Piper’s Vale Primary Academy celebrates ‘GOOD’ Ofsted rating

At Piper’s Vale Primary Academy, we have achieved a ‘GOOD’ Ofsted rating across the board for the first time since 2007.

The Ofsted report summarises the school as having ‘a sense of ambition and belonging’ where ‘pupils behave well’. The report also describes the school as ‘a hive of activity with music, singing and physical education activities going on’.

Our Principal, Kimberly Morton comments:

“We are all absolutely delighted with the results.  Our staff and pupils have worked tirelessly, despite the pandemic, to continuously raise standards across the school.  We have provision from nursery to year six with fantastic facilities here at Piper’s Vale and now our community also has the reassurance that pupils are receiving a good education.  There will be celebrations all round.”

Having achieved an overall effectiveness of ‘GOOD’ the school is praised in the report for the strength of its teaching of reading. Leaders are described as having high expectations and ensure all pupils in school are able to read fluently – with a vast majority of pupils reaching this attainment by the end of key stage 1.

The report also outlines how pupils in the Specialist Education Unit have a personalised curriculum that all adults take responsibility for implementing. It comments that the complex needs of these pupils are well understood by the adults that care for them; leaders ensure staff know how to adapt their teaching, so pupils access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.

Piper’s Vale became part of Paradigm Trust in September 2017 and the principal joined soon afterwards in January 2018. The Ofsted report recognises that the trust has focused on the right priorities and has effectively supported leaders to improve the quality of education at the school. It says the trust, alongside leaders from the other schools in the trust, have supported the staff well.

Paradigm Trust ensures all its schools offer a fantastic education in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. This is supported by enrichment opportunities that enable children to have the best opportunity to reach their potential and achieve more through education.