Children’s love of school praised in Medina Primary School Ofsted report

CHILDREN’S ‘love for their school’ was highlighted in a recent Ofsted inspection of Medina Primary School.
Head teacher, Howard Payne, with pupils, from left, Ariane Kamakoue, Liam Goble, Mickey Stanley, Max Butcher, Delia Dumitru, Maisie Clarke and Chanulya De Silva.Head teacher, Howard Payne, with pupils, from left, Ariane Kamakoue, Liam Goble, Mickey Stanley, Max Butcher, Delia Dumitru, Maisie Clarke and Chanulya De Silva.
Head teacher, Howard Payne, with pupils, from left, Ariane Kamakoue, Liam Goble, Mickey Stanley, Max Butcher, Delia Dumitru, Maisie Clarke and Chanulya De Silva.

Head teacher, Howard Payne, said: ‘I’m really pleased with the report. I’ve been checking other reports and I have not seen that term used before. It’s a lovely phrase to use and clearly a reflection of what the inspector saw. We have an excellent pastoral team and the respect shown by staff is reflected in the respect the children show to each other.’

The report also commended the school for its ‘good’ quality of teaching and pupil progress after being judged to be be good in all areas. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) were identified as making particularly good progress.

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Ofsted’s overall rating of ‘good’ matches that made in 2015, which itself was a step forward after being judged as ‘requiring improvement’ in 2013.

The report stated: ‘Teaching is consistently good across the school. Teachers use questioning skilfully to develop the knowledge and understanding of most pupils well. Most pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, make good progress from their typically low starting points.’

Lead inspector, Maxine McDonald-Taylor, praised the school for its learning environment, caring ethos and curriculum enrichment.

‘Pupils love their school,’ she wrote. ‘They attend regularly and enjoy the wide variety of enriching opportunities provided. Staff care deeply about pupils’ well-being, using robust systems to help keep them safe. Support for pupils and families, when needed, is thoughtful and comprehensive. Pupils are extremely well prepared to be caring, considerate citizens.’

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Curriculum enrichment includes an out-of-school visit for every single topic taught and residential trips to Stubbington and Devon.

‘The team work incredibly hard to make the curriculum come alive and provide new learning opportunities. We have been working so hard as a team and I’m pleased the report highlights the role we play in improving children’s lives and developing the whole child,’ said Mr Payne. Maths was identified as a particular area of strength with ‘improving the teaching of English grammar, both spoken and written, to support further improvements in pupils’ writing’ identified as an area for development.

 

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