Pupils at a primary school judged good by Ofsted told inspectors they have something exciting to look forward to every day.
Yanwath Primary School is celebrating being rated good across all categories after its first inspection as part of the Cumbria Education Trust (CET).
After a two-day appraisal earlier this month, inspectors said leaders at the school expect all pupils to ‘be the best they can be’ and, as a result, pupils achieve well, especially in reading.
Inspectors who visited the 169-pupil school found:
- Pupils are safe, happy and enjoy learning.
- Teachers motivate children to succeed.
- Pupils’ positive attitudes to learning contribute further to their success.
- Inspectors highlighted curriculum development at the school as a strength.
Their report said: “Leaders and governors ensure that all pupils access an exciting and ambitious curriculum. It is designed to enable pupils to develop a wide range of relevant knowledge.”
Inspectors went on to praise the school’s efforts to embrace its natural environment with a curriculum ‘tailored to capture pupils’ interest in the local area and beyond’ and adding ‘pupils benefit from taking part in adventurous activities in the school’s outdoor area or nearby lakes’.
School leaders and governors ensure that opportunities for pupils’ personal development are woven into the life of the school. Pupils spoke with enthusiasm about wild swimming and other survival activities they have experienced. Inspectors noted ‘pupils appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of their locality’ and the children spoke about having ‘something exciting to look forward to each day’.
Children settle quickly into early years with staff getting to know them and finding out their interests. Children begin learning to read as soon as they are in the reception year, successfully building on what they have learned through the songs and rhymes they shared during nursery class.
The report added: “As pupils move into Key Stage 1, they quickly build up secure phonic knowledge and a love of reading. Well trained staff support pupils practise their reading frequently with carefully selected books. Pupils rarely fall behind.”
The inspection found older pupils talked ‘knowledgeably’ about books they have read, with secure reading skills making it easier for them to learn in other subjects.
Special needs
The additional requirements of special education needs pupils are effectively-identified, with staff ensuring all children have access to the same curriculum.
On safeguarding, the report said staff are vigilant to situations where pupils may be at risk of potential harm and take swift action to notify the relevant personnel.
On areas for improvement, inspectors said that in most subjects teachers have been well trained to deliver leaders’ high-quality curriculum plans, but that in one or two other subjects that they have not received all of the training that they need in order to deliver the curriculum as effectively as they should.
This means, inspectors said: “Teachers sometimes do not choose the most appropriate activities to support pupils’ learning. Consequently, pupils do not achieve as well as they could in these remaining subjects.”
Headteacher Cate Floyd said the good judgement was testament to the way the whole school had worked together to create the right environment for learning and progress.
Mrs Floyd, who was headteacher at CET’s Longtown Primary School when it received the first good judgement in its history, said: “The whole of the school community at Yanwath should be very proud of what’s in the report.
“It highlights some of the key elements that make this a very supportive and ambitious environment where the children are encouraged and challenged to give of their best.”
Yanwath is the fourth CET primary school to be graded good at the first Ofsted inspection after joining the trust.
Chris Wilkins, CET’s director of primary education, added: “Staff at the school, supported by colleagues across the trust, have worked incredibly hard during the challenges of the pandemic. As this report confirms, they have kept standards high and always remain motivated to do the absolute best for the children in their care.”
Last year with the support of its parent and teachers’ association and local businesses the school developed a nurture garden to create more outdoor education and learning opportunities for pupils after lockdown.
