Trenode Church of England School is situated only a short way from the nearest village of Widegates but the distance is enough for its children to enjoy an undisturbed focus on their schooling.

Head teacher Gerry Sweet officially started as recently as November 2001 after eight months as acting head.

'I came to the school as acting head in February 2001,' said Mr Sweet.

'We went through a successful Ofsted inspection and I was so taken with everyone connected with Trenode that I applied for the full-time headship.'

Mr Sweet, who teaches class two for three-and-a-half days a week, describes the school ethos as built around 'one and all'.

'Children are able to grow as individuals, but the school community is also nurtured,' said Mr Sweet.

There are 58 pupils split into three classes, taught by three permanent teachers, and one part-time teacher, with assistance from five support staff.

Class one is taught by Mrs Walley, class two is shared between Mrs Mann and Mr Sweet, and class three is taught by Mrs Saunders.

On the morning I visited the school the entire school had experienced a performance from an educational theatre company, which visits annually.

For the event the school combined with Downderry School and the increased group were able to ask questions about the production.

'It's very important for the children to meet others from different schools. These children will often find they are classmates when they reach secondary school,' said Mr Sweet.

'One of the children came up to me after the production and said "I have made a new friend," it was great and really epitomised the importance of this morning's show.'

Confident

The school has recently held elections amongst the children to select six school council members who will regularly meet with the head and a member of the governing body.

'Knowing that you are learning, leads to feeling more confident and good about yourself as a learner,' said Mr Sweet, 'and enjoying what you are doing is a great motivator.'

Outside normal lessons the children of Trenode Church of England School can learn the guitar and violin, and enjoy extra-curricular football, high-five netball, country dance, cross country and athletics.

The school is in the process of extending and resurfacing the playground, with plans already submitted and money available.

Best

The old School Hall was given to the parish in 1927, when it was decided it would be used as a school; the main building however, has only been open for two years.

Mr Sweet, said: 'The classrooms here are the best I have taught in throughout my 26 years as a teacher.'

Besides a football pitch and tarmac playground, Trenode School pupils can enjoy, among other things, an adventure playground and a remembrance garden.

The chairman of the school governors, Maggie Willmott, whose own children went through Trenode School, said: 'The parents here have had a lot of influence on the outside. It was parents that built the adventure playground.

'The parents also laid the path so that the children didn't have to walk down the dangerous road.'