Pupils and staff at a Suffolk school are celebrating after achieving a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted – with inspectors praising the school’s strong ‘family feel’.
Inspectors visited Stoke-by-Nayland Church of England Primary School, close to the Suffolk/Essex border, in September, rating it ‘good’ in each category.
They noted that the school has a ‘calm and harmonious atmosphere’, that pupils are ‘kind and compassionate’ and how they ‘appreciate the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities on offer’. The report reads: “Pupils strive to be the best that they can be at this small village school. They want to learn and do well. “They respond well to staff’s high expectations.” It continues: “There is a strong family feel to the school. Older pupils look after the younger ones.”
The school had previously been rated inadequate, but inspectors said in their report that “it is a different school to that seen at the last inspection”. “Pupils are happy and engaged in their lessons,” the report continues. “This is because they are learning an ambitious and well-planned curriculum.”
Headteacher Kelly McGrath, said: “We were thrilled to have achieved a good rating from Ofsted. It is brilliant to see that all the hard work which staff and pupils have put in has been recognised. We are very proud of our school and are delighted that Ofsted inspectors were impressed by what they saw.”
Jane Sheat, CEO of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi Academy Trust, said: “The trust is a strong collaborative network of 21 church primary schools in Suffolk. I am delighted that Ofsted recognised the progress made at Stoke-by-Nayland and the support provided by the trust. Being part of the trust brings benefits for staff and pupils as we share good practice and work together to provide high quality teaching and learning across all our schools.”
For more information, visit the school website at www.stokebynaylandprimaryschool.org.uk and the Diocesan Multi Academy Trust website at http://cofesuffolkmat.org
Photo credit: Adam Howlett.