INSPECTORS have praised a Yate primary school’s inquisitive pupils, committed staff and “relevant and ambitious” curriculum.
Education regulator Ofsted rated Tyndale Primary School in Tyndale Avenue ‘good’ in all areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision – after visiting in September.
The report, published in November, completes a turnaround in fortunes for the school, which has 166 pupils aged from four to 11 on its roll.
Five years ago Ofsted had rated the school ‘inadequate’, after a visit in which standards were found to have “declined significantly”.
That led to the then-local authority school becoming an academy and joining the Greenshaw Learning Trust, which also runs Yate Academy, the following year.
The latest inspection report said the school and the trust were committed to their mission to give “every child the best chance of success”.
The inspectors said: “Tyndale Primary is a school where everyone is welcome as part of the ‘Tyndale Family’.
“Relationships between staff and pupils are strong. These are rooted in the school’s ethos, based on values that include respect and ambition.
“Staff have high expectations for all pupils. Pupils understand these and know why it is important to do their best.”
Pupils are ‘proud of their responsibilities’
The report said pupils were inquisitive and engaging, and “proud of the responsibilities they hold”, including ‘eco warriors’ and sports ambassadors.
The inspectors said children in reception classes made a “strong start”, and there was a sharp focus on reading, with a carefully planned curriculum.
They said: “The school, with support from the trust, has reviewed and developed the curriculum so that it is relevant and ambitious.
“It focuses on the important knowledge that pupils need to learn over time.”
Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities were well supported and in most subjects teachers checked what pupils knew and supported those who had fallen behind, although they said use of assessment was “not fully developed” in some subjects.
The inspectors said pupils “talk confidently about British values”, linking the democratic process to voting for school council ambassadors and had “a strong sense of justice”.
They were also taught to how to look after their physical and mental health, and appreciate times in the school day to “relax and reset”.
To improve further, the inspectors recommended that the school develop its approach to assessment in all subjects and make some further adjustments to teaching some subjects in the foundation curriculum.
Head hails ‘significant achievement’
Head teacher Katie Parkhouse said: “We are delighted about this significant achievement and so very proud of the whole school community.
“The Tyndale Family are committed to continuing the trajectory of the school improvement work so that the community of Yate can be confident that Tyndale Primary provides the very best primary education provision.”
Greenshaw Learning Trust chief executive Will Smith said: “Tyndale Primary School has been on a rapid improvement journey and we are delighted that this has been recognised by Ofsted.
“In particular, we welcomed the inspectors’ observations of the ambitious curriculum, the support for children with Special Educational Needs and the important focus of reading.
“The entire school community can be proud of the hard work of the children and staff at Tyndale.”
Picture: Tyndale Primary School head teacher Katie Parkhouse and deputy head Luke Crouch with pupils after unveiling a banner celebrating the school’s new rating.