AN inspector has praised a village primary school’s high expectations, caring staff and values “rooted in love”.
Ofsted visited Olveston Church of England Primary School in February.
The regulator no longer gives one-word overall ratings for routine inspections but said the school is maintaining the standards identified during the last visit in 2019, when it was rated ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ for its early years provision.
Inspector Tonwen Empson said: “This is a happy school. Pupils enjoy their learning and attend well.
“The school carefully considers how to develop pupils’ character.
“Pupils benefit from the school’s high expectations for achievement and behaviour. They thrive on the consistent routines and the kind, caring attitudes of staff.
“Strong, shared values, summarised as being ‘rooted in love’, pervade every aspect of the school.
“There is a deliberate intent to ensure that pupils leave the school knowing that they can contribute to make the world a better place.”
‘Steps to success’
The inspector said pupils learn the curriculum well from Reception onwards, with clear “steps to success” that help them understand what they are learning.
Extra help for pupils who need it, including specialised support for those with special educational needs or disabilities, is highlighted in the report.
The inspector said that since the last inspection at the school in Elberton Road, which has 201 pupils aged from four to 11 on its roll, the curriculum has been further enhanced.
She said: “‘Golden threads’, such as justice and diversity, ripple through different subjects.”
To improve further, Ofsted recommended that the school ensure key curriculum concepts are “explicitly introduced” to help pupils deepen their understanding, and ensure its strategies to support children needing help to catch up are checked carefully to ensure they are effective.
Head: ‘We take greater pride in the responses from our families’
Head teacher Lee Dunn (pictured above, with pupils) said: “We are pleased that the Ofsted report recognises our commitment to fostering a community where ‘rooted in love’ is more than just a motto—it’s the foundation of everything we do.
“This report affirms that our school offer has significant impact in developing the whole child.
“The inspector definitely saw this during her inspection visit.
“I think it is difficult for any inspector to capture the essence of a school in less than 800 words.
“So, as pleased as we are with the report, we take greater pride in the responses from our families.
“With 96 responses to the Ofsted Parent View, our community clearly wanted to share their positive views with the inspectorate.
“With 100% of parents and carers stating that their children are happy and feel safe in school, and that they would recommend the school to another parent.
“I think the Parent View responses are a demonstration of what our school provides for our children and families – a happy and thriving school.”