On 28th February and 1st March we welcomed His Majesty's Ofsted Inspector (HMI), Kelly Olive and her team to our school when we were pleased to be able to share with them all that makes our school the special place that it is. They were hugely impressed with the children at Saltford, describing them as welcoming, extremely well-behaved, eager to participate in all aspects of school life and passionate about their learning.

In the final report, inspectors said pupils and staff were rightly proud of their inclusive school, where all children are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves. They added that headteacher Dawn Sage and her team pursued excellence at all times and had constructed a curriculum that was exceptional.

“Staff share this continuous drive for improvement across all aspects of the school. Together, they are aspirational for what pupils can achieve,” Ofsted said,

“The school’s vision, ‘Caring for our Community,’ informs the development of pupils’ characters. They are kind and look for ways to help others,” the report noted.

“Pupils are highly motivated. They try hard in lessons and show resilience when faced with a setback. When attempting work that they find challenging, pupils persist until they are successful. Pupils strive to meet the high expectations set by staff.”

Other areas the inspectors highlighted included the welcoming library and the strong culture of reading, the wealth of opportunities for children to take on leadership roles, the many clubs and activities and the extensive choice of outdoor play activities.

“Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the education and care their children receive at the school,” Ofsted said.

The school was rated Outstanding for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.

The inspectors praised the high-quality training for staff, tailored to support the school’s priorities. This meant that children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, were able to flourish. Staff morale was said to be high, with leaders, including governors, placing importance on wellbeing.

The support provided by Futura Learning Partnership, which Saltford school joined in 2016, was also highlighted.

Ofsted said: “The trust’s support has been instrumental in developing the expertise of staff. The trust, combined with an effective local governing body, share the vision of leaders. They

support and challenge in equal measure. As a result, the pupils at this school receive outstanding provision.”

Mrs Sage said the inspection outcome was thanks to the efforts of the whole school community, including children, staff, parents, wider families, the local community and the trust.

“We are so proud of our school, where children are challenged in their learning and are nurtured to develop personally and academically. Saltford C of E Primary is a place where children value their strong friendships and feel safe and happy in school. We all strive every day to make sure the school is a place where everyone can thrive,” she said.

Andrea Arlidge, chief executive of Futura Learning Partnership, said: “We are delighted that the consistently excellent education and care provided at Saltford CofE Primary School has been recognised by Ofsted. This wonderful report is a tribute to the hard work of everyone connected with the school – congratulations to all.”

Further information

Ofsted report 2023

Saltford School letter to parents

Ofsted Parent View. Ofsted Parent View gives you the chance to tell Ofsted what you think of your child’s school. In addition, they publish the overall summary of the responses to Ofsted Parent View.

Ofsted report May 2019