Last updated at 13:46, Thursday, 17 June 2010

A VILLAGE school has wowed inspectors and been hailed as “outstanding”.

CELEBRATIONS: Burlington C of E School headteacher Jan Bath with her pupils and staff who have received an outstanding Ofsted report, putting them in the top six per cent in the country

Burlington C of E School, Kirkby, impressed the education watchdog, Ofsted, and received the top overall mark.

Out of 29 judgements, 23 were outstanding and six were good.

Reporting inspector Juliet Ward said: “This is an outstanding school, where pupils achieve well at all stages. It has many exceptional features that result in outstanding outcomes for pupils overall. Since the last inspection, the school has improved significantly, as has the quality of the teaching, and the progress the pupils make is rapidly accelerating.”

Ofsted noted the “overwhelmingly positive” views of parents and carers who highlighted the school’s “great focus” on the needs of individuals and the community.

The inspectors praised pupils’ progress and attainment.

Ofsted said the “outstanding teaching and curriculum” are “crucial factors” in the progress the pupils make, as teachers plan “exceptionally well” for the varying ages and abilities of pupils.

The staff team were praised as “enthusiastic,” “dedicated” and “committed”.

Burlington’s 60 pupils, aged four to 11, also impressed. Ofsted said: “Pupils clearly like school very much and this is reflected in their first-rate behaviour and high levels of attendance.

“They have very sensible attitudes to their work. They are polite and courteous but delightfully chatty about all that happens at school.”

The report quoted one pupil who said: “Teachers don’t stick to the same old stuff, they make changes every day.”

Ofsted said: “The headteacher (Jan Bath), with the robust support of other members of staff, has been highly successful in creating a very caring and happy learning environment for the pupils.”

Delighted Mrs Bath said: “We are a small school and we do try to do things differently and sometimes you feel that you are taking a bit of a risk, so it was lovely to have everything we believe in really affirmed by this result.”

Burlington was also judged to be outstanding in a Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools report.

First published at 13:04, Thursday, 17 June 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk