PUPILS and staff at a York primary school are glowing with pride after earning a top-class report from the national schools inspection body.

Park Grove Primary School received the praise in an Ofsted report which was published this week.

The report said the school, which was graded “good with outstanding features”, has “outstanding levels of care, guidance and support” and notes that “the excellent relationships shared by staff and pupils” are a major contributory factor in the school’s success.

Head teacher Andrew Calverley said he was delighted by the school’s success.

He said: “We are really pleased. All the pupils, teaching staff and parents work incredibly hard as a school team, and this report shows our hard work has paid off.”

The inspector, who carried out the assessment three weeks ago, evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school, and investigated the quality of teaching and learning, and the curriculum, by gathering evidence through lesson observations, examination of pupils’ work, assessment data, interviews and documents.

The report identified Park Grove as an environment in which outstanding attributes in personal development and well-being were nurtured, and said this resulted in “excellent behaviour” from the children, who knew their views would be heard and acted on by the school.

Mr Calverley said: “We have a school council, which is made up from children from throughout the school, and it is because we listen to what they say we can ensure we aren’t overlooking any issues which might not seem important to us as teachers, but which can mean something to the children.

“This way, Park Grove not only succeeds as a teaching environment, but also as a place all the children enjoy coming to and spending their day.”

He added: “By knowing each child individually, we can tailor a specific approach to his or her education.

“We may emphasise English and mathematics, but not at the expense of other subjects, or developing the children’s wider abilities.

“It is pleasing for us all to see so many aspects of our work here at Park Grove identified as outstanding.”

The inspector found “pupils feel safe and happy”, that the classrooms were lively and stimulating places, and displays of pupils work were colourful, vibrant and of very high quality.

The chairman of the school’s governors, Chris Wood, said: “The report indicates that standards when children leave Park Grove are significantly above average.

“It states that they become mature and confident young people and they develop the qualities needed to become good citizens, which is perhaps the essence of what our job here is all about.

“It’s a cheerful, stimulating and rewarding place for the children, and everyone works hard to ensure that it continues to be.”


What is good at Park Grove:

* The quality of provision in the curriculum, which accommodates for the learning ranges of all children.

* The overall wellbeing of the children.

* The relationship and team work between staff, children and pupils.

What needs improving:

* Tracing pupils’ progress in Key Stage one.

* Outdoor provision for the children in foundation stage.