ST Dubricius School at Porlock is good – and that’s official!

The first school’s overall effectiveness and its capacity for improvement were both graded ‘good’ by visiting OFTSED inspectors.

In their report, they praised the school for providing children with “outstanding care, guidance and support” and displaying “exceptional concern about each individual pupil’s welfare”.

They also noted the “outstanding” behaviour of pupils which they said “contributes extremely well to the purposeful working atmosphere and to pupils’ good progress”.

The inspectors also mentioned that the School Development Plan (SDP) set out “clear priorities” and “initiatives to raise attainment in writing and mathematics are helping to accelerate pupils’ progress” and “drive the school forward”.

The report noted that although Early Years Foundation Station (EYFS) provision offered “very good care and guidance” resulting in the “outstanding” social and emotional development of EYFS children, there was a need to “help them make good progress, especially by developing their independence and providing more opportunities for them to select activities by themselves”.

Inspectors said that the school could improve further by “ensuring that teachers use what they know about each pupils’ achievements so that the most able pupils are consistently well challenged”.

Head teacher Chris Blazey said: “I am delighted we have been found to be a ‘good school’ despite the tougher inspection regime. I felt the inspectors identified the strengths and dedication of all our staff.”

School governor Martina Forster added: “Governors were really pleased that inspectors noted the governing body’s close working relationship with staff as well as our shared determination to give our pupils the very best start in life.”

The school was inspected under the new and much tougher inspection regime used to evaluate schools from September 2009.