An Ofsted inspection full of praise and positivity is being celebrated by staff and families at Newington Community Primary in Ramsgate.
The ungraded two-day inspection found the school has effectively maintained standards since the last inspection when it was graded as outstanding.
Ofsted said: “Newington excels in nurturing pupils’ character. Pupils understand what the school values mean and strive to reflect them in how they treat others.”
It found a wide range of enrichment experiences while children enthusiastically engage in school-run clubs and said opportunities are especially impactful for disadvantaged children.
Head Teacher Hannah Tudor said: “This inspection has been a community effort and we must celebrate the expertise and hard work of our amazing school staff – every single one of them.”
She also highlighted the positivity and enthusiasm of “every parent who contributed to the parent survey or spoke to the inspectors on the gate and the governors who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support the school.”
She reserved her proudest praise for the pupils, saying: “This report is most importantly celebrating the children. Their uniqueness, their positivity and their zest for learning. Newington Community Primary exists for them -not for Ofsted- and they make the school the amazing place that it is.”
Ofsted praised staff for being “well-attuned to pupils’ learning and emotional needs,” while children’s behaviour was recognised and celebrated throughout the inspection. Inspectors commented on how “pupils encourage each other to behave well” and “the school environment is calm and purposeful”.
Miss Tudor revealed how an inspector spoke to a group of children about bullying and asked them “what advice should I give to my friend who is being bullied at another school?” The children replied “Tell them to come to Newington. We will look after them.”
The staff’s ambition for all children was recognised and celebrated throughout and the report added: “The school is ambitious for pupils.”
Ofsted recognised changes made over the last few years have supported children to learn better and the strong approach to reading was also celebrated and recognised.
Miss Tudor said: “Inclusion was such a big part of the inspection with the team praising our work for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”
One inspector said “The school is so inclusive, inclusion isn’t even a thing here.”
The relentless work the school does around keeping children safe and teaching them how to be safe was another positive finding.
Miss Tudor added: “The highlight of the inspection was one inspector saying to our school staff ‘If I lived closer, I would definitely send my grandson to this school.’”
The wider curriculum (subjects such as Art, PE and Computing) is the next step in the school’s ongoing development, ensuring excellence across the teaching and learning of some of these subject areas so pupils can achieve the school’s ambitious aims.
Some pupils in key stage 2 have legacy gaps in their learning in the foundation subjects. To help them progress through the curriculum , the school will ensure that checks on pupils’ understanding are carried out.
This work has already been planned and will start in September.
Miss Tudor added: “The children were absolutely amazing over the two-day inspection – they really shone like they do all the time, just as we knew they would.
“It enabled Ofsted to clearly see what a remarkable school community Newington is – it makes me incredibly proud to be Head Teacher. Go Team Newington.”
Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection schools received an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements.
Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.
Before September 2024, Newington was judged to be outstanding for its overall effectiveness.
Newington Community Primary School is a member of the Coastal Academies Trust.
