A Futura primary school in Bridgwater has been praised by inspectors for its inclusive and welcoming ethos and its well-behaved children.
Westover Green Community School and Autism Centre, which has more than 400 pupils aged four to 11, was said to have developed positive relationships with families thanks to a “culture of openness and trust”.
A team of five inspectors from the education watchdog Ofsted issued a report following a visit at the end of March to the school.
“Everybody is welcome at this school. Pupils have a clear sense of belonging,” the inspectors said.
“Pupils behave well across the school. They are keen to learn.
“Pupils show respect for each other and for adults. Pupils are kind and helpful toward each other.”
Ofsted noted that the ‘Westover Way’ values of ‘be safe, be ready, be respectful, be kind’ underpin the school’s caring atmosphere.
“Pupils typically behave well and are keen to learn. Classrooms are calm and purposeful places to learn.”
The inspectors said the school was “highly inclusive” and praised the “meticulous” efforts by leaders to identify and remove barriers to learning for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, those known or previously known to social care and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
They also highlighted the opportunities offered to children outside the classroom such as performing in local theatres, building resilience through outdoor learning sessions, and having new experiences by taking part in a variety of clubs.
Inspections now grade schools in several categories using a traffic light system. Westover Green was awarded five greens, meaning its provision in those areas reaches the expected standard. These were for attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, personal development and wellbeing and early years. Safeguarding was also said to meet the expected standard.
Amber ratings, which mean that the school is on the way to reaching expected standards, were given for achievement and for curriculum and teaching.
The report said: “The school’s leadership team, while relatively new, have a full understanding of school’s context. They have ensured that there is an ambitious vision for providing a higher-quality education to all pupils. Since appointment they have worked at pace to considerably strengthen the quality of education that pupils receive.”
Inspectors said the school had overhauled the curriculum so that it is relevant and ambitious, and had begun to improve staff expertise, but that more needed to be done to make teaching and learning more consistent.
Support and challenge from the trust was leading to sustained improvements, they added.
Headteacher Jo Hale said: “We are delighted that Ofsted has recognised the warm and positive relationships that make our school a great place to work and learn. We are ambitious for every child at Westover Green. Our dedicated staff work tirelessly in partnership with parents and carers, supported by our governors and the trust, to enable our pupils to become life‑long learners who achieve their full potential.”
Gary Schlick, chief executive officer of Futura Learning Partnership, said: “Congratulations to the children, staff, leaders, governors and parents at Westover Green on this highly positive Ofsted report. The inspectors have recognised the school’s considerable strengths and they are confident, as am I, that its journey of improvement will continue.”
