5:00pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
By Mark Bowen
A SMALL borders school is flying the flag for rural centres everywhere after it was branded exceptional by inspectors.
Despite pupils numbers dropping over recent years, the 38 pupils at Gladestry Church in Wales Primary School were celebrating with staff after Estyn found they received an “outstanding allround education” and the school was given a grade one rating in six out of the seven key areas judged.
Head Hilary Morris said: “We are all immensely proud of the fact that we achieved standards of teaching and learning here, in a small rural school on the Welsh borders, that are among the highest in the UK.”
In particular, the quality of teaching was deemed considerably higher than the national average for primary schools in Wales and the “exemplary behaviour” of students was also recognised.
Just two recommendations – to continue to develop curriculum planning and to raise children’s awareness of their Welsh heritage and culture – were made by the inspection board.
Joanna Crawshaw, chair of the school’s governing body, added: “We are thrilled with the report, which we believe accurately reflects the range of outstanding features that characterise our unique village school.”
The complete report can be found at estyn.gov.uk.
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