Laura Bagshaw NOT a second of learning is wasted at a school because lesson organisation is “so slick.” That was just one of the rave reviews of Lingwood First School, which received a glowing Ofsted report this week.

Laura Bagshaw

NOT a second of learning is wasted at a school because lesson organisation is “so slick.”

That was just one of the rave reviews of Lingwood First School, which received a glowing Ofsted report this week.

Inspectors from the education watchdog said the school thrived because staff aimed for “standards of the highest quality” under the “excellent” leadership of the headteacher.

They thought teaching at the school was outstanding and imaginative - so much so that pupils “make excellent and reach standards that are above average.”

The report also praises pupils' quality of work in art and design and notes the exceptional use of technology. Year two pupils' performance is always above national averages in reading, writing and mathematics, and in some years the standard is “exceptionally high.”

Lingwood is a small school with just 141 pupils and Ofsted said a key feature to the school's success was down to the “close attention to detail in teachers' planning, the meticulous assessment of pupils' progress and the high expectations of their performance.”

Staff are also encouraged to develop their skills through extra training, and teaching assistants have become “highly skilled” and in turn developed expertise in managing learning programmes for pupils with learning difficulties.

The school has a “rich” curriculum that Ofsted felt was geared closely to meeting pupils' needs.

Teachers were also praised for encouraging pupils, particularly boys, to get into reading by having.

A strong bond between the school and the community was also recognised through an innovative project with senior citizens from the village and Norfolk Dance whereby pupils work with the elderly to create dances.

Lingwood pupils' personal development is “outstanding” because they are encouraged to be responsible, independent and self confident.

The school's headteacher and deputy head work well together to give the school “vigour and dynamism.”

Parents were said to be delighted with their children's education and the dedication of teachers. Several parents have written to the school in praise of the provision for pupils who find learning difficult.

One parent said: “…because of the dedication of his teacher and the headteacher, he is coming on in bounds. Fantastic school!”