Rushbury school gets outstanding rating

Staff, governors and pupils are celebrating at after Rushbury Primary School was rated as outstanding in all aspects by Ofsted.

Diane Pye, headteacher of the 53-pupil Church of England school in the village near Church Stretton, said: "We are delighted with the inspection findings which recognise the contribution and commitment of all in our school community.

"Rushbury Primary is a happy and successful school and I am very proud of our team and the children."

She said the report came on the heels of numerous local awards that the school has gathered in recent years.

The school was inspected on May 9 and 10 and the resulting report provided a "glowing account of a rich and varied curriculum, excellent teaching, exemplary behaviour and exceptional leadership," she said.

The school's previous Ofsted rating was 'good', one down from the top grade, but in the current report it gained 'outstanding' in all categories, including effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes for pupils an early years provision.

Lead inspector, Sarah Somers, says in the report: "Pupils thrive in this caring, safe and motivating environment. They make excellent progress in their learning, whatever their starting points."

She also noted that the school benefits from strong governance and an inclusive, safe and stimulating environment that provides "high-quality experiences, activities and resources that excite pupils’ interest and encourage them to learn".

Pupils’ outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning were also identified as significant strengths as was the quality of teamwork in the school.

The inspector also found that "staff are exceptionally well led by the headteacher and work as a highly effective team with a shared ambition. Every child is known as an individual and provided with the very best care and understanding to support their learning."