Staff and pupils at Downham Feoffees Primary Academy are celebrating the results of their latest Ofsted inspection which found the school to be ‘Good’ in all areas.
The academy, which is part of Meridian Trust, had the accolade of being rated ‘Good’ across all five key areas within Ofsted’s framework – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.
This was the academy’s first full inspection since joining Meridian Trust in 2017 and the overall grade gives the village community a school to really be proud of.
The school was praised for nurturing its pupils to become successful, well-rounded and happy learners, with the report stating: “Pupils learn in an environment that supports them to have aspiration for their futures. Pupils enjoy the interesting learning in lessons. They are excited to share what they know. Pupils value the wide range of clubs and activities such as sports and creative clubs. These help them become confident learners.”
Principal at Downham Feoffees Primary Academy, Susan Jaques, said: “Over the last few years, we have all worked extremely hard and invested a lot into improving our school offer, which I am delighted to see has been reflected in this Ofsted report.
“This is not just great for the school, but also for the community, as the village once again has a school they can truly be proud of and place their trust in.”
“The support we have received from the community and Meridian Trust has helped us to create a caring and ambitious learning environment, where pupils feel listened to, safe and cared for.
“This is a wonderful achievement for the school and I would like to thank everyone connected to the school for their support in helping us to achieve such a positive outcome.”
Staff at the academy were praised for their devotion to their roles. The report stated: “Leaders are quick to identify and support the needs of individual pupils, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders seek advice and support from external professionals. They make sure that pupils with SEND receive appropriate support.”
Inspectors, who visited the academy on 22nd and 23rd February 2022, stated that: “The trust, academy council and school leaders have formed an effective partnership. Together they have made the right decisions to bring about the many improvements evident throughout the school.
“Leaders have considered the wellbeing of the staff and taken on board feedback before making decisions that impact their workload. Staff appreciate this and are proud to work in their school.”
Another area which received praise in the report was the pupils’ enthusiasm for learning and kindness to each other. Inspectors found that: “Pupils are exposed to many high-quality texts through their learning. They use these to practise and develop their wider reading skills. Pupils understand the importance of reading. They like to read the high-quality texts provided for them.
The report continues: “Pupils feel listened to, safe and cared for. They are kind to each other.
“Pupils play happily at playtimes. They have fun using the wide range of outdoor play equipment, including sensory and music resources.”
Mark Woods, Chief Executive Officer of Meridian Trust, said: “Susan, supported by her colleagues in the school and across the Trust, has done a brilliant job in ensuring that Downham Feoffees Primary Academy extends the boundaries of learning, offering an enriching education both inside and outside the classroom.
“I would like to congratulate all our colleagues at Downham Feoffees and across the Trust for their hard work in achieving this excellent Ofsted report. The school is proud to be the heart of the village community.”
For more information on the academy please visit www.downhamfeoffees.org/
Press release from Downham Feoffees Primary School
You must be logged in to post a comment.