Headteacher at The Lantern Community Primary School

Mr Chris Axten-Higgs

Head of School at Downham Feoffees Primary Academy

Mrs Benita Sherrington

The Lantern Community Primary School and Downham Feoffees Primary Academy  are a close-working pair of schools that enjoy all of the benefits that collaboration brings. Each school maintains their own individuality and identity but share many common traits. 

Our curriculum across all of our 19 Meridian primary schools enables the children to develop their own learning and shape their own understanding as they use prior learning to embed and secure new skills and knowledge. We are fortunate at both The Lantern and Downham Feoffees to have excellent facilities and spaces, both inside and out, which facilitate and enhance the children’s learning opportunities.

The Lantern Community Primary School is situated in the heart of Ely and caters for children aged 3 – 11 (Pre-school, Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2).

At The Lantern Community Primary School, we have approximately 400 pupils, organised into two classes per year group. There are currently 14 classes plus our Goslings Pre-school.  Our children come from Ely and the surrounding area, with the majority living close by.

We are proud of both of our schools and of the parts they play within each local community. Our success works in unison with the partnerships fostered between the home and school. We value the hard work and support provided by parents/carers and their families including the Friends of the Lantern School (FOTLS)/Friends of Downham Feoffees (FODA) and our Academy Councils. We have fostered links with businesses and charities both within the locality and further afield; we look forward to further developing such opportunities.

Both schools have forged robust links with Ely College, also part of the Meridian family. The Lantern and Ely College are situated very closely to each other in the heart of Ely so children have the opportunity to access learning from pre-school to sixth form in close proximity.

Our schools are great places to teach and learn in and we are all very proud of what we achieve.

Link to Ofsted Inspection Report

50200472 (ofsted.gov.uk)