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Sept 2022

Last Updated: 20/09/2022

Education

Richard Taylor school in Bilton receives 'good' Ofsted rating

by John Plummer

| 20 Sept, 2022

The government schools inspector praises the quality of learning as well as how much children enjoy attending.

Richard Taylor School in Bilton.

Richard Taylor Primary School in Bilton has received a 'good' rating by Ofsted.

The government schools inspector, which visited Richard Taylor in June, praised the quality of learning as well as how much children enjoy attending.

The report said pupils work hard to meet the high expectations set by teachers and that children with special educational needs were particularly well supported by a "broad and ambitious" curriculum.

The report said:

"Pupils say that they love school and their friends at Richard Taylor primary.

"Pupils feel safe, and are safe, because staff look after them well and help them with any problems they may have.

"Teachers help them to do their best. They are well supported by school staff."

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The report praised the "calm and orderly environment" and said child welfare and safeguarding were well catered for. It said:

"Pupils say that bullying does not happen, but if it did, they trust that adults would deal with it quickly."

Staff, it added, "are proud to work at the school" and "say that leaders support them well".

Most parents say the school is a "great community to be part of" and feel supported by staff.

Founded in 1793

Richard Taylor was founded in 1793 and moved to its current site on Bilton Lane in 1973.

The 275-pupil school, which is a founding member of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, was last inspected in 2017, when it was also rated 'good'.

The latest report highlighted "some inconsistencies in staff expertise to deliver phonics", adding:

"As a result, some pupils in the earliest stages of reading are not competent at blending letter sounds to read a word."

It said leaders were in the process of putting in place "a more systematic approach to the teaching of phonics".

Andrew Symonds, who has been headteacher at Richard Taylor for 13 years, said:

"Everyone at Richard Taylor school is very pleased with the outcome of our most recent report.

"We are delighted that the inspector recognised the strong sense of community where a culture of respect and kindness is in every classroom.

"The report also clearly identified the strong duty of care and united vision for the pupils, based upon our Christian values, which is shared by everyone associated with the school.

"I would like to thank the children, parents, governors and leaders within the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust for their hard work and support which is reflected in this report.

"As a school we are ready to focus on the agreed targets for development as we prepare to celebrate 230 years as a learning community in Harrogate and our 50th anniversary on our current site."

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Richard Taylor school in Bilton receives 'good' Ofsted rating

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Founded in 1793