Staff and pupils at a new independent school in Harrogate are celebrating after it passed its first ever Ofsted inspection with flying colours. 

Strive for Education, on North Park Road, is a special school which caters for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders and social, emotional and mental health needs. 

It was registered with the Department for Education in February this year and inspected in November. Ofsted rated it “good” in all areas except for behaviour and attitudes, which it said were “outstanding”. 

The report said: 

“The atmosphere at the school is calm and caring. During unstructured time, pupils and staff socialise together in a relaxed setting. This helps pupils to feel comfortable and safe. Staff have created a homely atmosphere which is rare to see.” 

Strive for Education has 23 pupils aged 14 to 19, half of them attending on a part-time basis. 

Andy Brown, headteacher and co-owner of Strive for Education, said: 

“We are delighted with our first ever Ofsted report as an independent school. We feel it accurately reports on the quality of the education and care we provide and the incredibly high standards we set out to achieve. 

“Having a three-day inspection is an intense experience, but we feel that this has enabled Strive to improve even further.” 

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Belmont level crossing on Forest Lane in Harrogate is to close overnight twice this week, Network Rail has confirmed.

The crossing will be shut to allow maintenance teams to carry out a rail corrosion inspection from 11.20pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28) to 6.25am on Wednesday, November 29, and at the same times between November 29 and Thursday, November 30.

A spokesperson for Network Rail told the Stray Ferret:

“This means that there will be no disruption to train services, as the crossing will close and re-open between the last and first services.”

However, although rail services will not be affected, North Yorkshire Council has confirmed there will be signposted diversions overnight for road traffic using Hookstone Chase, Wetherby Road (A661) and the A59 between Starbeck and Harrogate.

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Kirkby Malzeard Church of England Primary School has retained its ‘good’ rating in an Ofsted report published this week.

Inspectors visited the 90-pupil school, which is between Ripon, Masham and Pateley Bridge, on September 26 for only its second assessment in a decade.

As with the previous one in 2018, the school was judged to be ‘good’.

The report said:

“Pupils love coming to school. Pupils are happy and safe in this nurturing environment. The school’s values of kindness, patience, love and peace thread through every aspect of school life.

“Excellent relationships develop between staff, pupils and families. Many pupils move into the area from other schools. They settle in well and make new friends quickly. Staff listen well to pupils and value their ideas.”

Bullying was described as “rare”, safeguarding was assessed to be “effective” and the school was described as “calm”.

The buddy system, where older pupils mentor younger pupils, was praised for being a good way for pupils to “get to know each other really well”.

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Governors were praised for supporting and challenging senior leaders well.

Inspectors said the “well designed and ambitious” curriculum “deepens pupils’ thinking about culture and life beyond Kirkby Malzeard”, adding:

“For example, pupils learn about the reasons why people migrate. They study the Industrial Revolution and the Windrush generation.”

Some areas in need of improvement at the school, which is federated with St Nicholas Church of England Primary School in West Tanfield, were highlighted.

“There is a lack of consistency in the way in which members of staff check pupils’ knowledge systematically, identify misconceptions and provide direct feedback. This means that some pupils are not given a direct steer to make their learning better.

“The school should ensure that all staff are trained to assess pupils’ knowledge and give them timely feedback.”

‘Hugely positive feedback’

Head teacher Sarah Taylor (pictured above) said the school was proud of the “hugely positive feedback” in the report.

Ms Taylor added:

“The report identified how much our pupils love coming to school and praised the behaviour of pupils who they say live up to the high expectations of behaviour set by staff and treat one another with high levels of respect.

“Inspectors also commented on the calmness within school and the ‘working hum’ as pupils focus on the learning in our ambitious curriculum.

“We are delighted that they recognised the hard work of the staff to provide such a positive environment for our pupils.”

Government inspectors have praised staff at a Harrogate nursery in a report published this week.

Ofsted rated Little Dragons Day Nursery on East Parade ‘good’ following an inspection on September 5.

It said “children benefit from a wide range of exciting experiences at this well-organised setting” and “have strong opportunities to explore with their senses”.

The report added:

“Children share and play cooperatively together. They benefit from secure daily routines and regular mindfulness sessions. This helps them to feel happy, safe and secure.

“Staff are caring, nurturing and fun. They build strong bonds and good relationships with children.”

Little Dragons is on East Parade.

Ofsted described manager Bambi Wainwright as “very effective”, adding:

“She provides strong support for her staff team’s wellbeing and continuous professional development.

“Staff are supported to improve their skills through meetings, training and observations of practice. The manager and her staff team are dedicated and passionate about the quality of the service they provide and the outcomes for children in their care.”

Read more:

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Ofsted recommended two areas for improvement. It suggested Little Dragons reviewed the use of comforters, such as dummies, “to enhance support for younger children’s developing speech and communication skills” and also reduced distractions during group times “to further support children’s listening and attention skills”.

Little Dragons Day Nursery, which caters for 65 children aged up to four, registered in 2012 and employs 14 members of childcare staff.

Ms Wainwright said many staff had been at the nursery since it opened, adding:

“We are absolutely thrilled. It shows all the team’s hard work and dedication has paid off.”

A Harrogate primary school is to be re-inspected by Ofsted after an interim assessment suggested it could be judged ‘outstanding’. 

Oatlands Junior School was rated ‘good’ when Ofsted visited in 2018, and following inspectors’ latest visit in July, the school retained that status.

But in its report, Ofsted said there was “enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding if we were to carry out a graded (section 5) [i.e. more comprehensive] inspection now”. 

Oatlands is now expected to undergo a graded inspection within the next two years to assess whether it is still ‘good’ or has attained ‘outstanding’ status. 

The report, released today, particularly praises the school’s inclusivity, reporting that leaders and staff “help every pupil, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to be the very best that they can be.” 

It goes on to praise the school’s “broad and interesting” curriculum, pupils’ behaviour, sense of equality, and respect for difference and diversity.

The headteacher of Oatlands Junior School, Mrs Estelle Scarth, said:  

“The report certainly captures everything about Oatlands Junior School that we are immensely proud of and quite rightly describes all the outstanding evidence that was found throughout a very thorough inspection.

“Our success is firmly based on the dedication and talents of everyone that works in our school, the strong, positive relationships that we have with our parents and carers, and of course, all the amazing children in our care.”  

Oatlands Junior School, along with Western Primary and Harrogate Grammar School, was one of the founding schools of the Red Kite Learning Trust in 2015. This has since grown into a multi-academy trust of 14 schools across North and West Yorkshire. 

Amanda Thornton Jones, Director of Primary Education for Red Kite Learning Trust, said: 

“Ofsted recognised the strong collaborative approach within our Trust and how talent and expertise of staff are developed across all our schools. Oatlands Junior School has a highly trained, dedicated and expert team led by an exceptional headteacher.

“Mrs Scarth’s high aspirations and vision are shared by all within the school community. Oatlands Junior is a highly successful school, providing a rich curriculum which releases potential and creates amazing opportunities for all pupils.”

Read more:

• Ofsted praises ‘welcoming and friendly’ Scotton school
• Bishop Monkton school retains ‘good’ Ofsted rating
• Ofsted says Holy Trinity Junior School in Ripon ‘requires improvement’

A Harrogate nursery has been praised by Ofsted for delivering a “safe” environment where children feel “confident” and content.

Acorns In Harrogate, based in the grounds of Hookstone Chase Primary School, has maintained its ‘good’ rating earned at its last inspection in 2019.

In its latest report, inspector Pat Edmond said:

“Children are happy and settled at the nursery. Staff recognise the impact that the covid-19 pandemic has had on children’s development. They have sensibly prioritised children’s personal, social and emotional development.

“The success of this is evident throughout the setting. Children are relaxed, confident and very well behaved.”

Visiting the nursery in June, Ms Edmond found its staff had a good understanding of children’s development and were able to effectively support children with special educational needs.

She said the children enjoyed the ‘healthy, home-cooked meals” on offer and staff helped them to understand about their health, both through food and drink and by spending time outdoors.

A village nursery near Harrogate has received praise from Ofsted for the way it encourages children to develop their independence.

The School House Nursery in Pannal was also found to be a “welcoming” environment where children felt “safe and secure” when inspector Jennifer Cowton visited.

Rating the nursery ‘good’ in all areas in a report published this week, she said:

“Children know what is expected of them and follow the boundaries and routines of the setting well. They enjoy playing alongside each other and understand the importance of sharing and taking turns.

“Staff act as positive role models and encourage children to be kind. They speak to children in a calming manner, and carefully consider and respect children’s views and opinions.”

During the inspection, which took place at the end of March, Ms Cowton said children were “well prepared for their next stage in learning”, being encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves.

Children benefitted from learning about the natural world through growing flowers and feeding wildlife, she found.

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The report said the nursery, which is part of Kids at Heart based near Knaresborough, helped children to learn about good health, as well as offering a menu of freshly-cooked, healthy meals and snacks.

Ms Cowton said:

“Parents speak highly of the nursery. They say that their children love attending and arrive happy and smiling.

“Staff share information with parents about their children’s learning experiences through daily conversations. In addition, they share photographs of children’s activities using an online application.

“Parents are encouraged to contribute to their children’s learning and support their learning at home. Staff provide parents with activity ideas.”

The report found that, while staff understood how to support children’s language development, they could do more to model language to younger children while playing.

It also recommended the nursery manager could make better use of observation and supervision to help staff develop their teaching.

Responding to the report, Julie Shaw, owner of Kids at Heart, said:

“I would like to say how delighted I am with our Ofsted report. I feel it truly reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the staff team at The School House Nursery, Pannal.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to the wonderful children (who are amazing) and their parents for all their supportive comments, not only on the inspection day, but on an on-going basis.”

Staff and pupils at a primary school judged ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted 18 months ago are celebrating after it was given a glowing report following its latest inspection. 

Ofsted inspectors visited Ripley Endowed Church of England School in March and their report, published today, rates the village school ‘good’ in all areas. 

The new assessment marks a sea-change in the school’s fortunes and is the result of radical measures to bring it up to the required standard. 

Victoria Kirkman, who was appointed interim co-executive headteacher last year, said she was “proud” of the new rating. She added:

“Since my commencement at the federation, the sole focus has been rapid school transformation. The implementation of robust systems, processes and a curriculum that meets the needs of all children whilst focusing on high levels of pastoral care has ensured success.

“Children have only one chance at an education, and I am delighted that now, the children of Ripley Endowed Church of England School will succeed and have far greater life chances.”

Having been consistently rated ‘good’, the school received three consecutive ‘requires improvement’ assessments in 2015, 2017 and 2019. 

At its last full inspection in November 2021, it was rated ‘inadequate’ – the lowest of all ratings – in a report that was highly critical of its quality of education, leadership and early years provision. 

The rating meant the school, which has space for 90 pupils but currently only has 33, was placed in special measures.

As a result, North Yorkshire County Council drafted in an interim executive board (IEB) and new staff were hired, including Miss Kirkman, who is also executive headteacher at Admiral Long CE Primary School in Burnt Yates and Birstwith CE Primary School, which were both inspected and rated ‘good’ by Ofsted last year, and at Beckwithshaw Primary School which was rated ‘inadequate’ last spring.

Ripley Primary School’s progress was noted at a monitoring inspection in November 2022, but today’s report is seen as concrete acknowledgement that the school has been turned around. The report rates the school ‘good’ across the board, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. It states: 

“Leaders are relentless in their drive to support pupils to achieve their best and have designed a curriculum which broadens pupils’ horizons.

“Pupils enjoy their lessons. They pay close attention to adults. There is little or no disruption, which means pupils are able to concentrate well.”

It also quotes a parent, who said the new leadership’s “unbelievable enthusiasm has spread amongst teachers, pupils and parents”. 

Ofsted inspectors were impressed with the changes that staff and governors had brought about over the last 12 months.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said:

“I am thrilled that Ripley Primary School is now an educational establishment where children can flourish. We, as the local authority, are committed to continue developing the best possible provision for the pupils and will work tirelessly to build on these successes.”

Robert Ling, who was drafted in as the chair of the IEB, said:

“Since the IEB came into force in February 2022, it’s been a real team effort and I would like to thank members of the IEB for their commitment in turning things around.

“We are immensely grateful and proud of everything we have achieved in such a short period of time and I hope the school’s journey of improvement continues. Ripley Endowed Church of England School is part of a federation of three schools – Kettlesing Felliscliffe Community Primary and Beckwithshaw Community Primary School.

“However, I would also like to express my gratitude to Killinghall Primary School, Admiral Long School and Birstwith C of E Primary School, for their continued support in the remarkable journey that this federation has taken.

“Finally, a huge thank you to the parents and carers for your continued support of the school, especially during the past 18 months, which have been challenging for everyone.”

Rebecca Foy, the school’s interim co-executive headteacher and special educational needs co-ordinator, was also delighted by Ripley’s transformation. She said:

“We are absolutely thrilled with our result. It reflects the hard work, high expectations and dedication of the staff team to our children and families.

“We would like to thank parents and carers whose unwavering support to school life at Ripley, along with the wider community, has been a key factor in making us a positive and ambitious school and, of course, our wonderful children who we are immensely proud of.”

Maxie Schiffmann and Ellie Allen, co-chairs of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), told The Stray Ferret:

“We are absolutely delighted with this report. All staff, governors, parents and pupils have worked incredibly hard to improve this fantastic village school and we have created a very tight community during this journey. We look forward to welcoming many more pupils to this wonderful school.”

Read more:

• Ripley school praised for ‘swift and effective action’ to address inadequate rating
• Ripley primary school seeks to join academy after ‘inadequate’ rating
• Ofsted rates Ripley primary school as ‘inadequate’