Recently, the Weald Primary C of E Primary School in Beare Green, Dorking were excited to celebrate a rather special achievement thanks to the remarkable Heritage Schools initiative from Historic England in collaboration with Surrey Heritage and Surrey Museums Partnership.

Becoming a Heritage School shines a spotlight on the school’s best practice for enriching children’s experience of local history, heritage and cultural opportunities. The Weald were very proud to receive the Heritage Schools Award.

Haidee Thomas, from Surrey Museums Partnership, who presented the award on behalf of Historic England said, “The Weald captures the spirit of this initiative completely, keeping ‘local’ at the heart of every opportunity to pique children’s curiosity and embed a sense of pride in where they live.

"They take a whole-school approach to learning involving every member of school staff, the children, their families and the wider community. They continue to deliver an excellent localised curriculum embedding children’s understanding of people and places that have shaped their area and their importance to the wider county and world.

"The Weald has also encouraged and supported our Heritage Schools work across the Good Shepherd Trust academy. Our partners at Historic England were only too happy to grant them Heritage School status.”