Miles Jermy A BRADWELL school has been praised for coping with change and helping pupils make good progress.Woodlands Primary has been rated a good school in a report by education watchdog Ofsted.

Miles Jermy

A BRADWELL school has been praised for coping with change and helping pupils make good progress.

Woodlands Primary has been rated a good school in a report by education watchdog Ofsted.

Children are receiving a good education with a wide range of curriculum opportunities, according to inspectors.

The school changed from middle to primary status in September as part of a borough wide reorganisation and opened a nursery last year.

Headteacher Mandy Stanton, staff and governors received plaudits for successfully steering the school through the recent changes.

Pupils' personal development and well-being is rated good, with encouragement for children to develop a healthy lifestyle an outstanding feature.

High quality sports teaching is combined with exceptional after-school clubs providing many pupils with good physical activity skills.

Lead inspector Sue Hall said: “The majority of pupils behave well and like school. Many speak with pride about their sporting interests, say they feel safe in school and there is little bullying.

“A key feature of the school's ethos is that pupils learn they have rights and responsibilities, which most are keen to live up to.”

Progress in maths is satisfactory, but standards are not as high as in English and science and pupils do not have enough opportunity to practise their skills.

The school was given good marks for tracking and assessing pupils' progress effectively and clearly.

The work of the special educational needs co-ordinator was praised, with vulnerable pupils receiving help tailored to their needs.

Nursery and early years education was rated satisfactory and described as developing well with potential for further improvements. However, the learning environment is a “little

bland and lacks imaginative stimulus.” Teaching for children in the two reception classes, which

only began in September, was

rated mostly good.

Mrs Stanton said: “This report is a tribute to all of our staff who have been able to maintain high standards and develop an exceptional range of extra-curricular opportunities for all of our children while the school has changed from middle to primary status.

“The inspectors have recognised our school's many strengths and I am particularly pleased that they have focused on the good personal development of our pupils and the efforts we take to ensure they are well supported. We want all of our pupils to grow into responsible and mature young people with high levels of achievement and this report recognises that we are fulfilling this aim.”