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Nov 2023

Last Updated: 21/11/2023

Education

Moorside Primary School in Ripon rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

by Flora Grafton

| 22 Nov, 2023

Moorside Primary School and Nursery, in Ripon, has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The findings were published in a report yesterday following a two-day inspection in September.

Government inspectors rated the school and nursery, which has 168 pupils, ‘good’ in all four categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

It was the first assessment since Moorside Primary School and Moorside Infant School amalgamated in 2019.

Inspectors said the school “lies at the very heart of its community” and found “pupils enjoy attending school”. They added:

“Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), establish positive relationships with staff. They describe their teachers as ‘caring’ and ‘kind’.

“Parents are effusively positive about the school. One parent captured the views of many in saying: ‘Our children are so lucky to start their education at Moorside. The school is a credit to itself and the community.’”

The report praised the wide range of opportunities given to children, including various clubs and the on-site forest school, as well as trips out into the local area – citing a recent trip to Fountains Abbey.

The school has high expectations of pupils’ behaviour, the report added, and said “pupils enjoy the praise they receive for their good behaviour”. It said:

“They treat their teachers and each other with respect. They talk politely and confidently to visitors, enjoying opportunities to talk about their school.

“Pupils say that they feel safe and they know they can share any concerns with staff.”

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The report said staff are “well trained” and they have a good understanding of the subjects they teach, while leaders and governors have a “shared ambition for the school and its pupils”.

Inspectors also found the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “carefully considered” and adjustments are made to enable these pupils “to successfully access the same curriculum as their peers”.

It added:

“Pupils study a well-sequenced curriculum for personal, social, health and economic education.

“They learn about positive relationships, mental health and the benefits of diversity. Pupils learn about British values.”

The environment of the “warm and welcoming” early years department was found to be “bright and inviting”.

Areas of improvement

Despite the “ambitious” curriculum, inspectors found the school had not "defined precisely the important knowledge that they want pupils to learn”, adding:

“Consequently, some pupils struggle to retain their learning and, therefore, cannot build on this over time.

“The school should review some aspects of the curriculum to ensure that there is greater clarity for teachers about what pupils should know and remember at each stage of their learning, across all subjects.”

It also said, although the school “prioritises” reading, some pupils are given books to read that are “too difficult” and “not well-matched to their phonic ability”, meaning they “struggle to practise” what they have learned.

“The school should make sure pupils’ reading books are well matched to the phonics pupils know.”

‘A fantastic milestone’

In response to the report, Claire Rowett, headteacher of Moorside Primary School and Nursery, said:

“I would like to thank the dedicated and committed staff and governors who have been part of our unique journey, and helped us to not only physically build a school, but a strong community ethos with children at the heart of it.

“I would also like to thank the parents for their overwhelming support; working in collaboration with us to support their children and for also sharing their views with Ofsted where 100% of them said that they would recommend our school to another parent.

“This is a fantastic milestone on Moorside’s journey to celebrate and the school endeavours to continue to build on their success in the future.

“We are always pleased to share our wonderful provision that we have grown here a Moorside and offer opportunities for prospective parents, families and members of the community to visit at any time.”

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Moorside Primary School in Ripon rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

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Areas of improvement

‘A fantastic milestone’