Village school's '˜good' Ofsted report

Shevington Vale Primary School was praised by Ofsted for the improvements made and the “passionate and determined leadership” of new executive headteacher Karen Tomlinson.

The report said: “Although only a few days into the job, she has been at the school in a different role. She has a thorough and detailed knowledge of the families at Shevington Vale, which helps her to provide pupils with the necessary care and support.”

Shevington Vale was one of three primary schools in the Shevington federation threatened with closure.

Shevington Community Primary School - which has an “outstanding” Ofsted rating - will close and pupils will go to Shevington Vale.

Before the decision was made, the Post was contacted by a campaigner who claimed Ofsted had found the school “requires improvement”.

However, this could not be verified and the Ofsted report published this week rated it “good” in all areas.

Improvements made included the quality of assessments, teaching of maths and quality of equipment.

The leadership of English and maths was “increasingly effective” and pupils’ outcomes in reading and writing had improved.

The progress made by pupils was “good” and there had been an increase in pupils attaining the expected standard in phonics.

The inspector said staff were “keen and motivated” and the school was “popular with parents”.

Attendance was “above average” and pupils’ behaviour was described as “good”.

The pupil premium grant had been spent “wisely” but should be more targeted to improve the progress of disadvantaged middle-ability pupils, the report said.

Ofsted found the curriculum was “not sufficiently challenging” for the brightest pupils in history and science.

Mrs Tomlinson said she was “delighted” with the report from Ofsted.

She said: “One of the things we are really delighted with is that it recognises the improvements we have put in place over the last three years.

“What I think also is a strength is the report very much reflects the children’s view of life at Shevington Vale.”