In their recent Ofsted inspection of Axminster Community Primary Academy in East Devon, inspectors concluded that the school is Good in all areas including quality of education, behaviour, leadership and management, and more.   

 

Pupils are seen to behave well and ‘learn how to care for themselves and others’, and the school has made significant improvements to the curriculum which have been fully embraced.   
  

Claire Hulbert, Head of School, said, ‘Our core values of honesty, resilience, courage, kindness, respect, and community are at the heart of everything we do here at Axminster Community Primary Academy, and we are thrilled that Ofsted has acknowledged the happiness, safety, and inclusivity experienced by our pupils. Our dedicated staff work diligently to ensure our curriculum is tailored to meet the diverse needs of all learners, and we take immense pride in our pupils who have excellent knowledge which they retain and apply effectively.’  

 

Ofsted recognises pupils’ ‘positive attitudes to learning’ including how well they work together and appreciates the school’s commitment to nurturing and developing pupils’ talents and interests.   

 

Claire continues, ‘Over the past three years, we have successfully expanded our facilities, significantly enhancing the learning environment available to our pupils. This expansion has allowed us to increase our nursery and school provision and our school community is now more diverse than ever, with pupils speaking fourteen different languages. We take great pride in fostering an atmosphere of tolerance and a secure understanding of equality and the rule of law among our children.  

 

‘Looking ahead, we are excited to embark on the next phase of our school improvement journey. Next year, we will re-launch our Axminster 6 provision, offering half-termly experiences designed to enrich the learning of each year group. Additionally, our Friday afternoon club enrichment initiative will provide every pupil with the opportunity to engage in a club for half a term, fostering their interests and encouraging connections with peers across the school.’  

 

Axminster Primary joined First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools across Devon and Dorset, in September 2024 and has since benefited from the sharing of best practice from the other member schools.     

 

Claire Fegan, Director of School Improvement at First Federation Trust, said 'We have really enjoyed working with the team at Axminster Primary since they joined us in September, supporting their developments within teaching, learning and curriculum.  It is particularly pleasing to see Ofsted's recognition of how well teachers present new information.  We look forward to continuing to work with the school on their next chapter and future improvements.'   

 

Mrs Hulbert continues, ‘We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our school community for their unwavering support. We work hard to embody a collaborative environment where everyone is invested in the learning and development of our pupils, and the relentless commitment of staff, pupils, parents and carers, and the Trust is paramount to making a positive difference in the lives of each child. Together we will fulfil our vision of ‘Achievement for All.’