Dear Parents and Carers,

 

I am writing to share with you the results of our recent OFSTED inspection, which took place on the 3rd and 4th of December. The report is now available for you to review, and I would like to take this opportunity to explain what it reflects about our school and our journey.

 

First, I want to express my pride in our school community. The inspection highlighted many strengths, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, all of which were rated as Good. I am especially pleased to report that our Early Years provision achieved the highest grade of Outstanding. These results are a testament to the dedication of our staff and the commitment of our pupils.

 

You may recall that in our last inspection, we were graded Outstanding overall. Since then, the OFSTED framework has changed significantly, raising the bar for achieving the highest grades. Furthermore, the overall effectiveness grade no longer exists; schools are now graded in specific areas. This change means direct comparisons with our previous inspection can be misleading. What is clear, however, is that Coltishall Primary continues to be a school where children thrive and achieve highly, as reflected in our consistent success in KS2 SATs over the past decade, placing us well above the national average.

 

The inspectors made a number of positive observations about our school. They noted that “pupils like their school” and that they are “happy and safe because teachers keep pupils’ welfare at the forefront of their minds.” They were particularly impressed with our Early Years provision, which was described as providing “a firm foundation for future learning,” helping children to develop a “rich vocabulary to express their ideas and emotions” and to become “resilient learners.” Inspectors also highlighted how our curriculum is helping pupils develop confidence, noting that “pupils share their knowledge to tackle complex problems” and “embrace more demanding work.” These statements reinforce what we know: Coltishall Primary is a place where children are nurtured to succeed academically and personally.

 

The inspectors also praised the wider opportunities we provide for pupils, such as trips to museums, theatres, and historical sites, which help “enhance their curriculum knowledge.” Additionally, they recognised the maturity and kindness of our pupils, with older children acting as role models and checking on the well-being of younger pupils through our buddy system. As the report puts it, pupils are “kind, open-minded and caring,” and they “challenge any prejudice and discrimination.”

 

It is also important to note that over 50% of our current staff had never experienced an OFSTED inspection due to the length of time since our last one. The inspection served as an invaluable learning opportunity for us all and provided constructive feedback to help us refine and improve further. The inspectors recognised the dedication of our staff, mentioning that they are “proud to work at the school” and that they appreciate the “high-quality training” they receive to deliver the best outcomes for pupils.

 

The report identified some areas for development, such as improving how we adapt the writing curriculum for younger pupils with special educational needs and ensuring more robust monitoring of certain aspects of school life, such as take up of extra-curricular clubs and attendance data. These are areas we are already working on, and we are committed to addressing them promptly and effectively. Leaders are clear about the need for “more robust evaluation” to further strengthen our capacity for improvement, and we welcome this guidance as part of our ongoing journey.

 

Coltishall Primary remains a school we can all be proud of. We are dedicated to ensuring that every child in our care receives the best possible education and opportunities. As always, your support plays a crucial role in our success, and I encourage you to read the full report, which is available on our website and through OFSTED’s portal.

 

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the report further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your continued partnership in making Coltishall Primary the wonderful school it is.

 

Warm regards,

 

Dan Mckeown

 

 

Please find below our most recent Ofsted reports and relevant information from the Department for Education Performance Tables.