Primary school in Jarrow with ‘true spirit of community’ is praised by Ofsted

Dec 6, 2024

Headteacher of St Bede’s Catholic Primary School is ‘thrilled’ with report

A primary school in Jarrow is celebrating after a glowing Ofsted report highlighted the way caring staff support children to become more resilient and learn from their mistakes.

St Bede’s Catholic Primary School, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, was recently visited by Ofsted inspectors who found it a “welcoming, kind, calm and orderly” school with a “true spirit of community”.

Ofsted lead inspector Ian Rawstorne said in his report: “The school has established a positive culture in which pupils can thrive. The school does much work to develop pupils’ character. Pupils learn how to become resilient and learn from their mistakes.

“Moreover, the school gives pupils responsibility through a variety of leadership roles. These roles include house captains, reading buddies and playground and digital leaders. Pupils enjoy contributing to the life of the school.”

St Bede’s has a “broad and ambitious” curriculum, teachers have a “secure subject knowledge” and pupils “learn to think and work like subject specialists”.

The school has also developed a comprehensive and age-appropriate personal development programme. Pupils learn about important issues such as relationships, equality and diversity, other faiths and different cultures. The school also works hard to raise pupils’ aspirations through its work on careers with visitors including a police officer, architect, poet and landscape gardener.

Headteacher Mark Hurst said: “I am thrilled with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection. I want to thank everyone who supports St. Bede’s to be a kind and caring community where children come to grow and learn.”

There are Nursery and Reception places available at St Bede’s Catholic Primary School. For more information and to arrange a visit, go to: www.stbedesjarrow.co.uk

For more information about BCCET, please visit www.bccet.org.uk

ENDS

Photo caption: Headteacher Mark Hurst with pupils at St Bede’s Catholic Primary School in Jarrow.

Notes to editors: Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection Ofsted gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be Good for its overall effectiveness. They inspected the school in November 2024 to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. Ofsted does not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if they find evidence that a school’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If they have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, they will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately. This was the first ungraded inspection since Ofsted judged the predecessor school, St Bede’s RC Primary School, to be Good for overall effectiveness in November 2017.

Press release issued by SASS media on behalf of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. For more information, contact Sarah Dale on 07814 976582.

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