Rosedale School shines in report (From Gazette & Herald)

Rosedale School shines in report

A SMALL village school in the North York Moors National Park has been praised by OFSTED inspectors.

They have told Rosedale Community Primary school's head teacher Nicola Johnson, governors and parents: "This is an effective school at which children make very good progress in order to reach above average standards in most respects of their work by the age of 11."

They added: "A rich curriculum is presented very interestingly and is well-taught.

"Standards are high because all concerned with the school work well as a team, responding enthusiastically to high-quality leadership."

The great majority of pupils make "very good progress", say the inspectors, and reach above average standards.

In addition, says the OFSTED report: "Pupils develop very well personally and socially and have very good attitudes to learning. The headteacher provides very good leadership and is ably supported by governors and staff."

The compliments go on: "Rosedale school has high expectations of the children" and the report commends their good behaviour. "The children enjoy coming to school and are taught well, and helped to become mature and responsible."

But the inspectors say the school's accommodation could be improved to fully provide for the pupils' learning.

Mrs Johnson said: "The accommodation is difficult to improve further, restricted as we are by a 130-year-old, two-storey building."

However, she added, the school had been updated considerably in recent years, which had been given an accolade by the inspectors who said: "An awkward building has been modified intelligently and is used imaginatively."

New toilets, cloakrooms, stairs, office and heating system have been provided, with funds raised through community sponsorship and Barclays Bank's community award scheme.

The school, which has 28 pupils, has developed a community room in partnership with the Open University and, as result, people in Rosedale can use the internet-ready computer, scanner and digital cameras.

"We can provide life-long opportunities for all," added Mrs Johnson.

She said: "One of the most pleasing and positive outcomes of the report was the recognition that our community school is just that. We have a great team, including children, parents and carers, teachers and support staff, caretaker, cook, governors, local authority advisers, supervisors, community education staff and volunteers. Though we are only small, we do a good job and OFSTED judges that we give 'good value for money'.

"We work very hard to prove that small can be effective!"

Updated: 10:29 Wednesday, November 05, 2003