The whole school community at Thornbury Leadership Academy is celebrating after Ofsted inspectors rated our school ‘good’ overall, with ‘outstanding’ judgements in two of the five inspection categories areas.
The report, published by Ofsted this week, follows an inspection on 14 and 15 September 2022. It is the school’s first inspection since joining Star Academies, one of the country’s leading multi-academy trusts, in April 2018.
Inspectors recognised the transformational improvements made at the school since it joined Star Academies, after being judged as ‘requires improvement’ at its last inspection in 2014.
With an overall rating of ‘good,’ Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy was rated as ‘outstanding’ in two of the five inspection categories – for its early years provision and for the personal development of pupils, which the report described as ‘exceptional’.
Inspectors found that ‘everyone can be a leader at this school,’ and that ‘every opportunity is taken to develop pupils’ character’. ‘Pupils value the leadership opportunities available,’ the report also found, ‘including diplomas that they can achieve for community service’.
Ofsted praised the school’s leadership specialism, recognising that pupils’ personal development is prioritised. The report acknowledges that school leaders are ‘ambitious for all pupils’ and that ‘every opportunity is taken to help pupils develop interests and talents’.
The ‘outstanding’ early years provision offered by the school means that its youngest children ‘get the best possible start,’ with the report adding that ‘leaders have planned a highly ambitious curriculum for children in the early years, taking account of their starting points’.
The school’s teaching staff also drew significant praise from the inspection team, with subject leaders described as ‘experts in the areas that they lead,’ and that they ‘give teachers valuable training on how to teach their subjects well’.
A safe and harmonious environment has also been highlighted by the report, as inspectors found that ‘there is a strong culture of safeguarding within school’.
Other highlights of the report include:
- ‘Pupils are taught to value themselves.’
- ‘Pupils learn a curriculum which is rich in knowledge.’
- ‘They also learn about how to stay safe and how to be respectful and responsible citizens.’
- ‘Leaders have ensured that there is a well-considered curriculum in place for all subjects in the national curriculum.’
- ‘Leaders have identified precisely what they want pupils to know and understand.’
- ‘Teachers check what pupils have learned at the end of each topic. Leaders use this to understand how to improve the curriculum over time.’
- ‘Leaders work closely with parents to ensure the best possible start for children.’
- ‘Adults who teach reading are highly skilled.’
- ‘Pupils are ambitious for themselves.’
- ‘Leaders ensure that pupils are taught how to stay safe online and within their community.’
Clare Daddy, Principal at Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy, said:
“This is the first time the school has been rated good in its history, something for everyone to be proud of.
“We are ecstatic that Ofsted has recognised the huge improvements that have been made across the school over recent years. To have achieved good and outstanding judgements in all five areas of the inspection is testament to the hard work and commitment of our wonderful pupils, parents, staff and governors.
“Every member of the school community, from our subject leaders, to teachers, support staff and governors, all work extremely hard to give the best possible outcomes for our pupils and I am delighted this report provides the recognition they so richly deserve.
“This has given us even more motivation to become an outstanding school in the future, but for now I would like to thank our staff, parents and carers, and of course our wonderful pupils, for their roles in making this positive outcome a reality.”
To read the full inspection report, click here.