Sidmouth CE Primary, a large school on the South Devon coast, has been deemed Good in all areas and considered to be safe, friendly and inclusive according to the recent Ofsted report.  

 

Alex Spraggon, Head of School, said, ‘We’re really pleased with this positive report from Ofsted. Our pupils are keen to learn, they’re happy, and have strong relationships with staff, all of which helps us maintain our low absence rates, and our high expectations for achievement and behaviour. Children value our rewards scheme where they are praised for good conduct, strong performance, and for being conscientious. We’re very proud of our team and our pupils' achievements which are testament to the hard work of our staff.’ 

 

There is an effective safeguarding process at Sidmouth, with wellness and care at the centre of all they do. Staff are said to ‘know each pupil well’ and children know they can share concerns, trusting ‘staff to act on any problems quickly and effectively.’ Pupils work collaboratively, ‘reinforcing the community feel of the school’. 

 

Sidmouth CE Primary is part of First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primaries across Plymouth, Devon and Dorset. Claire Fegan, Director of School Improvement for First Federation, said ‘The team at Sidmouth work tirelessly to make sure the curriculum remains ambitious and interesting, but also place importance on learning that extends beyond the classroom with outdoor adventure activities, educational visits, involvement in community events, and many opportunities for leadership roles such as prefects, eco leaders and school councillors. 

 

We’ve worked with Sidmouth over many years to build an accurate picture for quality assurance. We’re pleased to hear how positive staff are about the guidance they receive from leaders.’ 

 

The broad curriculum ‘helps pupils to build knowledge and skills from Nursery to Year 6’ and staff ‘continuously assess each pupil and identify the next steps they need to take’ which aids pupils in their knowledge and retention of core subjects. Communication and language has been placed ‘at the heart of the curriculum’, enhancing ‘pupils’ ability to speak clearly and to build a rich vocabulary’, and reading has been prioritised for all with ‘precise support in place for pupils who fall behind’. Children have access to a ‘wide range of authors and genres’ helping them ‘develop an understanding of the lives of others’.  

 

Those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are said to ‘progress through the curriculum successfully and participate fully in school life’ as pupils have individual plans for their specific needs. The dedicated ‘cocoon’ space allows staff to offer bespoke support for ‘pupils who may encounter difficulties’. 

 

Alex continues, ‘I want to say thank you to everyone involved in maintaining our high standards, from support staff to the teaching team and leaders at the Trust. We are committed to ensuring we continue to learn, with improvements being made where needed at each step of the way.’