Bere Alston Primary School and Nursery in Devon, part of First Federation Trust, is celebrating the results of its recent Ofsted inspection where it was judged as being ‘Good’ overall.   

School staff have worked extremely hard over the past five years alongside trust leaders to overhaul each element of the school including the quality of learning, personal development, overall outcomes and leadership. An ambitious curriculum has been developed which ‘begins in the early years where children learn to communicate effectively and develop positive attitudes to learning’, and the school takes great effort to identify and support those with special educational needs.    

The report acknowledges how the ‘school and trust prioritise developing staff expertise’ and ‘staff value the support they receive which helps them to strengthen their teaching.’  

Paul Walker, Chief Executive Officer of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy trust of 21 primary schools across Devon and west Dorset, said, ‘Bere Alston joined the Trust in 2019 and since joining it has benefitted from the collaboration with our other primary schools, the collective expertise and comprehensive support we offer. We are pleased to see the rapid and significant improvements which have been made to the curriculum, teaching and learning, behaviour and SEND over the years, and I’m happy that Ofsted has recognised all these positive improvements.’  

Reading has been identified as a key priority and the report highlights the expertise on offer from teaching staff to guide and support children on this path from early years onwards, and in all other subjects they ‘explain new concepts with clarity’ and ‘use assessment effectively’ enabling pupils to develop their confidence and learning.    

Gareth Bemister, Head of Bere Alston Primary said, ‘The Ofsted inspectors were impressed with the feeling of family and community within the school. They thought our Early Years and Nursery provision were very special, labelling them ‘the jewel in the crown’. We are proud of our safeguarding routines and these were clear during the inspection. What pleased me most was that the inspectors understood we are on a journey with the school. They bought into a greater vision of growth, what our aspirations are, and how at the centre of all of our plans is the personal development of the children.’  

Pupils have been identified as being respectful, polite and well-mannered, ‘enthusiastic about learning’ and attentive, who work in an environment which is nurturing, safe and calm. They are able to undertake a range of enrichment activities and have a variety of important leadership roles, both of which develops their interests and ‘undiscovered talents’.    

  
Gareth Bemister continues, ‘I am delighted for the community that the school has had this recognition and can begin to rewrite the rhetoric for the school. This is a good school; it is warm, inspirational, safe and unique. Ofsted agreed! Now we have had this validation, together as a community we can continue to make magic for the youngsters of Bere Alston and further afield.’