction, translation services, and peer mentoring programs facilitate integration into our school community.

• Peer Mentorship Programs

Students from the school community guide sanctuary seekers, fostering friendship and cultural exchange.

• Inclusive Practices

Sanctuary seekers participate in extracurricular activities alongside peers, building confidence and a sense of belonging.

• Staff Training

Teachers and support staff receive training on supporting sanctuary seekers, trauma understanding, and culturally responsive practices.

• Storytelling and Cultural Exchange

We encourage sanctuary seekers to share their stories, experiences, and cultural heritage (alongside their non-sanctuary seeking peers) through presentations, storytelling sessions, or cultural showcases.

• Partnership with federation schools

We collaborate with our five other federation schools to access and share resources that could support sanctuary seekers and their families.

Please see website link for further details on School of Sanctuary: https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/

Partnership

We are also part of a long-standing partnership with Old Catton Junior School. You can visit their website at www.oldcatton.norfolk.sch.uk.

Nebula

White Woman Lane Junior School, Old Catton Junior School, Frettenham Primary School, Hainford Primary School, Horsford Primary School and St Faiths’ Primary School are now part of the Nebula Federation.

A lot of thought and effort has gone into this decision and we feel the new name is reflective of this. The word nebula originates from the creation of stars, and that is exactly what all of our schools represent - places where individual talents and abilities are recognized and where stars are born.

It is important to stress that this federation name will only be used to give our collection of schools an over-arching name, and each school will keep its individual name, identity, logo and uniform.

The new identity and federation gives us the opportunity to take advantage of significant benefits that will help to improve the education of your child. As Executive Head Teacher I will oversee the progress in all six schools, working with each school to ensure all pupils reach and achieve their full potential.

The Nebula Federation

The-Nebula-Federation-Vision-and-Values.pdf