A primary school in Dartford has been praised across the board by Ofsted in a glowing inspection report.
Inspectors said West Hill Primary Academy, part of the successful Golden Thread Alliance, had achieved a “strong standard” in personal development and wellbeing, and had reached the “expected standard” in every other area – achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, and leadership and governance.
This was the school’s first inspection under Ofsted’s new inspection framework. Ofsted now gives several separate judgements for different areas of school life and the new system is considered more ambitious and challenging than the previous framework.
The full report can be found here and is full of highlights, including that:
- The school has created a “welcoming and happy environment” where pupils have “highly positive attitudes to school and enjoy learning”. Children “behave in an exemplary manner” and treat one another with “kindness, acceptance and respect.”
- Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain” and “know how to resolve conflict and listen respectfully to other perspectives.”
- Children in the early years receive a strong start to their education, with reading prioritised and phonics taught as soon as children begin Reception.
- Staff were commended for developing positive, trusting relationships with pupils to help them feel “safe and very well supported.”
- “Staff put tailored support in place where needed so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils can be successful in their learning.”
- The school offers a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including trips, workshops, and extracurricular activities that broaden pupils’ creative and cultural awareness.
- School leaders have established an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum that helps pupils learn a range of subjects to prepare them well for the next stages of their education.
- The trust which the school is part of (The Golden Thread Alliance) works closely with local governors and school leaders, with a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and priorities for improvement to strengthen teaching and learning.
Katy Ward, Headteacher at West Hill Primary Academy, said:
“We could not be prouder of this fantastic Ofsted report. Our brilliant staff work so hard every day to provide the very best education for our pupils and they deserve every word of praise that is in the report.
“This success has been a real team effort and I want to thank our staff and of course our wonderful pupils but also our parents for their support, our governors for their guidance, and the Golden Thread Alliance for their oversight.
“We are looking forward to building on this so that we can now reach the next level, delivering ever higher standards of education to the children we serve.”
Garry Ratcliffe, Chief Executive Officer of The Golden Thread Alliance, said:
“Congratulations to Katy and everyone West Hill Primary Academy on this wonderful report. We are all delighted for them that Ofsted has confirmed what we already knew – that West Hill is a great school. The report reflects their ambition for all children to receive the best possible start to education.
“I am especially pleased that Ofsted has recognised the school’s strong standards on pupils’ personal development and wellbeing. Their comments reflect Golden Thread Alliance’s trust-wide focus on ensuring children of all abilities and backgrounds feel inspired to succeed.”