Ofsted say friendship and kindness flourish at Stoke Fleming Community Primary 

Stoke Fleming Pupils have been praised for "excellent" manners and strong achievement. 

Families, staff members and children at Stoke Fleming Community Primary School, part of Education South West, are celebrating after a recent Ofsted inspection graded the school ‘strong standard’ in the areas of early years, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing, achievement, attendance and behaviour and leadership and governance.

Curriculum and teaching  were graded at ‘expected standard.’

Outcomes at the school were highlighted in the report with inspectors saying that pupils achieve consistently well in national tests in reading, writing and mathematics and that over time, pupils’ attainment and progress have been above national averages.  

The teaching of reading, including phonics, was described as a strength of the school.

Ofsted inspectors also praised the manners of Stoke Fleming pupils as excellent, describing them as sociable, confident, and independent and stating these qualities helped them to make the most of the spacious outdoor environment during social times. 

Inspectors also commented in the report that during social times, pupils of all ages develop their imagination and independence through outdoor play and that the school has a culture in which friendship and kindness flourish.

The school’s early years provision was singled out for providing opportunities for learning through play and expert teaching which help children to secure their early learning rapidly. The teaching of early reading and writing in the early years was also described as highly effective. 

Support for children with additional needs was also highlighted with inspectors stating that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from considerable adaptation to the school environment, curriculum and teaching, which enables them to make rapid progress.

The report also concluded that pupils feel supported, included and listened to and that educational trips, adventurous activities and charitable work help to promote pupils’ confidence out in the world.

Ofsted has recently introduced a new inspection and reporting system. The ‘expected standard’ is just that, it means the school is doing everything that it should be doing. It’s a high standard, to make sure  children are receiving everything they need and deserve.

‘Strong standard’ marks out excellent, consistent work that’s making a real difference for children.

Other comments in the report included: 

• Disadvantaged pupils do particularly well, often achieving more than their nondisadvantaged peers nationally, starting in the early years.
• Older pupils show increasing leadership and care for their peers as they mature.
• Children in the early years have great fun developing their knowledge and curiosity across a diverse range of indoor and outdoor activities. 
• The school’s highly inclusive approach to providing a rich programme of enrichment activities for all pupils ensures that no one misses out.
• Opportunities to develop leadership skills are extensive. Pupils act as house captains, members of an eco-council, parliamentarians, librarians, and anti-bullying ambassadors. Through these roles and a range of performances and debates, many pupils become resilient, successful communicators who are well placed to make the most of what the next stage of their education can offer.
• The school provides a wonderfully rich and stimulating environment in which children and pupils can learn and grow together safely.

Christopher Harrison, headteacher at Stoke Fleming Primary School, said: “We are incredibly proud of our pupils and delighted that the Ofsted report recognises not only their strong academic achievement, but also the confidence and kindness they develop during their time at Stoke Fleming.

“We are particularly pleased that the inspectors recognised our strong approach to inclusion, early years, personal development and wellbeing, alongside the consistently strong outcomes our pupils achieve. This is a testament to the hard work of our pupils, staff and families, and we are very proud of the community we have created together.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said: “This is a fantastic report for Stoke Fleming Community Primary School and a wonderful reflection of the dedication of its pupils and staff. The inspectors’ comments paint a picture of a school where children are achieving strongly while also developing the skills they need to flourish.

“The description of a community where ‘friendship and kindness flourish’ captures something that is at the heart of Stoke Fleming: a school where children are encouraged to look after one another, take on responsibility and make the most of every opportunity.”