Primary school given thumbs-up by inspectors

1:59pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

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PUPILS and staff at a York primary school are glowing with pride after earning a top-class report from inspectors.

Poppleton Ousebank Primary School, in Upper Poppleton, was graded good with outstanding features by inspectors from Ofsted.

New head teacher, Estelle O'Hara, who joined the school in September, said she was delighted.

Mrs O'Hara said: "We are thrilled, absolutely thrilled. We have been working incredibly hard as a school team and we have turned our curriculum round.

"There is a real sense of excitement about the school now with the children learning through experience."

The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated the quality of teaching and learning, provision in the Foundation Stage (nursery and reception) and the curriculum.

The inspector gathered evidence through lesson observations, examination of pupils' work, assessment data, interviews and documents.

The inspector said: "This is a good school which has continued to improve well since its last inspection.

"The school is extremely well placed to continue its improvement because leadership and management are good.

"Pupils enjoy coming to school and so their attendance is above average and they behave well.

"Standards are above average at the end of Year 6.

"Under new leadership and management, the pace of improvement has accelerated. There is a real sense of excitement about the school, commented on by parents and pupils alike. Using the curriculum as the main means of improvement, the new leadership team has started to sharpen pupils' educational experience. The impact is seen in pupils' rapidly improving achievement this year, especially in mathematics, an area the school has focused on."

In areas where the school could improve further, the inspector said it should ensure teachers consistently provide work for Key Stage 2 pupils that stretches them and takes account of the different ways they learn.

On the plus side, the inspector said the school's curriculum enriched pupils' learning and supported pupils' personal development.