Pupils skip with joy going to school

11:19am Thursday 10th April 2008

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STAFF and governors at Oare Primary School, near Pewsey, have told of their delight at the upbeat assessment of their school by education watchdog Ofsted.

The report, published last week, stresses the enjoyment pupils get from lessons and their keenness to get to classes in the morning.

Ofsted inspector Stephen Lake wrote: "Pupils say that they really enjoy school and love being there.

"They are so keen to be here that attendance is well above average.

"Of the many parents who wrote in support of the school, this is perhaps best expressed by the one who wrote: "My son skips to school every day and at the end of the school day I virtually have to drag him home."

Mr Lake adds: "Pupils make good progress because of good teaching. Teachers know how to motivate and stimulate pupils to learn. Good use is made of ICT to make lessons interesting. Teachers are skilled at asking questions that encourage pupils to think about their work, knowing when to let pupils work things out for themselves and when to prompt them.

"As one pupil said, teachers know when you can do better and ask you questions to help you."

Chairman of governors Phil Birkett said the report from Ofsted was better than everyone was expecting.

He said: "We are very pleased with the result, which has come following a time of change, both myself and head teacher Marion Jones being in post for only 18 months, with many, many changes within the school.

"We are also bucking the trend with our number on roll actually increasing rather than falling."

The school has also benefited from the purchase of ten new laptops, outdoor play equipment installed, a willow tree planted, a garden project up and running and the setting up of lots of after-school clubs and sports competitions.