A Peterlee primary school with “outstanding” leadership and management has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Children at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, are “safe, happy and enjoy coming to school” and are “caring, considerate and supportive of each other”.
Ofsted lead inspector Lynn Chambers said in her report following the April inspection: “The school’s mantra, ‘Christ at the centre, children at the heart’, is securely lived out at this school. Children are wholly at the centre of all the school’s work.”
The school’s leadership team, which was rated ‘Outstanding’, was highlighted as a strength of the school, with the report stating: “Leaders have a clear vision for the school. They know their pupils and school community well and are determined that all pupils receive a broad and ambitious curriculum.”
Pupils with SEND (special educational needs and/or disabilities) achieve well at the primary as teachers effectively adapt the curriculum to support them with appropriately matched resources, additional adult support and focused intervention.
A love of reading is fostered “from the moment children start nursery”, continued the report, adding that the environment in the early years is “welcoming” with “rich and varied learning opportunities which enable children to learn about the world around them”.
There is effective safeguarding at the school and the designated safeguarding lead provides “exemplary support” for pupils and families, targeted help and advice, and ensures that vulnerable families access the right agency support when required.
The report added: “Leaders ensure that pupils are taught about how to keep safe. This includes online safety, as well as specific work on water safety given the school’s location.”
Ofsted carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics, art and geography. For each deep dive, the inspectors discussed the curriculum with subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.
Executive headteacher Marie Graham said: “We are delighted with our most recent Ofsted report. The report acknowledges the hard work and progress we, as a school, have made.
“Commenting on the school’s mission statement, ‘Christ at the centre, children at the heart’, the inspectors recognise that this ethos is securely lived out in our school. Relationships are fostered with parents and carers and leaders have high expectations and ambitions for all pupils.
“We would like to thank all the pupils, parents, staff and governors for their continued support and dedication to the school.”
For more information, please visit www.bccet.org.uk
Photo captions: L-R: Head of school Clare Sutherland and executive headteacher Marie Graham with pupils of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Peterlee.