A WEST Devon primary school is celebrating after being rated as ‘good’ overall in a recent Ofsted inspection — with its early years provision being highlighted as ‘outstanding’.

The inspection report for St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School in Buckland Monachorum was published this month and found the school to be good in the four categories of effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare and outcomes for pupils and found to be outstanding for the fifth category of early years provision.

In the report, the inspector said the headteacher, other senior leaders and governors provided the school with an inclusive ethos and clear direction, setting high expectations for teaching and learning.

The inspector also highlighted: ‘Leaders have developed a rich, interesting curriculum that interests and excites pupils about their learning. Pupils in most year groups make strong progress across a wide range of subjects. Progress in reading is a particular strength. Pupils feel very well cared for and thoroughly enjoy coming to school. The attendance of pupils is high.

‘The early years provision is outstanding. Children get off to a flying start in reception. Children develop a strong understanding of phonics, which helps them to reach high standards, particularly in reading.’

Despite the good report, there were some areas in which the inspector felt the school needed some improvement. It was felt that leadership and management could be improved by evaluating more deeply the effectiveness of strategies to better inform decision-making, providing staff with training so they are better placed to manage pupils who demonstrate the most challenging behaviours, sharpening the record-keeping of recruitment records and ensuring pupils have a deeper understanding of the risks they may face from extremism and radicalisation.

It was also felt that the school should continue to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment to ensure that pupils make strong progress in all year groups and subjects through teaching that demands the very highest standards of pupils — particularly the older boys — and teaching that provides greater opportunities in Key Stage 1 to reach greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics.

Chair of governors Dr Jonathan Ambler said in a letter to parents: ‘The report shows us that we continue to be a successful and high achieving school, providing a rich curriculum and inclusive Christian ethos. The Ofsted inspection was triggered by a parental complaint and we are really pleased to report that after thorough investigation of the wider issues around this, the inspectors were entirely satisfied with the school’s response and judged that the school was good or outstanding in all areas. However the report has highlighted areas where we can improve.

‘Having last been inspected in 2006, we welcomed the opportunity for our school practices to be robustly examined under the new 2015 Ofsted framework with the new curriculum in place. We feel very strongly that the inspection process will enable the school to move forward with clear priorities for the next three years. Well done to all staff and pupils for this achievement.’

Headteacher Julie Tailyour said: ‘I am very proud of all the staff and pupils for rising to the challenge of the new curriculum and the new rigorous Ofsted framework.’