St Michael and All Angels Infant School in Lyndhurst rated “good” in almost all Ofsted inspection categories

THE personal development of pupils at a Lyndhurst school was described as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors.

A report on St Michael and All Angels Infant School in High Street found the quality of its education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years development are all ‘good’.

Following a two-day visit last month, inspectors said: “Pupils are proud and happy to attend this school. Attitudes embody the school’s values of ‘love, compassion and respect’, and pupils show wonderful empathy, for instance, by imagining what it is like to stand in someone else’s shoes.

“They share generously and celebrate differences. This begins in the early years, where children quickly adapt to the school’s routines and high expectations for their behaviour.”

School leaders were praised for creating a “broad and ambitious” curriculum for pupils that has learning to read at its centre.

The report continued: “The knowledge that pupils learn in each subject has been carefully identified and organised in a logical sequence. Teachers ensure that pupils have lots of opportunities to revisit what they have learned and build on what they already know. In the early years, the curriculum is adapted to respond to the specific needs of the children.”

They also noted that teachers are “skilled” at knowing how the school’s 55 pupils, aged four to seven, learn best.

Safeguarding arrangements at the school, which was described as a “highly inclusive place”, were also found to be effective.

Highlighting areas for improvement, inspectors wrote: “Sometimes, the school does not make sure that teachers use assessment strategies effectively.

“This means that, on occasion, staff are unsure in their teaching what pupils already know and understand. The school should ensure that teachers use assessment strategies well to inform their teaching and help pupils to build up a secure body of knowledge.”