St Martin’s Primary School has been rated ‘Excellent’ for the Personal Development of its pupils.
The school was rated ‘Good’ in all other Ofsted inspection areas said ESC today.
“This report is a real testament to our passionate, dedicated staff, our hard-working, incredible children and the continued support of our parents and carers, and wider school community,” said Headteacher Clare Giles.
“I am proud that Ofsted recognised the strength of our leadership at every level and the trust we place in one another. Knowing that our staff feel listened to and valued, that our pupil voice is central to our ethos, and that parents and carers appreciate the care and support their children receive, means a great deal to us. These relationships are at the heart of everything we do for our pupils.”
Its second Ofsted inspection has resulted in ‘Good’ ratings for the Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Leadership and Management, and Early Years Provision at St Martin’s Primary School, while it has also retained that ‘Excellent’ rating in the Personal Development and Welfare of children.
The inspectors found the school is one where ‘pupils feel safe, welcomed, and valued’, and are ‘curious, hardworking and engaged’.
It is said to provide an ‘exceptional’ educational provision beyond the academic curriculum, and has ‘significantly improved’ the quality of its education since the previous inspection in 2022.
The school has raised expectations for what pupils achieve, meaning that pupils learn well across the curriculum, said the inspectors in their final report.
The primary school delivers a broad curriculum, where pupils learn to read well, including those with additional learning needs (ALN), ensuring that ‘reading has remained at the root of the school’s curriculum’ and it is ‘highly inclusive’, with pupils with ALN receiving ‘the most appropriate support and guidance to help them to be successful.’
The inspectors also found that ‘staff have the appropriate subject knowledge to teach effectively’, which ensures that ‘pupils’ learning builds on their prior knowledge’, helping most pupils to grasp new concepts confidently while the school also makes expectations of its pupils’ behaviour clear and is developing ‘compassionate and empathetic individuals’ who show kindness and tolerance towards one another.
The school has well-established early years routines which helps children settle quickly too, said the inspectors.
There are some areas for improvement too, acknowledged Ms Giles.
“The areas highlighted in the report for improvement were already in our school development plan and have already begun to be addressed,” she said.
The areas for improvement relate to ensuring tasks continue to extend the scope and ambition for its pupils, so that learning opportunities can be deepened. It also indicates that while younger pupils have skills such as accurate pencil grip and letter formation, some older pupils need further support to ensure fluency and accuracy in their writing.
The report praised the way that pupils ‘actively shape school life by leading initiatives’, empowering them to become responsible and community minded. Inspectors recognised that pupils take on a wide range of leadership roles that nurture responsibility and teamwork in the school.
Overall, it was a very positive report, said Kim Hutchinson, Head of Primary Leadership and Development.
“St Martin’s Primary School’s inspection reflects the progress I have observed firsthand that the school has made since its first Ofsted inspection in 2022,” she said. “The report highlights strong leadership, a well-considered curriculum and a clear culture of collective responsibility that is driving improvement and raising expectations for pupils’ achievement. Congratulations to Mrs Giles and her team for such a strong review.”
Nick Hynes, Director of Education, added: “The inspectors’ recognition of the school’s excellent personal development and welfare provision is testament to the outstanding provision in place at St Martin’s Primary School. The emphasis on pupil voice, inclusion and wellbeing, shows how the school is making sure that children thrive both personally and academically; taking account of all aspects of a child’s development. I am confident that under Mrs Giles’ leadership the school will continue to achieve and ensure excellent outcomes for children at St Martins.”