Ofsted praises ‘small school with big ambitions’ in Nidderdale
by
May 23, 2022
Nicola Thornber, headteacher of Glasshouses Primary School
Glasshouses Primary School headteacher Nicola Thornber

A Nidderdale school is celebrating achieving a ‘good’ rating in its latest Ofsted report.

Glasshouses Primary School maintained its rating from the previous inspection in 2012, with the report particularly praising its ethos and the attitudes of pupils to learning.

In their introduction, the inspectors wrote:

“Glasshouses Primary School is a small school that has big ambitions for all its pupils.

“A caring and respectful ethos runs through all areas of the school. Leaders are determined to provide pupils with the knowledge and understanding they need to be happy, confident and successful.”

Reacting to the report, headteacher Nicola Thornber said:

“That top line absolutely encompasses what Glasshouses Primary School is about. There’s some great statements in there but that, for me, is the best.”

At the beginning of the year, the school, which has 55 pupils, forming Upper Nidderdale Federation, with Fountains Earth and St Cuthbert’s primary schools.


Read more:


The inspection report praised the new governing board for having a good understanding of the school’s priorities. It added:

“They hold leaders to account effectively and have clear plans for the ongoing development of the school.”

Inspectors said the school could make further improvements by having more ambitious lessons to enable pupils to stretch themselves, and doing more to support pupils who are working slightly below expectations so they can catch up with their peers.

Miss Thornber said she was happy with these recommendations and that the school was already working on those improvements.

Meanwhile, after a recommendation by Ofsted, Glasshouses has been invited to be part of a small schools forum run by North Yorkshire Council, sharing its experiences with others.

Miss Thornber added:

“I’m absolutely delighted with the report – we’ve had such great comments.

“We have some great relationships with parents. Everyone has worked so hard.”