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Focus Summer 2017

The first school built in Clare for the needs of local children was
constructed in 1862. This was know as Clare Elementary
School. This building was converted to a community centre in
1974 when a new Primary School was built off Common Street.
The Old School is still in Clare but after a series of major
refurbishments is now a community Centre with rooms of
varying size, to accommodate many different activities.

Clare Primary School

Clare Old School

Clare Primary School

Clare School Campaigners congratulated by

David Cameron

Stour Valley School in Clare

Stour Valley Community School

Despite an extensive campaign by local residents to retain
Clare Middle School as a secondary school, Suffolk County
Council decided in 2009 that Clare Middle School should close
in July 2011 as part of its Schools’ Organisation Review,
moving from a 3-tier to a 2-tier system.

Meanwhile, the new conservative government elected in 2010
introduced the possibility of local community, parent and
teacher groups applying to set up “free schools” in their local
area. A small group from our community was able to build on
the good work already undertaken and successfully made the
case for a small, rural 11-16 school to be established serving
Clare and the surrounding villages.

The new school also received £4.8m investment in order to
refurbish and extend the former Clare Middle School site so
that it could accommodate a secondary school curriculum
through to GCSE. From small beginnings in 2011 with 170
students, the school now has 575 students, has been oversub-
scribed for the last 3 years and is the largest employer in Clare
with over 60 staff.

Academically too, the school has gone from strength to
strength. When compared with other schools nationally in
2016, Stour Valley’s top performing subjects were Chemistry –
top 1% for progress, Physics – top 2%, Biology – top 3%, Com-
puting – top 3%, Double Science – top 5% and Maths – top 6%
…….in the country! The school won a prestigious award for its
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) focus at the
House of Lords in 2016 and gained a National Award for
Chemistry which celebrated the best performance by boys in
any secondary school in England.

All of this is supported by thriving Performing Arts, Humanities,
Sports, Art, Design and Languages which ensure a diverse
curriculum designed to meet the needs and aspirations of all
the students in Clare and the surrounding area. We can be
justifiably proud of having such an excellent secondary school
in our community!

Now part of Stour Valley Educational Trust, Clare Primary has
retained its name and uniform, and the school signage and
logo have been refreshed. The exterior and interior of the
building have been cleaned and painted and a major
investment in replacing the school’s IT has already begun.
The future is looking very bright for Clare Primary.

Further information on both schools can be found at

www.clareprimary.org

and