Cobholm school’s good OFSTED report

A PRIMARY school is making big strides towards a higher rating from Ofsted after making noticeable progress.

Cobholm Primary School achieved a clutch of “satisfactory” grades alongside a sprinkling of “goods” from inspectors who visited last month.

The report said a combination of good teaching, plenty of encouragement and praise, and “brisk, enjoyable and lively lessons” were “beginning to bear fruit.”

It also praised the school’s efforts in reducing the amount of unauthorised absence through “rigorous action” and in improving the reading of boys, who were lagging behind girls, by buying books that appealed to them.

Elsewhere it says improvements at the 167-pupil school were made against a backdrop of children joining and leaving throughout the academic year.

More than half of those from minority ethnic groups are in the early stages of learning English and the school has more special needs/disabled pupils than average.

The majority of teaching is said to be good with a greater involvement with parents and carers helping children in their learning.

The report adds: “Plans for development are securely focused on raising standards based on an accurate evaluation of the school’s strengths and needs. All these improvements indicate a satisfactory capacity for further improvement and leaders are aware that more needs to be done to involve pupils in their learning to help raise standards further.”

As well as recognising improvements the report flags up concerns about a small minority of youngsters whose behaviour disrupts some lessons and causes anxiety among other children. There is also some “occasional, unacceptable” behaviour in the playground.

Parents are mainly positive about the school saying their children enjoy school, are cared for and taught well. The governing body is said to be effective, supporting the school well.

The Early Years Foundation Stage achieved four “goods” and children there are said to make good progress.