Good Ofsted for St Mark’s
Pupils love attending Cold Ash primary school and work well together, inspectors find
COLD Ash St Mark’s Primary School has retained its good Ofsted rating following a glowing report.
The school has been praised for its strong sense of belonging, inclusion and community.
Ofsted’s report said pupils love attending and warm relationships permeate the school.
The attendance is higher than the national average.
Headteacher Mitch Warrender said: “I’m delighted that the inspection report recognises the breadth of what our school offers and how it emphasises warm relationships, pastoral care and sense of community alongside referring to how well our pupils learn and behave.
“We are very proud of how we provide a nurturing environment for our children from the moment they join us and we place high priority on teaching children to read.
“So, it was pleasing to see that these, and our children’s love of reading as they progress through the school, were recognised as strengths in our report.
“We were also thrilled to see that the parents’ survey completed during the inspection showed that 100 per cent of our parents would recommend St Mark’s.
“Refining and adapting any curriculum is a continual progress and the point for further improvement mentioned in the report is something we’re already working on as part of our ongoing school development plan.”
The pupil buddy system was praised for helping children to settle quickly when they join and they reflect well on how their behaviours affect others.
The Ofsted inspector found that pupils feel safe and listened to; they work and play together well.
Staff have high expectations of pupils’ achievements and behaviour and motivation runs high with the children, it also noted.
The report also said pupils learn well.
Published outcomes at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2 in 2023, were in line with the national averages.
The school has the same high ambition for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
And staff quickly identify and address the additional needs of pupils with SEND.
In most subjects, the knowledge and skills that the school wants pupils to learn and remember are clearly set out.
The report said this builds well from Reception to Year 6.
Pupils’ behaviour in lessons is excellent and classrooms are productive places to learn, inspectors said.
But the inspector did comment that the school has not ensured that the curriculum supports pupils to build on their prior learning securely enough.
The report added that teachers do not know, in these subjects, exactly what pupils have learned in the past.
And expectations are not always high enough.
In a few foundation subjects, the school is still refining the precise knowledge that pupils should learn.
The report says this affects how well pupils learn.
But the wider-development programme received praise.
Pupils receive a broad range of enrichment opportunities and they are eager to take part in all the school has to offer, the report said. The pupils love reading, too. In early years, children join in with their favourite stories with gusto, the report states.
Older pupils chat about their favourite books and authors happily and pupil librarians love recommending books to younger children.
Ofsted found that the arrangements for safeguarding are also effective.