Praise all round as school rated good (From Worcester News)
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Ofsted reports St Barnabas School has improved since last visit
8:30am Monday 28th January 2013 in News
By Sarah Davies
CELEBRATING: Deputy headteacher, Sarah Carey, front left, with headteacher Angela Deakin and pupils, from left, Melissa Griffiths, 10, Reece Faulkner, 11, Maddy Platt, 10, Cameron Blair, 10, Sachin Muir, 11 and Harvey Julian, 10.
STAFF and pupils at a Worcester school are celebrating after it was deemed to have improved by Ofsted.
St Barnabas CE Primary School, Green Lane, Rainbow Hill, was previously rated satisfactory, but is now considered good overall.
Inspectors said the quality of teaching had improved since their last visit and enabled reception class children to make a good start in their learning.
Pupils were said to make good progress in English and maths, and good systems are in place to track their progress.
The report said disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs also make good progress because their needs are understood and they are well supported.
Pupils’ attitudes to learning were deemed to be good because teachers encourage them to have a curiosity in the world around them and they behave well, as well as feel safe in lessons and around school.
Inspectors said relationships between staff and pupils were good and school leaders do a good job in raising the quality of teaching and in ensuring good progress.
It was noted that governors know the school well and effectively hold the school’s leaders to account.
For St Barnabas to become an outstanding school, teachers must ensure that all pupils play an active part in their learning and iron out inconsistencies in the way some help pupils to link sounds and letters to improve their spelling skills.
The report said teachers’ questioning does not always challenge more able pupils and some leaders had not yet had sufficient opportunity to provide effective monitoring and support to their colleagues.
Headteacher Angela Deakin said: “It is brilliant that Ofsted have now recognised that St Barnabas is a good school in their inspection and that we are an outstanding church school in our last SIAS inspection.
“This is thanks to the continued hard work and commitment of the staff, the good behaviour and enthusiasm of our children, and the valued support of the governors, parents and carers, and St Barnabas Church.
“I am so proud of the whole St Barnabas community and look forward to further success in the future.
“St Barnabas is a very special place where we all strive to help everyone be happy, and to learn to do their best.”
