School lessons are exciting’

TEACHING at Great Staughton Primary School is exciting and stimulating so that pupils of all ages want to learn, according to a report by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education. The school was rated as outstanding for the care, guidance and support

TEACHING at Great Staughton Primary School is exciting and stimulating so that pupils of all ages want to learn, according to a report by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education.

The school was rated as outstanding for the care, guidance and support it gave pupils. The report marked the school as good for overall effectiveness, the children's achievement and well-being, teaching, curriculum and leadership and management.

The report said pupils of all ages behaved well and showed respect for each other. "Pupils are happy and have very positive attitudes to work."

The inspector noted that there were good links with the community and parents. "Teaching and support staff are unobtrusive and sensitive in the way they work with pupils who have learning difficulties and build the confidence and self-esteem of pupils who have weak social skills or are emotionally immature."

The report described the leadership of headteacher Helen Bryson as "inspirational". It says: "She has tremendous drive and enthusiasm. She firmly places the child at the centre of all decisions to do with school improvement. The headteacher is well supported by a strong and committed staff."

The inspection found that the teaching had some outstanding features. "A real strength throughout the school is the ability of teachers to make lessons and activities exciting and stimulating so that pupils of all ages want to learn. Teachers use questions exceptionally well to extend pupils' thinking and to check their understanding. In all classes, there is a positive working ethos."

The report said that pupils were encouraged to develop independent skills and were keen to solve problems and find things out for themselves. In maths and science, pupils had impressive investigative skills, the report said. In general, standards were well above the national average.

It said the links between subjects was excellent so that pupils used their skills within a range of different contexts. It added that there was an outstanding range of extra-curricular activities and clubs, which the children spoke about with enthusiasm and animation.

However the report said the lack of computers hindered their learning and the standard of writing could be raised for the most able pupils.

INFORMATION: Great Staughton Primary School has 124 pupils aged four to 11.