Top class Ofsted report hailed for Keighley's Eastwood Primary School (From Keighley News)
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Top class Ofsted report hailed for Keighley's Eastwood Primary School
3:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News By Alistair Shand
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Eastwood Primary School headteacher, Bill Bairstow, is interviewed on camera by pupils Rehana Khatun (front) and, from left, Atiya Kanwal, Azminah Begum, Shaun Varley, Dawud Shaukat and Ali Aarsh Ahmed
A Keighley primary school has chalked-up a top class Ofsted report.
Eastwood has been graded ‘good’ overall and pupils’ behaviour described as ‘outstanding’.
Inspectors, who visited the 474-pupil Victoria Avenue school last month, said it had “improved significantly” since the previous inspection in 2009.
Headteacher Bill Bairstow said: “It is to the credit of a huge team effort from staff, children and governors alike that we have achieved such a good outcome.
“Everyone connected with the school should be extremely proud.
“The children are certainly thrilled their behaviour is judged to be outstanding, are proud of their achievements and, quite rightly, are very proud indeed of their school.”
The three-strong inspection team said Mr Bairstow had high aspirations for the pupils and provided skillful leadership.
Attainment had risen, with most of the children making at least expected progress and many better, particularly in English, writing and maths.
Most of the teaching was ‘good’, and some ‘outstanding’.
The school, which has an Investors in Families Award, was also praised for involving parents, who told inspectors they were made to feel welcome and found staff very approachable.
And the report said an improving curriculum was motivating pupils to work hard and make faster progress. Opportunities to work in the school’s film studio and be involved in the outdoor learning centre were helping children grow in confidence and enhancing their teamwork, writing, speaking and listening skills.
Inspectors outlined why the school had not achieved an overall ‘outstanding’ grade.
They said that whilst most teaching was ‘good’ or better, some still required improvement.
And reading standards remained just below average. Progress in reading was slower than in English, writing and maths.
The inspection included observations in 16 lessons, and the team scrutinised pupils’ work, examined documents, visited an assembly and watched at break times.
There were also meetings with groups of pupils, parents, staff, senior leaders and governors, as well as a local authority advisor.
