New Headteacher sets out vision for Lovers’ Lane Primary & Nursery School in Newark

A new Headteacher has outlined his vision and plans for Newark’s Lovers’ Lane Primary & Nursery School, which is based on Warburton Street.

James Wood became Headteacher at the school in April and brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously occupied leadership positions at two schools when they achieved ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ratings.

The school has also recently joined The Flying High Partnership, a multi-academy trust ranked in the top 4 in the country in the latest MAT Performance data.

James said, “I’m incredibly proud to join Lovers’ Lane Primary and Nursery School as their new Headteacher and I’m excited by the journey we’re on. Built upon care, high standards and a strong sense of community, our vision of empowering excellence every day will enable us to truly make every day count for all our pupils.”

Not only has the school seen a change in leadership, but the school building and environment are undergoing renovations. Recently completed works include a redecoration of Early Years Foundation Stage, with new flooring, storage, sinks and fire doors, and with classrooms now benefitting from suspended ceilings with acoustic tiles, LED lighting and insulation. The school has also topped up funding by Nottinghamshire County Council for the resurfacing and making good of the school’s playground.

The Flying High Partnership’s, Dave Morris (Operations Team / Estates), explained the impact of the building renovations. “It’s been fantastic to make a difference to our youngest children already, -their learning environment is now appropriate and effective to support their learning, while also introducing some practical elements to enhance the safety and performance of the building.

“Going forward, the next phases of improvements will be focused on making similar improvements in all remaining classrooms throughout the school, so that all children in Lovers’ Lane can benefit from improved learning environments. This includes the creation of an outdoor Sensory Space to help meet the needs of all our children.”

Headteacher James said he is already seeing positive changes taking place and would welcome families to see this for themselves. “I truly believe in the transformative power of education and that every child deserves access to the highest quality learning experiences to give them the best possible start to life.

“We have open days during June, but welcome contact from families who want to see for themselves the changes taking place. We are creating a school the whole community can be proud of and we want to share the good news.”

James said he sees this as a new and exciting period for the school. “Our school’s vision is simple yet powerful: to empower everyday excellence for all pupils. It’s about creating confident, capable learners who feel inspired every day to achieve their very best and developing every child through a carefully designed curriculum that will shape their future and nurture their voices as they grow.”

James says the school is launching a brand-new curriculum that is ‘rooted in excellence and tailored specifically to the needs of our pupils and the wider community our school serves’.

He said, “This bespoke approach ensures every child is challenged, supported, and inspired in all areas of their learning. A key part of our offer is enrichment—bringing learning to life through real-world, hands-on experiences. We’ve already begun mapping out an exciting calendar of trips, visits, and immersive opportunities for the next academic year, designed to broaden horizons and ignite curiosity both in and beyond the classroom.”

Speaking about Mr Wood, Year 1 pupil Arthur said, “I like Mr Wood because he is always smart looking. It is also exciting to have new classrooms. I am happy at school and my favourite lesson is Design & Technology because I like the ‘making’ part. I also enjoy playtimes and being with my friends.”

Szofi is in Year 3 and said, “I also like Mr Wood because he is making our school a nicer place to be with the new classrooms. I enjoy art and writing and all of my teachers are helpful and kind which makes me feel happy to be at Lovers’ Lane.”

Year 5 pupil, Jamie said “I like what Mr Wood is doing to our school. He is really kind.  Like this morning, he greeted me in a kind manner!

“I am ecstatic about the classrooms being made fabulous” said Jamie, “because it is better to learn in a nice environment. My favourite thing about Lovers’ Lane is seeing the teachers and my favourite subjects are art, history and science. Art gives you the opportunity to express yourself. I also love handwriting, and I work very hard to get my writing looking spot on. It’s very satisfying!”

The school is holding an open day for families wanting to take a look at the new nursery facilities on 26^th June 1:30 pm -2:30 pm and also 30^th June, 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm