Northamptonshire village school gets good Ofsted report with outstanding features

Gretton Primary School was also given an outstanding rating in three of five categories inspected.

In her report, lead inspector Jan Connor said: “Teachers know their pupils very well and as a result they plan learning that accurately targets the next steps in learning. Where this high-quality teaching is at its best, pupils are making substantial and sustained progress across the school in many subjects, including mathematics, reading and writing.

“Pupils are real ambassadors for their school. They are very keen to help and support one another.

“They have excellent attitudes to learning and apply themselves very well to their lessons.”

Headteacher Jane MacDonald was described as an ‘outstanding leader.’

She said: “We, as a staff, are very pleased with this Inspection report that has highlighted the school’s strengths in key areas of early years provision, the personal development of pupils and school leadership.

“To achieve outstanding judgements in these three categories and good in the other two is extremely encouraging.

“We are very proud that our pupils’ positive attitudes, both towards their learning and each other, is evident, as is our teachers’ knowledge of the pupils which is crucial in order to give them the best possible outcomes.

“The expertise and enthusiasm of our fantastic teaching staff, along with the support of parents, governors and the Brooke Weston Trust, gives us a very firm foundation to build upon.

“We look forward to the next exciting phase in the development of Gretton Primary Academy.”

At its previous inspection in 2011, the school was also rated ‘good’, although it has since been given academy status and joined the Brooke Weston Trust.

The latest inspection report also highlighted areas including early years provision and pupil behaviour as outstanding.

In order to achieve an outstanding rating in its next inspection, staff and governors at the 138-pupil school in Kirby Road was told to improve the quality of teaching so it is all equal to the most challenging and inspiring

teaching in the school, and to ensure that the curriculum provides all pupils, and particularly the most able, with the opportunity to deepen their understanding in subjects other than English and maths.

The inspection took place in February. You can read the full report here.