Ofsted visited Oare C of E Primary School on February 4th and their report, published this week, found the school had taken “effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” Ofsted praised the school for its “strong sense of community”, where pupils are “happy and safe.” The school was judged ‘good’ for overall effectiveness in 2019. Since September 2024 Ofsted no longer awards an overall effectiveness grade unless significant differences from the last inspection are discovered.
Ofsted found that “the school demonstrates its mission statement of ‘We care, we grow, we thrive’ through the high expectations it has for all pupils.” There is a “calm learning environment.” Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and have strong, trusting relationships with staff who have the ambition for “all pupils to achieve well.”
Ofsted commended the school for its high expectations and effective curriculum, concluding: “As pupils progress through the curriculum, they return to and build on what they already know. This is leading to stronger achievement.”
The school has a family feel and pupils make friends across year groups. This is helped by the ‘buddy’ system. From when they start school children have older ‘buddies’ who help them settle in. “Pupils are polite. They move around the school in a safe and orderly manner. Playtimes are fun. Pupils enjoy using the play equipment, which they share and take turns on.”
Oare C of E Primary was praised for its effective phonics curriculum and emphasis on improving reading fluency: “Staff help pupils to use their knowledge of sounds to blend words. They help pupils to make sense of what they are reading. As a result, pupils gain the knowledge and skills they need to become confident, fluent readers.”
Michelle Perrett, Executive Headteacher of Oare and Great Bedwyn C of E Primary Schools, expressed her pride following the report’s publication: ” This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our wonderful staff and strong partnerships we share with our families. We’re thrilled to see the positive impact of our efforts in creating a nurturing and supporting environment for our pupils.”
Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust added, “The culture and ethos of this exceptional school has clearly been captured throughout this report. We are very proud of Oare’s achievements and would like to acknowledge the hard work of Michelle and her team as they continue shaping the lives of the next generation.”
Fun and frolics for World Book Week at Pewsey Primary School
