Gislingham Primary School given Good for first Ofsted report since becoming an academy

A primary school has been praised for the way it helps pupils thrive and achieve after being inspected by Ofsted for the first time since becoming an academy.

Gislingham Church of England Primary School, which is part of The Tilian Partnership trust, was rated as good overall, and outstanding for the behaviour and attitudes of pupils.

Headteacher Richard Benstock said he felt the report was a fair reflection of what happens at the school in Broadfields Road.

“We are an inclusive school as the inspection says,” he said.

“Our aspirations are high and that comes through from the staff, governors and parents as we have a family and community feel to the school, where everybody just wants the very best for the children.”

Inspectors highlighted that pupils achieve highly in English and maths; staff receive helpful training; teaching was well adapted to meeting the needs of different pupils, including those with special educational needs; and that any pupil at risk of falling behind was given additional support.

Inspectors did, however, find that, although most of the wider curriculum was well planned, a few subjects were not at the same high standard and that teaching about other cultures and global news had not had as strong an impact as the school intended.

Addressing these areas of concern, Mr Benstock said: “We acknowledge the fact that there were a couple of areas that needed to be developed more when we spoke to the inspectors.

“The continuity of the planning in all subject areas is being prioritised as we have for the last couple of years with our core subjects – English, maths and science – and we have a development plan to work on the others.”