Ofsted: Whiteley Primary School praised for 'unwavering support' and 'exceptional standards' in Ofsted

Whiteley Primary School, located in Gull Coppice, has been described as a place where pupils ‘thrive’ and have a range of opportunities. The school has received an outstanding Ofsted following an inspection which took place on July 9 and 10, 2024.

The report said that ‘the school works really hard to make sure all pupils succeed’ and that staff ensure that disadvantaged pupils benefit ‘from the ambitious curriculum and thoughtful adaptations’.

The report said: “Children in Reception have no limits or barriers to their learning. They flourish in engaging learning environments. Staff focus on communication, language, and personal development very effectively.

“Reading is taught excellently. Library time, book club, choral reading and story time all contribute to a strong culture of prioritising books and reading from Reception to the end of key stage 2. For pupils at the earliest stages of learning to read, books are matched closely to the sounds they have learned.”

The inspection also found that the behaviour of pupils is ‘impeccable’ and staff ensure that the behaviour policy is applied ‘consistently and sensitively’. Attendance is good and the school does everything possible to make sure that pupils attend school.

Lesley Pennington, headteacher, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Ofsted inspectors could see what makes Whiteley Primary School a special place to learn, awarding us the Outstanding grade in all categories.

“Our staff work incredibly hard, day-in day-out to provide a supportive and aspirational learning environment, and we are so pleased that the ‘teamwork and togetherness’ that makes this possible was recognised by the inspection team.

“We are incredibly proud of our pupils who make the most of the opportunities at our school, helping us to strive for our school vision, ‘A Place to SMILE’.”

The safeguarding measures are effective and there is a strong culture of keeping pupils safe in and out of school. Governors have an understanding of the school and they are ‘passionate advocates for disadvantaged pupils’.

The report said: “Staff are proud of the teamwork and togetherness that helps them to sustain excellence in a healthy, supportive environment. Parents are full of praise and appreciation.”

For more information about the Ofsted, click here.

For more information about Whiteley Primary Academy, click here.