TAKING the learning outside the classroom is something that is key to the education of children at Stogumber Church of England Primary School.

Happy, confident children who are full of energy fill the two classrooms in this small school with enthusiasm for all that is going on around them.

The school caters for Reception, Years 1 and 2 in Class 1 and Years 5 and 6 in Class 2.

Stogumber School is federated with Crowcombe Primary School, sharing head teacher Julie Norman, whose love for the school cannot be more humbling.

“I am in such a happy bubble now I’m working here,” she said.

Julie joined the school in September after holding the position of deputy head teacher at Uphill Primary School.

She added: “The kids are great and I really enjoy working with the staff.

“And the parents in particular have been so supportive.”

Displays of children’s work make the walls come alive, particularly with a board about the Story Walks project in Class 2.

Pupils are currently writing their own story based around the village, which will be available to walkers in the area via a website.

“ICT is really important here because the children come from really rural backgrounds,” explained Mrs Norman.

“We want these children to stand just as good a chance at further education and getting jobs as a child who has attended a school in the most urban of areas.

“They need to know what’s out there so that they can make their own choices.

“But to do that they need to know where they come from, and that’s here.

“Engaging with the local community is another thing we encourage at Stogumber.”

As well as holding ‘Wow’ days – an offcurriculum day where the children take part in activities that make them go wow! – the school takes part in goings-on in the village.

In November the children attended a Remembrance Service in St Mary’s Church, much to their delight and the appreciation of the villagers.

Although Mrs Norman is an interim head teacher, she has had to make some difficult choices for the future of the two schools.

As the intake this year across the two schools has risen from about 66 to 88 pupils, a reshuffle of sites has had to be made to accommodate the number of children. As of September 2015, Key Stage 2 will be housed in Crowcombe and Key Stage 1 at Stogumber.

“The support from the parents on this has been fantastic,” said Mrs Norman. “It has been really positive so we have high hopes for the future.”