The Headteacher of a Crowborough Primary School has paid tribute to “the incredible hard work and professionalism of all the staff, the endeavour and excellent behaviour of our pupils and the support of parents and carers” after it was rated “good” by inspectors.
Ofsted inspectors said St. John’s Church of England Primary School was “good” across all key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management.
Effective teaching
In a report published this week following the inspection in March, they have highlighted effective teaching, good character development, and the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities offered to pupils.
They said pupils at St John’s feel a deep sense of belonging and they embrace the school’s vision to “live life in all its fullness”, which teaches them resilience and perseverance. The inspection also highlighted several areas where the school excels, including the broad curriculum, and in areas like early reading.
Positive parents
It provides skilled support for pupils with special educational needs, has effective safeguarding arrangements, and has an open and positive culture that prioritises the interests of pupils. The majority of parents expressed positive views about the school.
However, the inspection did also identify areas for improvement. The inspectors said writing in younger years needs more focus on foundational skills, such as handwriting and constructing simple sentences and the adaptation of the curriculum for SEND pupils is not yet consistent across all subjects.
Thorough and robust
The headteacher, Laura Cooper said: “The inspection was a thorough and robust process where every aspect of our school was put under the inspection team’s microscope! It was also an opportunity for the strengths of the school to be acknowledged and our plans for the continued success and development of the school to be validated.
“We were delighted to receive acknowledgement that the safety and welfare of our pupils remains our top priority allowing us to create a happy and safe school where our pupils flourish.
“The inspector has given us a strong endorsement, supporting the overwhelmingly positive comments from parents. Predictably, the Inspector agreed with our own self-evaluation and development plans; on which we can build so that we continue to provide an excellent education for all our pupils.”