Primary school where pupils 'thrive' receives glowing report from Ofsted

A PRIMARY school where pupils “thrive” has received a glowing report from Ofsted.

St Luke’s Primary, in Church Road, Tiptree, continues to be rated 'good' after an inspection in May.

The watchdog's report says: “This is a friendly and welcoming school… Governors and school leaders have successfully steered the school through a period of change since the previous inspection.

“They have established a school where pupils thrive.”

The report says pupils and staff have respectful and positive relationships, where the children benefit from learning in a caring, safe environment.

Martin Moriarty, headteacher of seven years, is proud of his students and staff.

He said: “We’re all very happy. Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure around Ofsted, but we’re very happy with the report.

“It’s a culmination of all the hard work from the staff and a reflection of how well the children are doing.”

He continued: “I’m proud of the way we engage with the community. We all pull together, and the report talks about the children being strong advocates of equality and respect.

“That’s what we’re about, and how we are preparing children for life in modern Britain.”

The school also prioritises reading, Ofsted said, with pupils learning to read “confidently and fluently” after lessons starting in Early Years and Reception.

Ofsted said children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported well by staff and benefit from the school’s inclusive curriculum.

The watchdog said: “They learn among their peers and have work skilfully adapted to meet their needs.

“This helps pupils with SEND to progress in small steps and to achieve well.”

Officials said some subjects are at an early stage of implementation following recent improvements to the curriculum, and that some pupils have gaps in their learning.

However, the new curriculum plans are more ambitious and "better sequenced" than in the past.

Governors’ procedures for checking on some wider school improvement priorities, such as implementing new curriculum plans, are developing, Ofsted said.

It was the second 'ungraded' inspection since Ofsted judged the school to be good in 2013.

After Ofsted judges a school to be good, it performs ungraded inspections every four years to confirm the school remains good.