In their recent Ofsted Inspection of Musbury Primary Academy near Colyton and Axminster in East Devon, Inspectors concluded that leaders had taken 'successful actions to maintain the Good standards of education from their previous inspection'. In the latest report, pupils are seen to be ‘welcoming and kind’ and ‘courteous to visitors’, and 'positive, trusting relationships permeate the school.’  

 

Clair Murrell, Head of School, said, ‘As a small, village school which lies at the heart of our community, we pride ourselves on our strong relationships with pupils and parents. We aspire to provide a safe, warm and friendly space which has a supportive and inspiring learning environment for all, and we encourage children to dream big and aim high. We’re really pleased that Ofsted has recognised how considerate, well behaved and curious our pupils are.’    

 

It’s been noted that ‘parents and carers value the school’s nurturing and inclusive atmosphere’ and that the school is highly ambitious with ‘high expectations for pupils’ achievement’. Children are deemed to be ‘happy and safe’ and secure in the knowledge that ‘there are trusted adults to help them if they have any worries’.   

 

Musbury Primary is governed by First Federation Trust, a multi-academy of 29 primary schools. Together, the school and Trust have developed ‘a coherent curriculum that sets out the specific knowledge that pupils will learn’ which takes account of the school’s mixed-aged classes. The small school environment and mixed classes enable children to forge strong friendships with all ages, where pupils listen to each other with consideration and respect, helping them to become ‘responsible and active citizens’.   

 

Kath Powell, Director of Inclusion at First Federation Trust, said, ‘We have worked closely with staff at Musbury to develop ways to efficiently identify those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and learning is adapted to meet those needs while offering the same curriculum opportunities as their peers. We’re fortunate to have a team of passionate teaching staff who make it their mission to get the most out of each child, regularly checking pupils’ knowledge at key points throughout the academic year and offering support to those who need it most.’  

 

Children gain confidence throughout their school life from early years onwards, building on their vocabulary and using new words and phrases. They ‘engage deeply with skilfully crafted learning activities’ which develops their independence, and there is a strong focus on reading which is specifically tailored to their phonics knowledge. The school’s new curriculum for writing has had a’ positive impact on how pupils apply their phonics and spelling knowledge’.   

 

The school environment is seen to be ‘calm and orderly’ due to a good understanding of the rules, and pupils attend school regularly due to the close working relationship with parents and external agencies when improvements are needed.   

 

Clair continues, ‘We make personal development a priority for pupils which is seen as a strength of the school and like to encourage mental and physical wellbeing alongside exciting residentials and school trips, which help to develop leadership and teamwork skills and a better understanding of the world around us.   

 

We’re very grateful for our hardworking staff who have expressed how proud they are to work at our school, and to the Trust for their continued support and professional development, and we’d like to thank our pupils and our parental community for working with us to make this a fantastic school for all.’