Students, staff and parents at Exning Primary School, Suffolk, are celebrating the results of their recent Ofsted inspection, receiving ‘exceptional’ for inclusion and leadership and governance, and a ‘strong standard’ mark for curriculum, teaching and pupil achievement.
Inspectors praised the school’s highly personalised approach to education, highlighting teachers’ precise delivery of teaching, and for ensuring that all pupils had access to a broad and balanced curriculum. School leaders were also commended for their deep understanding of pupils and the adjustments needed for their learning.
Inspectors wrote that ‘inclusion is woven into everything the school does’, with leaders and teachers being highly knowledgeable about different special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The well-informed approach of the school means that leaders effectively identify where pupils need extra provisions and subsequently provide pupils with the support needed to bring them to the same standard as their peers. The success of this work is reflected in the results: pupil achievement is high, consistently achieving above the national average in reading, writing and mathematics.
The Ofsted inspectors highlighted the school’s positive culture and pupils’ excellent behaviour noting that children are extremely supportive of their peers and genuinely celebrate each other’s achievements. When asked about his time at Exning Primary, George, a pupil aged five, said: “I always love to come to school. Everyone is so kind. My favourite is PE with Katie, our sports teacher, and playing with my friends.”
The school continues to foster kindness and cooperation through initiatives like the peer mediators – a team of 10 Year Six children who are trained to mediate any worries or disputes that younger children have at playtimes. The mentor scheme has given children responsibilities that develop their listening, communication and problem-solving skills, and their success has seen the group nominated for a national award, as well as being invited for a tour of the House of Lords.
Alongside these schemes, the report noted the wide range of opportunities available to pupils beyond the core curriculum. Clubs range from Zen Club to harvesting honey as part of Bee Club. As part of Eastern Education Group, Exning Primary School also creates early career awareness by working with the Group’s sixth forms. Pupils have visited different colleges, and students have come into school to work with them on projects like ‘upcycling’ fashion.
The school collaborates closely with parents and carers to overcome any barriers to learning and wellbeing that pupils have, and parents and carers are highly positive about this support. One parent said: “Congratulations to Exning on such a fantastic report. We can speak first-hand about what an amazing school it is – our child has been so well supported and has thrived since joining”. This is evidenced in areas such as attendance, where the school has devised a system to prevent low attendance. Pupils are given a specific job on arrival so that they have responsibilities and develop confidence and self-esteem.
Emma Hardy, Headteacher of Exning said: “The Ofsted report following our inspection is amazing. It reflects the dedication of our staff, the support of parents and carers and, above all, the achievements of our pupils and the entire Exning family. The report is a testament to our commitment to making sure our pupils feels safe and supported and are encouraged to achieve their potential. We are particularly pleased that inspectors highlighted our personalised approach to education and we are so proud of all our pupils’ achievements.”
