Junior school eulogised in inspectors report

Ofsted have highly praised numerous aspects of Strand-on-the-Green Junior school in their most recent report.

Carried out just before the last academic year ended the report states “Strand on the Green Junior School provides its pupils with a very good quality of education. It is a vibrant school that effectively promotes all aspects of children’s learning, developing their thinking skills especially well. Every child’s needs are respected and each one is valued as an individual.”

The inspectors concluded that the school provides very good value for money and is a place where pupils’ achievement is good; their attitudes are excellent, as is their behaviour.

High praise for the leadership and management of the junior school was also noted especially the leadership of head teacher Sue Harrison which was found to be excellent. Whilst teamwork is shown to be a strength of the school, the inspectors believed that the governors were not sufficiently involved in school development planning.

Head teacher, Sue Harrison, said "It is very special experience to have a team of professionals in your school and to benefit from their wealth of knowledge and expertise. It's particularly pleasing to be told by them that you are doing a good job (although the partnership we have with our brilliant and supportive families means that we do often get positive feedback from them about our work with the children. As the report shows, our strong relationship with families is strength of the school).

“We are a very diverse school and regard each of our children as special and unique. It pleased us no end to have the Ofsted team confirm that we were a very inclusive school.”
Strand pupils achieve well and reach above average standards by Year 6 in most subjects with merely one exception of handwriting which, despite good achievement, remained slightly below average. Pupils’ attainment by Year 6 in mathematics and science has increased and attendance has improved. The report also notes that good progress has been made since the previous inspection and the school has coped well with the changing characteristics of pupils entering the school.

The provision for and management of pupils with special educational needs are much improved and previous strengths have generally been maintained or improved further, such as pupils’ personal development and the quality of teaching.

Ms Harrison praised her colleagues saying “They really are a tremendous and talented team with a commitment to providing the best for our children and families. They rise to every challenge and have the skills to maintain high standards whilst bringing the curriculum alive in order to excite every child's thirst for learning. The curriculum is broad and lively. Again, the Ofsted team recognised this and at the same time identified 93% of teaching as good or better with nothing less than satisfactory. However, we are always looking at ways we can improve learning and teaching in order to maximise achievement and so it's onwards and upwards for all us Strandites! You can be sure we'll have fun doing it!"

September 21, 2005