St Saviour’s Infant Church School in Bath has been graded as ‘Good’ in all aspects – Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Early years provision – following a visit from Ofsted inspectors
According to the report, the school in Larkhall, ‘is a warm and welcoming place to learn. Pupils enjoy school. They talk positively about the school’s values and how they feel part of one family’.
Ofsted visited in June and were full of praise for the school, led by Executive Head Joe Beament and Head of School Sophie Hunt, with children described as confident and independent.
The Ofsted verdict of ‘Good’ comes four years after inspectors told the school it required improvement. Since then, a new management structure has led to significant changes which have been recognised by Ofsted.
The inspector added, ‘Leaders and staff create an environment where all pupils feel listened to and valued. Pupils know that adults will help them if they have any worries. Relationships between staff and pupils are supportive and caring. Pupils say every adult listens to them and will sort out any concerns. As a result, they feel safe in school.’
There was also praise for standards of behaviour, with parents and carers supporting the staff team to maintain high standards. One parents commented, “The school is compassionate, caring and warm.”
The curriculum is also a strength of St Saviour’s Infant School, part of the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust, with report noting that ‘teachers have thought clearly how to deepen pupils’ knowledge and understanding over time’.
‘Leaders make improvements to the curriculum. In mathematics, leaders have strengthened plans by breaking learning down into smaller steps. Pupils say this makes it easier to understand new learning. In science, teachers adapt resources so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) succeed.’
Head of School, Sophie Hunt, said, “We are thrilled to celebrate that we are no longer a Requires Improvement school, but that Ofsted have recognised what we knew to be true and have judged us as ‘Good’. We found the process to be positive and supportive and felt that our school values had been fully understood and appreciated by the inspectors. I am so proud of how relaxed, welcoming and confident everyone was during what is a rigorous two days and how the child’s voice permeated throughout the inspection.
“The report is full of positives and acknowledges our love of reading, outdoor learning, skilled teaching and assessment, our inclusivity and SEND provision, and that wellbeing for all is at the heart of our daily lives. The inspectors were also very impressed with our Early Years provision, the careful consideration that has gone into the provision for our two to five year olds, and the warm and purposeful relationships that all our practitioners form with the children enabling them to become thriving, confident and happy individuals.”
Executive Headteacher, Joe Beament, added, “Everyone involved with the school – children, families, staff, governors and the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Trust – can take immense pride from this report. It has been a real team effort and we are thrilled that the inspector noted both the academic and pastoral strengths of our school. It is indeed a family here and children move seamlessly to our Junior school which was also recently judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
“We will continue to strive for even greater excellence as we try to give our children the best start in their education journey.”