Great Gidding joins Ofsted’s outstanding elite

A HUNTINGDONSHIRE school has been rated as so good by inspectors that it will no longer be subject to regular inspections.

Great Gidding CofE Primary School was judged to be outstanding in its last inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), putting it into an elite category of schools that will not be inspected unless concerns are raised about its progress.

The school’s annual review found high quality teaching and learning across the school, outstanding practice and results in the Early Years Foundation Stage and strong, positive links with the local community.

The report said standards in reading were very high and found Great Gidding to be a happy, friendly school.

Headteacher Alex Chambers said: “l would like to thank all the staff, governors, parents and children for all their support over the last three years. I am thrilled that we have received our third consecutive outstanding grading from Ofsted and we aspire to grow and continually develop as a community whilst maintaining the family ethos that is at the heart of our school.

“Great Gidding is a very special school and l am very proud to be the headteacher of such an outstanding school. “

In a letter to the school, Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: “I am pleased to inform you that our interim assessment indicates performance has been sustained and that we will not be inspecting your school unless we receive further information that raises concerns.”

From January of next year, because of provisions in the 2011 Education Bill, schools previously judged to be outstanding will not be subject to routine inspection unless concerns are raised about the school’s performance.

INFORMATION: Great Gidding CofE School caters for children aged four to 11 and has 59 pupils.