The head of a Hove primary school has praised staff, governors and pupils after receiving a glowing Ofsted report.
Chris Pearson, who became head 15 years ago, also noted the overwhelmingly supportive feedback from parents to the schools watchdog.
Ofsted rated Goldstone Primary School, in Laburnum Avenue, Hove, as good after its first inspection since 2013.
In a letter to Mr Pearson, Ofsted inspector Lesley Corbett said: “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection.
“You know your school well. You are honest and realistic about its strengths and areas for development and, with governors, determined that the school always looks to improve.
“This has led to the maintenance of high standards in reading and writing throughout the school since the last inspection and recent improvements in mathematics.
“You are actively supported by your senior leaders, who are ambitious for the school and its pupils. All the staff appreciate your leadership and are proud to be part of the school community.
“Parents and carers appreciate your leadership and the inclusive, nurturing environment you have built throughout the school.
“They see themselves as a part of the whole school community and value all the staff’s work.
“Pupils enjoy creative and interesting lessons. They especially enjoy the educational trips and the wide range of clubs and extra-curricular activities available to them, including less common activities such as fencing and ukulele.
“Pupils are very well behaved, both in lessons and around the school. They have good manners and are respectful towards each other. They relish opportunities to take on responsibilities and take their roles seriously.”
Ofsted said that the school should build further on the work already under way in mathematics to extend and challenge the most able pupils and be sure that all pupils experience all aspects of learning in mathematics.
The letter also said that when pupils write in subjects other than English, the content and skills of that particular subject should be more clearly understood by pupils.
Mr Pearson said: “We are delighted to receive such a positive outcome from our Ofsted inspection.
“We were especially pleased that the inspectors thought that our children are ‘very well behaved, well mannered and respectful’.
“They also said that our curriculum was ‘exciting’ and our children ‘enjoy coming to school’.
“Probably most satisfying was that 300 parents wrote on the Ofsted survey website, with 99 per cent saying they would recommend Goldstone to other parents.
“The report is a testament to the enormous hard work of the staff and governors and of course to the most important group – our amazing children.”
To read the report, click here.
