St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, in Boston, part of Infinity Academies Trust, has been selected by the Department for Education as an East Midlands Lead School in the national Reception Network.
St Thomas’ will be one of only five schools from across the region to take on this important role, as part of a national programme to strengthen the quality of reception year provision across England.
The school will now lead a network focused on sharing strong evidence-informed practice in the vital first year of primary school, as well as supporting schools, nurseries and other early years providers in the East Midlands to develop their provision.
In a letter to the school, the Department for Education wrote: “Your school stood out in a highly competitive national assessment process. We were truly impressed by the strength of your reception practice, the expertise of your early years team, and the clear impact you are already making in your own school, and beyond.
“Being selected from such a strong field is a significant achievement, and we want to congratulate you and your staff on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for helping us leading this programme!”
This new role highlights St Thomas’ commitment to delivering the best possible learning opportunities and outcomes for its children. Rated ‘outstanding’ in every judgement area during a 2025 Ofsted inspection, the school was also praised by Bridget Phillipson MP, the Secretary of State for Education, for “the excellent outcomes” that disadvantaged pupils achieved last year.
Joanne Sharples, Headteacher at St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, said: “I am incredibly proud of the talented and dedicated team here at St Thomas’. Their hard work and passion are evident every day and they have truly earned this recognition.
“Being able to extend our reach and support other schools to improve the learning experiences and outcomes for even more children across the region fills me with pride. It is a huge privilege.”
Gavin Booth, CEO at Infinity Academies Trust, added: “At Infinity Academies Trust, we are proud of our collaborative approach and sharing best practice and expertise helps us to deliver a high-quality education for all our pupils across our family schools.
“For St Thomas’, this prestigious new role reflects not only their exceptional early years staff but also the outstanding quality of teaching throughout the school.
“I am confident that the school will thrive in this new role and that children across the region will benefit greatly from their influence.”
St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy currently has places available in certain year groups. To find out more or book a tour please call 01205 362860 or visit www.stthomasacademy.co.uk
