All Saints improves on "outstanding" rating (From Ilkley Gazette)

All Saints improves on "outstanding" rating

8:48am Thursday 26th November 2009

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Staff and pupils at an Ilkley primary school were celebrating this week after receiving another glowing report from Ofsted inspectors.

All Saints Primary School, which was judged as outstanding during a previous inspection two years ago, has improved even more according to inspectors and once again received top marks for its performance.

In their report, officers pointed to the school motto which states: There is no failure through these doors.

They said: “Governors, the headteacher, staff and students do everything they can to make sure that this mission is fulfilled, which is why the school’s capacity to improve even more is outstanding.

“The school possesses an extremely positive climate in which everyone is valued for what they can offer. ‘Being different, belonging together’ is more than just a title in a daily magazine article written about the school, it is a daily reality.”

The report points to the high achievement of pupils in year 6, which it says is consistent year on year.

A particular area of excellence is in mathematics, which has been described as exceptional.

The report says: “One of the greatest strengths of the school is its excellent curriculum and the outstanding effect it has on pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

“Throughout the school, pupils experience relevant and meaningful tasks that combine knowledge, skills, under-standing and creative fun.

“Owing to the engaging things pupils do, they behave superbly and develop a pride in their work.”

The report goes on: “Many of the pupils with the most discernible special edu-cational needs make remarkable progress owing to the school’s methods of teaching them. Overall, learning and progress in reading and mathematics are often exceptional.”

Headteacher Peter Marsh said he was delighted with the report.

He said: “The new Ofsted framework posed its own challenges in that the bar had been raised from the previous model. Indeed, the whole process was a great deal more rigorous. In many respects the changes to the Ofsted inspection framework meant we were all stepping into the unknown. In this respect I must commend the Ofsted team of inspectors who really knew their stuff and remained extremely professional throughout.

“With this in mind it is an exceptional achievement to retain our overall outstanding grading. The outcome is one in which my wonderful staff team, fantastic children, committed governors and, indeed, the whole of our supportive parent community can take pride.

“The achievement is down to months and years of hard work and commitment shown by everyone associated with the school. A real testament as to what can be achieved with team work.”

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