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11
Nov
Harrogate primary school rated 'good' by Ofsted
A Harrogate primary school has been rated “good” in all areas by Ofsted in its latest inspection.
Willow Tree Primary School, on Wetherby Road, was praised on quality education, personal development and inclusion.
The inspection of the school took place in October and inspectors observed that “pupils are happy and enthusiastic about learning”.
The school teaches pupils aged 3 to 11 and has 446 students on the school roll.
Inspectors said that the mixed gender school “is highly inclusive” and that “staff work hard to understand the needs of each individual pupil".
The report also highlighted the positive behaviour of the pupils, noting that they take pride in demonstrating the school’s values of being “respectful, responsible and ready to learn”.
However, inspectors critiqued attendance at the school and said:
The attendance of some pupils is lower than leaders would like, and significantly below the national average.
The attendance of pupils at the school is too low. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds attend school less than their peers.
Inspectors added that school leaders are aware of this and have recently launched a new attendance policy in response.
They said:
The school is working relentlessly to try to improve attendance. However, the impact of this work has yet to be seen.
Willow Tree Primary School
The school has gone through staffing changes and the report noted that it “has made great strides in developing its curriculum over the past few years".
The visit by Ofsted’s inspectors comes at the end of the first full year of leadership by the school’s new headteacher Mr Robert Mold.
Mr Mold said:
We are thrilled to have received such positive feedback from Ofsted. This report reflects the dedication and expertise of our staff, the enthusiasm and attitude of our pupils, and the continued support of our wonderful community.
We are especially pleased that the inspectors recognised the quality of our learning environments for our youngest pupils. We’ve invested heavily in our indoor and outdoor classroom areas to give our youngest children the very best opportunities to explore and be creative. It’s a priority for us to foster a real love of learning that children can take with them on their whole school journey and beyond.
The school is now part of Northern Star Academies Trust a partnership of 15 primary and secondary schools across North and West Yorkshire, five of which are in Harrogate.
Jenn Plews, chief executive of Northern Star Academies Trust, said:
This “Good” rating is incredibly well deserved and is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Mr Mold and the entire school community. We are incredibly proud of what Willow Tree has achieved and are excited to build on this success.
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