Isham CofE Primary School Celebrates Positive Ofsted Report

Pupils and staff at Isham CofE Primary School are celebrating a positive Ofsted report, which highlights the ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and attitudes of its pupils and judges the school as ‘Good’ across all other inspection categories.

During the inspection, Ofsted reviewed all aspects of school life, from lessons to lunchtimes and everything in between. Inspectors spoke with staff, pupils, parents, Trust leaders and other key members of the Isham school community.

The report praised the school’s ‘exceptional’ pupil behaviour, supported by an ambitious curriculum, rich personal development opportunities and strong leadership and governance.

Highlights of the report included:

• Pupils are happy and enjoy attending this school. They say they feel safe. Pupils talk with enthusiasm about school life. They are highly motivated to learn. 
• Staff have high expectations. This includes for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). As a result, pupils concentrate on their learning and achieve well.
• Parents and carers overwhelmingly value the work that the school does, a typical comment being, ‘Isham is a lovely school providing a safe and supportive environment for my child.’
  The curriculum has been carefully designed and is ambitious for pupils, including pupils with SEND.
• The school is ambitious for pupils with SEND to achieve well. The school identifies pupils with SEND quickly. Plans to support their learning are clear and teachers use them well. Pupils with SEND access the full curriculum
• The curriculum provides many opportunities for pupils to experience the world beyond Isham. The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to become responsible and thoughtful citizens.
• Governors and members of the trust visit the school often. They understand the school well and hold leaders to account effectively. Their evaluation of the school’s strengths and areas for improvement is insightful.

Early years at the school was also praised for its ‘well planned activities’ that help ‘children learn to be curious, resilient and social’ and reading flagged as a whole-school priority.

Congratulations to everyone at Isham CofE Primary School on this fantastic achievement.