Top marks for village school

Laura Bagshaw PUPILS at a local primary school enjoy a successful start to their education, settle in quickly and achieve well, according to the school's latest Ofsted report.

Laura Bagshaw

PUPILS at a local primary school enjoy a successful start to their education, settle in quickly and achieve well, according to the school's latest Ofsted report.

Rollesby Primary School was given good marks across the board by inspectors who said its success in pupils' settling in well was down to a “very good partnership” in place between staff and parents.

The report said parents express “confidence” in the school with almost all saying they were happy with their children's progress.

And it goes on to applaud the 118-pupil school's efforts in creating links with the community, giving a tree planting exercise involving pupils and parents as an example. It adds that pupils also play an active role in the local church and taking part in fundraising activities.

Children's personal development was considered to be a “wonderful strength” of the school due to the “conscientious” care, support and guidance given to pupils by staff.

Inspectors from the education watchdog were pleased to see the affects the school council had on children, believing it played an “important part” in improving the school. Pupils' well-being is enhanced by drama activities which raise awareness of hazards on the roads and exercise at break times encouraged pupils to keep fit.

The school's “effectively structured curriculum” ensures pupils enjoy a rich learning environment meaning pupils talk “enthusiastically” about what they do.

By Year 4, pupils' standards are above the national average because they receive “consistently good teaching.”

Teaching is effective and pupils are encouraged to be independent and think for themselves.

While the headteacher has only been in her position for a short time Oftsed said her leadership was “very impressive” and that she had set a clear direction to increase the rate of improvement.

The school evaluates itself well with areas of strengths and weaknesses identified so improvements are effectively managed.

To improve, Ofsted said the school should make sure older pupils' work is tracked in more detail and plan learning activities in the outside area more carefully.

Headteacher Sue Pickles said she was “thrilled” with the report adding it was down to the hard work and dedication of teaching and support staff.

Commenting on the strong parent and community partnerships the school has developed she said: “I think it is very important in a small village for people to feel welcome at the school. This is an area we have been working on and we now have the local Brownies and Rainbow groups using the school.

“We do encourage parents to get involved in the school. We have parents who come in and help with reading and cooking and various other activities and we have also started a parents forum where they can come into the school and ask questions.”