Published at 13:07, Sunday, 05 February 2012

A SCHOOL is celebrating a double inspection victory after being named outstanding in two reports.

By Emma Preston

Penny Bridge C E Primary School in Greenodd was visited by Ofsted inspectors in November and had its Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools two weeks later.

Both reports have named the school as outstanding – to the delight of children and staff.

Head Lynn Smolinski said: “We are thrilled. I think we were particularly pleased about the church inspection – which looks at the way the Christian ethos is prevalent in all aspects of the school. That coming at the same time was just the icing on the cake.”

Penny Bridge has shown improvement in both inspections. Its previous SIAS gave it a good grade, while an Ofsted inspection in June 2009 called the school good with outstanding features.

In the schools watchdog’s latest report, which awards Penny Bridge the highest possible accolade, reporting inspector Naomi Taylor, said: “Penny Bridge is an outstanding primary school which, as one parent described, ‘provides a warm and nurturing environment’.

“Attainment is above average and improving. Pupils’ overall academic achievement is good and their personal development is excellent.

“The very strong outcomes are due to exceptional leadership and management, good and at times outstanding teaching, a curriculum of excellent quality, first-class promotion of equality of opportunity, pupils’ outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning.”

Mrs Smolinski believes Penny Bridge’s success lies in the way the school’s staff, parents and 94 pupils form a community.

She said: “We’ve got an excellent team at Penny Bridge. Because we’re a small school, we make decisions together, we’re all singing from the same songbook. Every teacher knows every child from all the classes individually, and I think that really makes the difference. The children are fantastic too, absolutely brilliant.”

She added: “The thing about an outstanding school is, you never think: ‘We’ve got there.’ We’ll always be looking to keep on changing and improving.”

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