Pupils show great joy in learning at outstanding Copplestone Primary

Copplestone Primary has been judged as outstanding for the third time in succession.

It is a major achievement for Copplestone as inspection standards have risen significantly since its full last Ofsted in 2010.

The school was also judged as outstanding for its English lessons in 2011. 

The latest report from the school standards agency concludes: “This is an outstanding school. All pupils make excellent progress and achieve exceptionally well in reading, writing and maths. Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary at all times. Attitudes to learning are excellent and pupils show great joy in their learning. Pupils responded with a resounding ‘yes’ when asked if they enjoy school.”

Inspectors from Ofsted spent two days at the school this month and their report has just been published.

Lead inspector Jeanne Simpson says the school’s overall effectiveness is outstanding, pupils’ achievement is outstanding, the quality of teaching is outstanding and so are the leadership and management and the behaviour and safety of pupils.

“Leaders and managers’ high expectations and continual striving towards excellence are shared by all staff,” she says.

Executive headteacher Stuart Busby, who also leads Spreyton Primary in the Mid Moors Federation, is a National Leader of Education. He said: “Once again I am delighted by Ofsted’s findings. This latest judgement shows that our school has provided sustained excellence during my headship, a considerable achievement – particularly in light of the changes to the inspection regime.

“When I leave Copplestone at the end of this term to take up my new post at Redhills. I have nothing but pride for the staff and children I leave behind.”

In her report on the 194-pupil school, Ms Simpson says: “Teaching is outstanding throughout the school. Lessons provide the right levels of challenge for all pupils. They are lively and interesting so that pupils always pay excellent attention and enjoy their learning greatly.

“Teaching assistants are fully involved in the learning of all pupils. They have high levels of skill.”

She says a large majority of children start school with skills that are below those expected for their age.

But at the end of Key Stage 1, (seven years old) their attainment is consistently well above average and the attainment and progress of pupils at the end of Key Stage Two (eleven years old) is on course to be significantly better than national averages.

“Achievement in all subjects is equally strong so that pupils leave the school with the skills they need to succeed in the next phase of their education,” says Ms Simpson.

She says the governors are exceptionally well informed about the school and every parent who answered the Ofsted survey said they would recommend Copplestone to other families.

She says that is “testament to the high regard in which they hold the school”.

Ms Simpson says the only area for improvement is to develop further pupils’ understanding of the skills they use when they learn well and provide opportunities for them to apply these skills at all times.