Tadley primary school celebrates glowing Ofsted report

Leadership, teaching and pupils' behaviour all praised

STAFF and pupils at a Tadley primary school have been celebrating after receiving a glowing Ofsted report.

The 273-pupil Burnham Copse Primary School, in Newchurch Road, received an overall ‘good’ marking from Ofsted inspectors, in a recently published report, following a two-day inspection on March 9 and 10.

The latest report lifts the school out of the overall “requires improvement” marking given in the previous Ofsted inspection of December 2013.

Inspectors gave ‘good’ markings across the board in five categories – leadership and management; teaching; personal development, behaviour and welfare; outcomes for pupils; and early years provision.

Key findings in the latest report included that children in the early years classes got off to a good start, were well prepared for Year 1 and learned to read quickly.

Teaching was praised as ‘good’ across the school after teachers responded well to local authority advice and planned work which helped pupils to progress well at the school, which teaches in mixed age classes.

Disadvantaged pupils received good academic and pastoral support, with care provided for vulnerable pupils and families.

Pupils were happy and enjoyed school, and inspectors wrote: “Their behaviour is good in class and when they move around the school.”

A restructured leadership team was providing clear direction, and was highly motivated, while supportive governors also provided a challenge to leaders at the school, whose head-teacher is Alison Armstrong.

Ms Armstrong said on Monday the report was due to a lot of hard work from everybody.

“It’s nice to have a report we recognise. We read it and recognised the heart of our school,” said Ms Armstrong.

To improve further and become an ‘outstanding’ school, pupils’ achievements needed to be raised, particularly in mathematics, by giving the most able pupils harder work and providing more opportunities for mental calculations.

Leadership and management could also be improved, with a sharper focus in the school improvement plan and communication with parents could also be improved.

In compiling the report, inspectors observed 17 lessons, looked at pupils’ books and attended an assembly and music concert .

They held meetings with school leaders, groups of pupils and a local authority representative and met school governors.

Documents scrutinised included school improvement plans and records relating to pupils’ behaviour, attendance and safety.

Inspectors also met informally with parents and analysed a total 37 parent responses.