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OFSTED

Our Vision and Values

At Great Sampford Primary School, we are committed to nurturing happiness, confidence, respect, resilience, and independence in every pupil. Our vision is to provide an enriched curriculum filled with exciting and memorable learning experiences that prepare pupils for the next stage of their educational journey. Our dedicated staff are excellent role models who inspire a love of learning and ensure that every pupil excels academically, regardless of their starting point.

Ofsted Inspection Outcome

In our most recent Ofsted inspection (April 2023), Great Sampford was graded Good across all key areas:

  • Leadership and Management: Good
  • Behaviour and Attitudes: Good
  • Personal Development: Good
  • Quality of Education: Good
  • Early Years: Good

This reflects our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, and high-quality education for all pupils.

Ofsted website link HERE

Curriculum and Teaching

We offer an ambitious and broad curriculum that meets and exceeds the national curriculum requirements. Our teaching is informed by the latest research and best practises to ensure pupils build strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics, and other essential skills. We prioritise early reading through systematic synthetic phonics and tailor support for pupils learning English as an additional language to help them thrive.

Inclusion and Support

We are dedicated to identifying and supporting all pupils, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), disadvantaged pupils, and those facing other barriers to learning. Our pupil premium strategy is carefully designed and regularly reviewed to ensure effective support that raises achievement and narrows gaps.

Safeguarding and Well-being

Safeguarding is a top priority at Great Sampford. We maintain a strong safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and staff are fully trained in their responsibilities. We work closely with external agencies to protect our pupils and ensure their well-being both online and offline.

Personal Development and Community

Our personal development programme meets statutory requirements and goes beyond, fostering pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. We actively promote British values, respect for diversity, and prepare pupils for life beyond school with opportunities to develop confidence and resilience.

Behaviour and Attendance

We maintain high standards of behaviour through clear routines, consistent expectations, and positive relationships. Attendance is closely monitored to ensure pupils make the most of their learning opportunities.

Small School Strengths

As a small village school with around 80 pupils, we recognise the unique benefits of our size. We can provide personalised learning and a close-knit community atmosphere. We also collaborate with other schools to share expertise and resources, ensuring our pupils receive a rich and varied education.

Standards of Learning

At Great Sampford we take a justifiable pride in the standards of learning the children achieve in all areas of the curriculum. However, some of these subjects are more easily quantified than others.  Specifically the Government collects data on the achievements of the children and the end of their Early Years Foundation Stage, again at the end of Key Stage 1 and finally at the end of Key Stage 2.
 

  • It is important to note that we are a very small school and this has a significant impact on our data sets. For example, in an average year group of 15 children each child will represent 7%.
  • We also believe that whilst academic success is important in only paints part of the picture. We take a holistic view of learning and also place great emphasis on what is known as the hidden curriculum. These are areas of learning that can not, so easily, be measured but do have a profound impact on a child's life chances.
  • At Great Sampford we actively promote independence, courteousness, respect for both oneself (as well as those around us) and collegiality. Traits that the children are always complimented upon when we take them out into the wider community.