OFSTED IS FULL OF PRAISE FOR VILLAGE PRIMARY
AN EAST Staffordshire school where pupils “aspire to be the best” and are taught how to be peacemakers has been visited by education watchdog inspectors, who once again rated it as a ‘good’ school.
John of Rolleston Primary School retains the rating after the school was visited by Ofsted at the beginning of March.
The outcome has now been made available and the inspector was full of praise, saying they found pupils enjoyed going to school and felt safe. They also trusted their teachers.
The inspector said: “During lunchtimes and breaktimes, pupils enjoy playing with their friends. Usually everyone gets on well together.
“Bullying is not a problem because adults help pupils to sort things out quickly. Pupils are taught how to be ‘peacemakers,’ and assemblies and circle times help pupils to respect each other and value each other’s differences.”
It noted that pupils rise to the high expectations of teachers and behave sensibly. They are also interested in what they are learning, enjoyed working in pairs, and older children organise their own lunchtime sports activities.
The children enjoy different books and older pupils “like to lose themselves in a good book”.
The report notes there is a broad and balanced curriculum and it is carefully planned.
The inspectors noted: “Leaders know there is further work to do now to support teachers with how to implement the curriculum consistently well in all subjects across the school. During the Covid-19 pandemic, leaders have focused on implementing a consistent approach to the teaching of mathematics and reading.
“This has helped most pupils to stay on track with their learning. Pupils understand what is expected of them. They work in pairs to explain their learning and challenge each other. “Pupils remember what they have learned and progressed well. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) progress well because they are well supported in class or through bespoke interventions.”
Despite the positives, the report said the curriculum was well planned and sequenced, but its implementation was not “consistently strong across the school”, partly due to the pandemic. It also said “phonics planning does not show in sufficient detail how the teaching of phonics must be delivered”. Head teacher Richard Simcox said: “We are very proud of all of the children and staff at John of Rolleston; we strive to live our school values day in day out. After the challenges we have all faced over the last few years, this report is a testament to the commitment of all the school family to learn and support each other. Although it wasn’t possible to receive an outstanding grading in this type of inspection, we look forward to meeting this challenge at the next inspection.”
We are very proud of all the children and staff and John of Rolleston; we strive to live our school values day in day out. Richard Simcox