OFSTED has given Tedburn St Mary School a glowing report, describing the behaviour of its pupils as “exceptional”. 

The education watchdog has rated the small 96-pupil primary school “good” overall, and its behaviour and attitudes “outstanding”, after an inspection in April. 

Ofsted has four ratings: inadequate, requires improvement, good, and outstanding.  

Tedburn St Mary School was rated good three times in 2007, 2010 and 2014 before it became an academy and joined the Link Academy Trust in 2018. 

In its report from its April visit, Ofsted said pupils are “proud of their school”, “have a sense of belonging” and the school’s “values of respect, curiosity and pride are reflected in how pupils treat each other”.  

Pupils also “value the positions of responsibility they hold”, with school councillors leading assemblies and teaching their peers about “fundamental British values”. This means pupils have “a well-considered view of what democracy and tolerance mean for people around the world”.  

They also take part in a range of extracurricular activities, including guitar club, football club and choir. 

Parents talk positively about the school and appreciate how staff “know each pupil individually”. 

The trust and school leaders are “ambitious for all pupils” and have prioritised improving early reading and phonics since the last inspection, the watchdog said. Now, pupils “get off to a flying start” with their reading and achieve well. 

Pupils with special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) work alongside their peers, and the culture of the school means that staff “care deeply and know the needs of all pupils, including pupils with SEND”. 

Pupils “enjoy learning and coming to school”, and so the school has high rates of attendance. 

Ofsted said the school’s curriculum “reflects the breadth of the national curriculum”, and maths is “well established”. 

But in a small number of subjects, the curriculum "does not always connect important knowledge well”.  

To improve, the watchdog said the school should “ensure that the curriculum design and its delivery help pupils to connect knowledge and important concepts so that pupils deepen their understanding across all subjects”. 

The curriculum for pupils’ personal development is “a strength of the school”, the education watchdog said.  

Pupils “talk with pride” about how they raise money for local charities, understand the “importance of contributing to wider society” and are “passionate about celebrating and supporting diversity”. 

The Link Academy Trust prioritises the wellbeing of staff, and all staff are proud to work at the school, Ofsted added. 

Academy Head of Tedburn St Mary School Andy Keay said: “The school is delighted with the recent outcome of the report, highlighting the improvements made since the last inspection.  

“We are pleased with the recognition of the children's behaviour and attitudes being outstanding.  

“This was thoroughly deserved and the children at Tedburn are a real credit to themselves.  

“We would like to thank all the staff, children and parents for all their hard work and efforts.” 

You can read the report online here: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50247648.