A vibrant school where pupils, staff and parents and carers feel a sense of joy – that’s how an inspector summed up Ashley Down Primary School.
His Majesty’s Inspector Sarah Favager-Dalton, from Ofsted, visited the 399-pupil primary for two days in December.
She concluded that the school had taken effective action to maintain the Good standards it achieved when it was last inspected in 2019.
The many positive comments in her report included:
• Pupils enjoy coming to school. They trust and respect staff, having confidence that adults will help them if they are experiencing difficulties. Pupils feel safe at school.
• The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils are enthusiastic about learning.
• The rich diversity of the local area and community are visible across the school. Different faiths, cultures and backgrounds are celebrated. Pupils appreciate the common ground that people share. This helps pupils to feel welcome and included.
• Pupils feel respected. They know they all have a contribution to make and that their thoughts and opinions matter.
• Pupils thrive at the school, both socially and academically. Staff are welcoming and approachable to pupils and their families.
The inspector said that the school’s curriculum was ambitious and broad, reflecting the high aspirations that the school has for all pupils.
She reported” “Learning is well sequenced, enabling pupils to build on what they already know. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. The work that pupils complete is of a high quality. Pupils remember what they have learned and can link this to new knowledge.”
Staff were said to have good subject knowledge and to be well trained.
The love of reading among pupils of all ages was highlighted: “pupils read with fluency, confidence and enthusiasm”.
The inspector praised the children for working hard, being resilient and learning to manage their emotions and said staff supported children struggling with their behaviour.
She noted that this made for “a harmonious atmosphere where pupils are keen to support one another”.
To improve further, she said, the school should support all staff to identify pupils’ misconceptions promptly and consistently.
In a letter to parents and carers following the inspection, headteacher Amy Sood said the strengths of the school’s academic and pastoral commitments to its pupils had been recognised by the inspector.
“The children were a credit to you and to Ashley Down Primary School throughout the inspection, and we are very proud of them.
“It’s worth noting that it felt like two remarkably normal days for the school and their attitude, behaviour, and positive embodiment of the school values shone through,” she said.
Mrs Sood also highlighted “the contribution of the incredible staff team throughout the inspection and the whole year, without whom the wide range of achievements we are able to celebrate would not be possible”.