02/04/04 - Greystoke Primary School celebrates good Ofsted inspection

Staff, pupils and parents at Greystoke Primary School in Penrith are celebrating this week after Ofsted Inspectors praised the school for their hard work and achievements.

The Inspectors report said that the school was a good school and pupils are achieving well.  The curriculum is broad and balanced and the quality of teaching is good.  There is a warm family atmosphere within the school making pupils behave very well and have very good attitudes towards their work.  Inspectors also praised the work of the acting Headteacher at the time of the inspection for his leadership and management of the school.  In his short time at the school he created a good team amongst the staff, and built very effectively on initiatives that were put in place by the permanent Head. 

Jeanette Matthews, Headteacher says

“I am very pleased with this inspection report especially when the school has been faced with many changes over the last year.  It shows that despite these challenges the commitment and hard work shown from the staff has paid off.  The report highlights some of the excellent work taking place in school and some of the areas for development.  We will continue to build on our strengths and aim for continuous improvement and the best educational outcomes for our pupils.  Staff, pupils, parents and Governors are committed to working together to ensure Greystoke Primary School goes from strength to strength.”

Rev Mike Houston, Chair of Governors says

“We are delighted with this report and with the progress and development of the school. It reflects the achievements of a dedicated team of staff who are very well supported by pupils, parents and members of the community.”

The main findings of the report are:

• Standards in English and Maths are well above average and in Science they are above average in Year 6
• The quality of teaching is good, being particularly good for pupils in Years 5 and 6
• The acting Head is leading the school very well and is being supported well by the staff 
• Standards in Religious Education are below average by the end of Year 6
• Systems of assessment are still being developed and at the moment don’t give teachers or pupils good information about what pupils need to learn next
• The school is providing a stimulating and rich curriculum
• The pupils have very good attitudes to their work and behave very well.    

The report also finds some areas that could be improved, these are:

• Boost pupils achievement and raise standards in Religious Education
• Continue to work on systems of assessment and target setting so it is clear what pupils know, understand and what they need to learn next to improve 
• Ensure that there is sufficient outdoor play equipment for the children in Reception so that their physical development can be fully catered for.