Gorsley Goffs Primary Ofsted praise

Youngsters at Gorsley Goffs Primary School, near Ross-on-Wye, are getting off to the best possible start in life, an Ofsted inspection has revealed.

The school, which has 153 pupils aged 4 – 11 on its register, has received a glowing report after a two-day inspection last month (January).

Headteacher Mr Richard Humphrey said that the report recognised the hard work of teachers, support staff, governors, parents and pupils.

As part of the report the school was inspected in seven key areas and grades awarded in 26 categories.

In every area inspected the school received either a grade two, good, or grade three, satisfactory, under the Ofsted system. Grade one is outstanding and grade four is underachieving.

In total 18 out of the 26 categories inspected received a good grade and the remaining 8 received satisfactory.

The key areas inspected were: overall effectiveness, achievement and standards, personal development and well-being, teaching and learning, curriculum and other activities, care guidance and support and leadership and management.

The performance of the school is an endorsement of the headteacher’s leadership and direction since his appointment two years’ ago, the report said.

Mr Humphrey said: “Everybody connected to the school is delighted with the inspection and I would like to thank all the staff, governors, parents and pupils for their efforts.

“This Ofsted inspection recognised the hard work of all the staff and achievements of the children and acknowledged that we are progressing in the right direction. We have a school to be rightly proud of.”

Dr Ruth Bailey, Chair of the Governors, added: “We are thrilled with this report which reflects the tremendous work and effort of Mr Humphrey, all the staff and governors. It is well deserved.”  

The Ofsted report said: “The school provides for its pupils an imaginative curriculum which is enriched by a good range of well attended extra-curricular activities.

“Throughout the school, pupils are cared for well. All pupils are supported well including those with learning difficulties and disabilities and those with particular gifts and talents,” the report said.

“As a result, pupils’ self-esteem is high and they have confidence in adults in the school.

“They have positive attitudes and are keen to learn, which helps them to improve their work.

“Pupils behave very well in lessons and around the school. Relationships are very positive and pupils show respect for each other, their teachers and visitors.

“Members of staff have a good knowledge of pupils’ social and emotional needs and provide support and guidance.

“This (the quality of teaching) is having a positive impact and pupils’ learning is sound. Relationships in classes are good and pupils want to learn.

“A further strength is that pupils are usually given challenging work.”

The report adds: “The leadership and management of the school are good… Governance is good.

“The evidence of improvement already shown and the drive to continue this process, shared by the headteacher, staff and governors, shows that the school is well placed to continue to move forward.”

Areas of improvement identified by the inspectors included the continued drive to further raise standards in maths and a further enhancement of systems so that pupils and parents know where they need to improve.