Pupils at a Cumbrian primary are ‘thriving’ according to Ofsted inspectors who rated the school Good in every category.
Inspectors were full of praise for children and staff at Tebay Primary School where pupils live up to the high expectations for their achievement and personal development.
The school, part of Cumbria Education Trust (CET), was also given an overall Good rating by inspectors, who found:
- Pupils model the school’s values of respect, responsibility and resilience.
- The curriculum ‘excites and engages’ children who enjoy learning
- Supportive older pupils go the extra mile to help the younger ones.
In their report, inspectors said: “Pupils are happy and thrive at Tebay, which is at the heart of this rural community. Parents and carers recognise the caring environment as a real strength of this small school.”
Pupils achieve well in core lessons such as maths, reading and phonics with older children showing ‘a real love of reading’ which many said they preferred to playing on the computer. The report also noted the wide range of clubs and activities available to pupils and highlighted the cookery club sent meals out to families in the local area.
Inspectors said that the headteacher Lisa Bland had galvanised the school community and staff felt valued.
The report added: “They appreciate the regular training provided by the trust. Leaders and the Local Advisory Board (LAB) are proactive in supporting the well-being of staff.
“The multi-academy trust provides invaluable support for this school. Trustees and the local governing board know the school well.”
On early years learning, the report noted: “Teachers and support staff model well their expectations of children’s behaviour and attitudes. As a result, children learn to respect each other and the adults around them.”
Mrs Bland said: “We are very pleased that the outcome reflects not only the hard work of staff but the support of the fantastic community that the school lies within and of course our amazing children, parents and LAB members.”
CET’s Director of Primary Education Chris Wilkins said: “What stands out to me all the way through the report is that the school is providing an excellent curriculum for the children. It meets their needs, it’s matched to their experience and is enabling them to thrive.
“Staff are providing families a gem of a school that impacts not only on the children and their learning but on the parents and the wider community as well. It’s wonderful the village has got a school of which it can be proud.”
The inspection was carried out in March, before the coronavirus lockdown.
