‘Happy’ school earns a good Ofsted mark
A“HAPPY and welcoming” school has been awarded with a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted.
Inspectors visited St Peter and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Rishton on March 21 and 22.
The Arundel Street based school was rated ‘Good’ in all categories – the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision – resulting in an overall ‘Good’ rating.
The report, which was published May 19, reads: “Rishton St Peter and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School is a happy and welcoming school.
“Pupils said that they know that they are well looked after by staff.
“This helps them to feel safe in school.
“Pupils are encouraged by staff and each other to be ‘rooted and grounded in love to be their true selves’.
“They enjoy coming to school and they told inspectors how much they enjoy spending time with Larry, the school dog.
“Leaders are ambitious for all pupils to succeed, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
“To this end, leaders have high expectations for what all pupils can achieve.
“Most pupi ls achieve well and they are suitably prepared for the challenges of secondary school.”
Inspect o r s acknowledged staff efforts to support pupils’ wider development through a range of extracurricular clubs.
These activities include football, choir practice and drama.
They also note that leaders have designed a curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND, and teachers successfully adapt the delivery of the curriculum to meet the individual learning needs of this group of pupils.
The report continues: “Pupils are keen to learn.
“In the early years, children quickly settle into routines and can sustain their concentration. They enjoy learning.
“Staff in the early years have fostered positive relationships with children that are based on mutual respect.
“Children in the early years learn to take turns
“Leaders are ambitious for all pupils to succeed.”
and share equipment with each other.”
Inspectors suggested ways in which the school could improve.
They wrote: “In a few subjects, leaders have not made it clear enough to teachers about the knowledge they want pupils to know and remember. This hinders teachers when designing learning for pupils.
“Leaders should ensure that teachers have enough clarity
about what curriculum content pupils should be learning and when this content should be delivered.”
They also pointed out that those responsible for governance have not ensured that they are informed well enough about the quality of education that pupils receive.
Inspectors advise that those responsible for governance should ensure that they are
equipped to challenge leaders and hold them to account effectively.
The school was also rated ‘Good’ in 2018.
Headteacher Sara Clarkson said: “We are very pleased that the inspection team saw first-hand how wonderful our children and staff team are day in, day out, and that they recognised that the children are happy and make good progress during their time with us.”