High praise for school holding its standards

Inspectors visited John Donne Church of England Lower School in January this year and reported the school is maintaining its standards.

“I was impressed by the environment for learning that staff create - with attractive, high quality and striking dispays of pupils’ work in classrooms and corridors,” inspector Kim Hall said in a letter to headteacher Judi Johnson-Clarke.

“A sense of order, tidiness and celebration of pupils’ achievements is immediately apparent.”

The report states the school has maintained the many strengths identified in its 2012 inspection and there is a clear vision to help every pupil to succeed. The individual needs of the pupils are met well so that children grown in confidence and skills and there is a focus on developing early reading skills.

“Pupils are proud of their school,” said the inspector. “Those I spoke with confidently and willingly shared their work and achievements. Others, particularly those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, demonstrate confidence in their learning and are fully included in activities.

The headteacher was also personally praised for stepping in to teach where there were staff shortages.

Recommendations include raising the challenge for pupils’ writing in key stage 1 and improveing the quality of the science curriculum.

The school will become a primary school in September.