Woodley school hits Parent Power list

A WOODLEY school is celebrating after being named in the Sunday Times list of top state primary schools.

The annual Parent Power lists were published last weekend and St Dominic Savio is the highest rated borough school in the lists. It came it at joint 184th in England, rising from 298th place last year.

The school said that this ranking puts it in the top 1% of primary schools in England, demonstrating it approach of setting high expections of all of its pupils.

It added that The Sunday Times now places St Dominic Savio higher than other feepaying prep schools in the country.

The school’s headteacher, James Broadbridge, was delighted with the school’s placement.

He said: “We have a tremendous work ethic at our school based upon our Catholic faith. We believe in traditional values: smart uniform, excellent behaviour and manners at all times, speaking like a scholar, beautiful handwriting, calmness and focus in the classroom, traditional style of teaching and a knowledge-rich curriculum.

“We are very formal in our approach – and it works for us – we expect this from our children who start with us at the age of four.

“While our school is a respectful and hardworking place for all, our enrichment opportunities and extra-curricular activities, particularly in sport and the arts, ensure it is a happy and exciting place to learn.

He continued: “We are proud of our excellent academic outcomes year on year – these give our children the best chances at secondary school and beyond. This month we received a letter from Nick Gibb, Minister for Schools, on our outcomes in Phonics (for six-year-olds) which place us in the top 4% of all schools for phonics nationally. Getting the foundations for learning right from the start gives every child the best opportunity to achieve.”

Mr Broadbridge said that the school is very diverse with more than 30 languages spoken and that parents choose to send their children to the school from a wide geographical area. meaning that it is oversubscribed.

He added: “The whole school community is very proud of its achievements, academic and enrichment, and inspires great loyalty from all: governors, staff, pupils, parents and parish. St Dominic Savio is committed to an aspirational culture, rooted in gospel values, in challenging all children and having no limits.”

The school is not the only one to feature in The Sunday Times’ lists. Reddam House, formerly Bearwood College, came in at 29th in the independent prep schools list, while Waverley School in Finchampstead was 48th.

This weekend, The Sunday Times will reveal its annual list of secondary schools.

For more, log on to thesundaytimes.co.uk/ parentpower