Green Lane Primary School’s inspection success

A retiring headteacher has expressed delight that his school’s high standards has been confirmed by his last ever Ofsted inspection.

Rob Goffee, head of Green Lane Primary School in Barnard Castle, will be retiring at the end of the year and had thought he would escape another government visit.

Then, Ofsted inspectors announced on September 15 they would be arriving the following day.

Teaching staff pulled out all the stops working late into the evening to prepare for the inspection.

Mr Goffee said: “You only get a day’s notice.

“We got a call on the Monday.

“I think everybody was here until 9pm and some staff stayed until 11pm.

“I would like to personally thank the staff for the effort they put in to get everything ready.

“I did not ask anyone to stay back late, but that is what they chose to do.”

It paid off and early years provision was rewarded with a “strong standard” while other areas of the school were identified as reaching the “expected standard”.

The headteacher said: “I am particularly proud of early years.

“To get the strong, that is a massive achievement by Mrs Nic Linsley and her team.

“There are not many schools that are getting strong under the new framework.

“We got all those expected standard which is the new phrase for good now and that was fantastic to see,

“The Ofsted inspector told me the children’s behaviour was impeccable, and the children spoke to him with great confidence.”

Lead inspector Michael Wardle described early years pupils as doing “extremely well”.

He added: “Skilled leadership has ensured that the ‘Happy Hollow’ is a jewel in the school’s crown.

“Children achieve well across the different areas of learning.

“Staff know the abilities and any additional needs of children when they arrive.

“This is due, in part, to highly effective partnership work with parents and carers.”

The report said the curriculum is well designed and purposeful activities support the children’s learning well.

It praised the school’s safeguarding standards saying concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed making children safer and made to feel safe.

Mr Wardle said pupils’ achievement at the school is meeting the expected standard and commented particularly on outcomes of tests and assessments at the end of year six.

The inspector added: “Pupils successfully develop the basics.

“Their handwriting and reading skills are secure.

“They speak with confidence and express themselves well.

“Pupils do well in subjects across the curriculum.

“In physical education, their dancing skills are practised so that all can perform in the school show, for example.”

The school also reached the expected standard for curriculum and teaching, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing, and leadership and governance.

Mr Goffee said: “I was quite emotional when I read the report.

“I know how good the school is and what a fantastic place this is, to have somebody coming in to see how special a place it is made me feel that I can leave a happy man knowing the school is in a good place.”