Ofsted Report

Latest Report - 2008

 

Two more city schools branded "good" by Ofsted's inspectors

2:40pm Monday 17th November 2008

Celebrations broke out in Brighton this week as two more schools were given glowing reports by inspectors. More than two thirds of the city’s schools have now been placed in Ofsted’s two highest categories and the success is turning heads across the country.

Beaming faces told the story at Patcham Junior and Hertford Infant schools in Brighton this week.

It was not just the pupils glowing with pride that their schools had been officially branded “good” by Ofsted’s inspectors, their teachers were also savouring the news their efforts had been given the recognition they deserved.

Officials from the inspectorate give schools a rating graded from one to four, which are considered outstanding, good, satisfactory and inadequate respectively.

The two schools have now joined what has become a lengthy list in Brighton and Hove ranked in one of the top two categories.

They took the total number of nursery, infant, junior and primary schools in the city rated good or outstanding to 42 – out of a total of 57.

The figures are bolstered by the fact all of the remaining 15 are considered satisfactory. None is in Ofsted’s worst rated inadequate grouping.

The city’s secondary schools are not far behind either, with four of the nine rated either good or outstanding.

The success of the primary schools is unquestionably good news for parents and has been recognised as a contributory factor in the influx of young families to the city.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Vanessa Brown, cabinet member for education, said: “The situation at the moment is very good. It is much better than in many parts of the county.

“The staff and the headteachers have to be congratulated. They have been working extremely hard and that is what has made this happen.

“The council gives them all the support we can. We keep a close watch on the schools and if there are any that need assistance we are quick to react.”

Experts said the situation could be even better than first appearances suggest.

Dr James Williams, an education lecturer at the University of Sussex, said several of the schools rated satisfactory were better than their grade suggested.

He said: “Ofsted measures schools against a range of set standards, one of which is exam results. That means if results aren’t high, a school can’t get a top rating.

“Some schools will never have high results because of their intake but that doesn’t mean they are not outstanding schools.

“At many of them, there are outstanding teachers and outstanding teaching taking place.

“In my opinion, Ofsted should pay more attention to that. They need to take a closer look at teaching.”

Patcham Junior School

Ofsted officials rated Patcham Junior Hertford Infant School School in Ladies Mile Road, Brighton, as good with several outstanding features, following an inspection last month.

Lead inspector Stephen Long said: “Pupils thoroughly enjoy their time at the school, which has a very happy atmosphere.”

He said the standards reached by children by the time they left the school were above average and high in writing and reading.

He said parents were appreciative of the school’s work and the balance between personal development and academic achievement.

Headteacher Karen McCallum said: “We endeavour to recognise all the pupils’ talents and abilities, and to give them opportunities to pursue them in every way we can.

“They leave us as rounded individuals, having matured as young people socially and emotionally.”

The inspectors rated achievement, teaching, management and pupil support at the school as good,, and said its curriculum and approach to personal development, care and guidance and working in partnership was outstanding.

They said the school can improve further by ensuring all lessons challenged pupils and monitoring focussed on the outcomes for every child.

Hertford Infant School

Inspectors had glowing praise for the way Hertford Infant School in Hertford Road, Hollingdean, Brighton, had both transformed its reputation and continued to be successful with an intake of pupils from varied backgrounds.

The Ofsted team rated it as grade 2, considered good, after the inspection visit in October.

Lead inspector David Collard said: “The headteacher’s strong leadership qualities and the supportive teamwork of the staff have raised the school’s reputation locally during the past few years and it is enjoying a resurgence of popularity.

“This is creating a slightly changing profile of pupils that attend the school, which it is handling extremely well. The parents’ undoubted support is reflected by one remark, typical of many others: “The headteacher runs an exciting, inspiring, fun and caring school.”

He said achievement, personal development, teaching and management at the school were all good and the curriculum, care and early years foundation stage were outstanding.

Headteacher Catherine Thompson said: “We’re absolutely delighted. It is a very true reflection of the excellent work that goes on here.”

• The school is holding an open day for prospective parents on Wednesday, November 26, from 9.15am to 10.15am.

 

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Brighton and Hove Leader Article - 2004
AN INFANT school has won a glowing report from inspectors.
Hertford Infant and Nursery School in Hertford Road, Brighton, was described as a small and friendly community school offering a good quality of education and strong provision for nursery and reception classes.
The school's standards in art exceeded expectations. The report described a calm atmosphere with well-behaved classes.
It went on to state: "Teachers have high expectations of the pupils and plan lessons effectively to meet the needs of all pupils.
"Good provisions for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development contributes effectively to their good behaviour, positive attitudes and very good relationships."
Headteacher Catherine Thompson was singled out for praise for leading the school through a period of rapid improvement over the last year.
She said: "I'm delighted the inspectors were impressed by the high quality of teaching and learning at our school.
"This is great news for staff, parents and pupils. We are all part of a vibrant learning community and we will build on the recommendations of the Ofsted report.