We continue to be a GOOD school - OFSTED report released!

Following our OFSTED inspection on the 8th and 9th November 2022, we have now received the final report which I have included with this letter. I am sure you will join us all in being very pleased that Glade Hill remains a GOOD school.

We all think very highly of Glade Hill Primary and Nursery School and all the amazing work that takes place here, so it was lovely to have that recognised in the report.  At Glade Hill Primary and Nursery School we have a strong sense of values and ethos based upon 'We are GOLDEN and we SPARKLE' which the Inspector reported ‘permeates through the life of the school’.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the children, staff, governors and families who work tirelessly to support Glade Hill. You have supported me in maintaining our caring and family ethos, but also in implementing changes to make our school even better.

Here are some extracts from the report:

• Glade Hill is a place where relationships are nurtured.
• It is a happy and safe place for pupils to learn.
• Safeguarding is effective. Pupils’ well-being and safety is given high priority.
• Pupils say their teachers are dedicated.
• It is a place where pupils are treated with respect and equality regardless of their background.
• Leaders have developed a broad and balanced curriculum.
• Leaders want every child to be a successful reader and pupils are provided with opportunities to read throughout the curriculum.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are included in all aspects of school life.
• Leaders ensure that pupils receive the right support from external agencies, if they need it.
• The school’s early years environment is bright and welcoming.
• Governors know the school well. They fulfil their statutory responsibilities.
• Staff are overwhelmingly positive about leaders’ actions to support their well-being and workload.

Although the report was highly positive of the work we do, there are always areas we can focus on to improve. For example, I know that some of you shared with the Inspector that you had concerns regarding the breadth of our wider curriculum offer, specifically regarding clubs to develop children’s talents and interests. This is something that we have been working on, but had not yet released prior to the Inspection. Letters have now gone out with details of the clubs we will be running after Christmas throughout the Spring term. I will also be working hard with Senior Leaders to restart some of the other opportunities we had in place before the pandemic and also to start some exciting new ones, so keep a look out.

We will also continue to work hard on our curriculum to ensure that all pupils know more and can remember more across the whole curriculum. The Inspector commented that we must ensure

that all staff have the expertise to teach the school’s curriculum accurately and precisely. Whilst we have been working hard on this in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, we now need to apply this across the wider curriculum. Leaders and teachers will be focusing on this going forwards.

Overall, I think this outcome is a huge reflection of the hard work that everyone does to make Glade Hill such a special school. Governors, staff, parents, carers, and most importantly the pupils, all work hard every day to create something very special here in our school.  I thank you for your continued support for Glade Hill, it is greatly valued and appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to support your children and the school in going from strength to strength.