A TAVISTOCK school which required improvement two years ago is celebrating after its latest Ofsted report deemed it ‘good’ in all categories.

A two-day visit to Tavistock Primary and Nursery School by three Ofsted inspectors in November concluded that the school provided a good education in ‘every area of its work’.

This included quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.

Headteacher Lynnette Selbie said she was proud of everyone’s hard work: ‘I know that the staff and governing board will continue to strive for excellence in all areas, they care about our children and I sincerely thank them for their commitment to our school.’

Lead inspector Claire Mirams said in the report, which was published on Monday (December 2): ‘Pupils enjoy their time at school. They are proud of their work and talk enthusiastically about their learning in lots of subjects.

‘Relationships between staff and pupils are strong and supportive. Leaders support pupils to be confident learners and positive citizens.’

In addition, Ms Mirams said that the writing curriculum was carefully planned and there was a ‘strong maths curriculum’; children made a flying start in the early years and pupils with special educational needs or disabilities received well-planned support.

Leaders had made improvements to teaching since the last inspection and the quality of education was improving’.

Headteacher Lynnette Selbie said: ‘I am proud that Ofsted has recognised that Tavistock Primary and Nursery School is good. Although Ofsted only see a snapshot of our school life, the new inspection framework covers curriculum, behaviour, safeguarding and leadership and they validated our self-evaluation as good.

‘We are an inclusive school and are particularly pleased that Ofsted has recognised that all our pupils are assured of good educational opportunities here at Tavistock. Our academic standards are the highest in Tavistock and our ethos ensures that all pupils receive nurturing pastoral care.’

The report added that the arrangements for safeguarding were effective. ‘Pupils say that school teaches them about healthy and safe relationships and how to stay safe in a range of situations.’

The governing board was also praised: ‘Governors are very skilled and committed. They support and challenge leaders well. Staff are proud to work at the school.’

Chair of governors Caroline Down said: ‘The governors are absolutely thrilled with this judgement and feel it truly acknowledges and reflects the continuous hard work undertaken by our dedicated staff team as well as the achievements of our wonderful pupils.

‘We will now work together with all members of the school community to build on this success and with this judgement and the opening of our new Foundation Stage next year we are confident the school will continue to go from strength to strength.’

Ms Mirams added that to improve further, leaders should improve curriculum plans by making sure that they all identified what pupils should know each year; leaders must ensure that Key Stage 2 pupils gained knowledge and skills in reading to prepare them for the next stage of their education; and teachers needed to ensure that they identify how they would help pupils in Key Stage 2 to become fluent readers.