PRIMARY NEWS NEWS...
St John Boste Catholic primary school rated ‘outstanding’ in latest Ofsted inspection
A WASHINGTON catholic primary school has been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating by Ofsted, following its most recent inspection. St John Boste Catholic Primary School in Oxclose, Washington, was praised for commitment to high standards for its 172 students and its staff, with inspectors noting how pupils thrive thanks to its ambitious and stimulating curriculum. Following February’s inspection, the report found young children joining the school benefitted from a warm and nurturing environment thanks to a
culture of respect. Pupils in all years are polite, confident and well behaved, kind and happy to help each other.
Youngsters were described as ‘mature and articulate’ when meeting visitors, are accepting of those different to themselves and benefit from a no bullying culture, with one pupil describing the school as ‘like a family’. Inspectors highlighted a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities available to all pupils, praising the school’s netball, dance and gymnastics clubs along with the availability for enhanced learning opportunities and the chance to learn musical instruments.
Also highlighted was the school’s commitment to reading, which in turn ensures pupils achieve well. Regular staff training allows teachers to deliver lessons confidently and consistently and as a result, ‘pupils have developed a love of reading and talk enthusiastically about the books they choose’. The report praised the school’s bold move to introduce a unique and rigorous curriculum, which features ambitious vocabulary which pupils respond to well. This curriculum is meticulously constructed to allow pupils to make links between all subjects.
The school added its own nursery in September 2023, which also received praise; inspectors highlighting how children have settled in well and made fast progress through a tailored early years curriculum which ensures three-
year-olds are well-prepared for starting Reception. Denise Cushlow, headteacher at St John Boste Catholic Primary School, welcomed the report, which also brought attention to the teaching staff’s strong subject knowledge, made possible by high quality networks and subject support groups.
She said: “This is a fabulous recognition of the efforts of pupils and staff as a community working hard to make this an excellent school. We were particularly pleased with how the ethos of the school has made it a place where children want to come and learn.
“It is clear that we are passionate about giving our staff the tools and skills to deliver the very best education. Our training and consistent internal development has helped our teachers educate the next generation to the highest of standards.”
This inspection is the first undertaken at the school since it opened as an academy in 2019. It had previously been rated as ‘Good’ back in 2012, when it was then known as St John Boste Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School.
St John Boste Catholic Primary School is part of the Bishop Wikinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET) which consists of 48 schools across the north east.
Following the rating, Nick Hurn, CEO at BWCET praised the team: “The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is proud to see St John Boste Catholic Primary School receive an ‘outstanding’ rating in the latest Ofsted report,” he said.
“This highlights the hard work and dedication that is put in by all the staff members at the school. St John Boste is built upon an ethos and culture which allows children and staff to maximise their potential and we are delighted this has now been recognised by Ofsted.”
www.stjohnbosteprimary.org.uk
A Birmingham school is celebrating a successful Ofsted inspection – with its early years provision being rated as outstanding
Yenton Primary School, in Erdington, has received an overall grading of ‘good’ following a two-day Ofsted inspection, with Reception highlighted as ‘outstanding’. Inspectors recognised the school as being a warm and welcoming place to learn which has high ambitions for every pupil and provides a highly effective personal development offer.
The school was praised for supporting pupils to learn the curriculum well, offering after school sports clubs, and also teaching the children about celebrating differences and developing their understanding of tolerance and respect.
Staff were also recognised as being well trained to ensure they can provide high-quality support for pupils with a range of needs. Inspectors describe Reception as being “language-rich” where careful and
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efficient teaching builds pupils’ knowledge, and that children join in with lessons with enthusiasm and stop and listen carefully to adults as soon as they are asked.
When referencing feedback from parents, the report states: “Many parents and carers are positive about the school and the support their children receive to learn well, work hard and prepare for life in the local community and beyond.”
Paul Smith, headteacher at Yenton Primary School, said: “We’re extremely proud of our latest Ofsted report, particularly our early years provision being classed as outstanding.
“We work incredibly hard to ensure our Reception pupils feel comfortable joining us and that they are provided with an inspiring and nurturing environment to help them thrive.
“Our Reception classroom is reflective of a home environment to help children transition into school, and children are given the freedom to access and explore a wide range of resources as part of their development. “The school as a whole, as well as the fantastic work of the staff, received a huge amount of well-deserved praise from inspectors. “We will now be looking at further areas of improvement so that we can achieve outstanding in other inspection categories.”
May 2024
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