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1 Jun 07Inspectors' Praise For Improving School
Talbot Combined School has been described as an improving school following a visit by Ofsted.
Inspectors reported that good leadership and management had helped deliver much improved standards and achievement. In 2006, the school achieved its best ever results in National Curriculum tests for pupils in Year 6.
Attendance at the school has improved and exclusion rates have fallen, while pupils’ behaviour was described as good by inspectors.
The Ofsted report said a major feature of the school’s improving success has been the effective partnerships between the school, local authority and other agencies. It also said the school has good capacity for further improvement.
Children make good progress at Foundation Stage and the achievement of pupils overall was deemed good in English and satisfactory in mathematics and science by the end of Year 7.
Inspectors judged that pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development is good and noted that the school is very effective in supporting vulnerable pupils. Governors are knowledgeable and supportive and, overall, parents support the school, recognising that behaviour is now good and pupils’ progress is satisfactory and improving.
Inspectors quoted one parent who said: “I cannot praise the headteacher enough for his enthusiastic leadership.” Pupils said they especially value the help and guidance available to them by the school’s pastoral care worker.
The report said the school could improve further the consistency in teachers’ planning and marking, while children have an insufficient understanding of life in a multi-cultural society.
Headteacher James Elliott said the report was welcomed by staff and governors who feel it is a fair reflection of the school and clearly shows the improvements and progress made in recent years.
Mr Elliott said: “The report accurately identifies the areas that we believe are real strengths and the areas we need to work on come as no surprises to us. I am delighted for everyone associated with the school as this report acknowledges the hard work and endeavour of the whole community.”
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