INSPECTORS have praised the “happy and welcoming” community growing at Frenchay C of E Primary School.
Ofsted visited in October, for the first time since 2019 – and exactly two years after the school moved to its new home in Alexander Road.
The regulator no longer gives state schools an overall grade after an inspection.
However, the two inspectors who visited Frenchay said the school is ‘good’ in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
They said: “The school’s vision of ‘Believe, Belong, Become’ helps everyone to feel part of the school community.
“Pupils build strong relationships with each other and adults. They are kind and helpful.
“The school is a happy and welcoming place.”
The inspectors said children are polite and respectful, and take pride in leadership roles they are given that “develop their character and a sense of responsibility”.
They also make a difference to the wider community by taking part in fundraising events.
The inspectors said: “The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve well. In most subjects, pupils remember the important knowledge they need and use it to build new knowledge. This means that most pupils achieve well and are ready for the next stage of their education.”
The report praised the “carefully sequenced curriculum” designed for most subjects, which helps pupils build their knowledge gradually, year on year.
The inspectors said the school “prioritises early reading”, with an effective phonics programme and well-trained staff who ensure pupils keep up by giving support to those who need extra help.
Support for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, “effective” personal, social and health education and action to ensure attendance were all highlighted in the report.
To improve further, the inspectors said the school should ensure the curriculum is clear in all subjects about what pupils should learn, and ensure that assessments check how well all pupils, including those with SEND, are learning, to identify gaps in knowledge.
Head teacher Nicola Dawson said: “We are thrilled with our ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in all areas! It reflects the hard work of our staff, pupils, and community.
“We’re proud of our strong leadership, effective teaching, and positive student attitudes.
“We’ll use this as a springboard to continue improving and providing an excellent education for all.
“It was fantastic to welcome inspectors to our school for their first full inspection in a number of years.
“We were proud to showcase our impressive building and outdoor learning areas.”