School gives excellent start to education
Last updated 05:29, Friday, 20 June 2008
BELLE Vue Infant School in Carlisle has been rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Inspector David Byrne visited last month and was full of praise for the standard of education. His report says: “This is an outstanding school. It provides pupils with an excellent start to their education and sets them up very well for their future lives.”
He singled out the “outstanding quality of leadership” of headteacher Cath Taylor and the governors.
He also praised the “very high quality of teaching” and “excellent curriculum”.
The school in Beaver Road has 163 pupils. It will cease to exist this summer when it merges with Belle Vue Junior School to form a new primary. The junior school was also praised by Ofsted as “good with several outstanding features” when inspectors called last December.
The report on the infant school says that parents are a key part of its success.
In their responses to a questionnaire, they say the school is doing a good job with the vast majority praising everything that it does.
The report adds: “At all times the school is a happy and fun place. Children constantly smile and laugh as they share in the excitement provided.
“Teachers are dedicated to making activities practical and relevant. The enthusiasm for writing is a joy to behold.”
Over the last five years standards in reading, writing and mathematics have been above average.
The report says children start at Belle Vue with skills “well below those typical for their age”.
Therefore the progress they make is an “outstanding achievement”.
Children with learning difficulties/disabilities receive high-quality support.
And there is an excellent range of lunch-time clubs ranging from sport to writing and French.
Attendance is above average and the school is “safe and secure”.
It has a Sports Activemark and Artsmark (silver) and has Healthy Schools status.
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