After being told to improve, Ashton Vale Primary has bounced back with a glowing Ofsted reportAshton Vale is a friendly community, where pupils work hard, understand why its important to do their best, and who consistently meet adults’ high expectations of them(Image: Supplied)

A primary school in south Bristol has been praised for its friendly and supportive community, strong curriculum, and ambitious vision, following its latest Ofsted inspection. Inspectors rated Ashton Vale Primary School as ‘Good’ across every category – a significant step up from its previous rating of ‘Requires Improvement’.

Inspectors visited the school, located on Avebury Road, on Tuesday, March 4, and the following day. The school, which has 164 pupils aged four to eleven on its rolls, is led by headteacher Bradley Arthur and is part of the Excalibur Academies Trust.

“Ashton Vale school is a friendly community,” the report states. “Pupils of all ages get along well and consistently meet adults’ high expectations of them. Pupils work hard and understand why it [is] important to do their best”.

The report highlights how the school’s core ‘Heart’ values – such as respect and tolerance – are woven into the fabric of daily life. These values are not only understood by the children but actively lived. “Pupils understand why these values are important in wider society and use them in their learning and play,” the report says.

The Ofsted team commended the school for creating an environment where children feel secure and supported. “Pupils develop warm and trusting relationships with staff,” it said. “They are safe and trust staff to support and guide them. They know they will be heard.”

The school also enjoys good attendance, and pupils are described as behaving well in lessons and during social times.

Ashton Vale is a friendly community, where pupils work hard, understand why its important to do their best, and who consistently meet adults’ high expectations of them

The quality of education was another standout area. “Since the previous inspection, the curriculum has been redeveloped and strengthened,” inspectors wrote. “It is well designed from Reception Year to Year 6.” They found that pupils “revisit learning regularly and link this knowledge to new ideas and concepts,” citing maths as an example, where understanding of multiplication and division supports learning about fractions.

Reading, inspectors noted, “is the bedrock of the school’s curriculum.” Children are introduced to reading from their very first days in Reception, and books are carefully chosen to match their phonics knowledge. “Pupils learn to read fluently and with confidence. Those who fall behind are supported to catch up quickly,” the report said.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) was described as highly effective. “Across the school, staff know the barriers to learning for pupils with SEND,” the report said. “They provide supporting resources or adapt the curriculum appropriately to meet their needs.” A tailored programme also helps pupils prepare for secondary school transitions.

Personal development is another area where the school was praised. Pupils take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including chess and sports clubs. “Pupils enjoy the opportunity to take on leadership roles, such as school councillors. Older pupils support younger children through their role as ‘buddies’. This helps them to learn about responsibility,” the report explained.

The school’s broader curriculum is also designed to prepare children for life in modern Britain. “Pupils are knowledgeable about a wide range of religions and cultures from around the world. They have a mature understanding of the importance of equity and fairness,” inspectors found. Pupils also learn how to manage their mental health and appreciate the use of the school’s ‘Peach room’ for reflection.

While the inspection team found much to praise, they did identify a single area for development. “In a few subjects, what is known about pupils[’] learning is not used to inform the way the curriculum is taught and activity choices,” the report said. “Consequently, pupils do not routinely build securely on prior knowledge or move on to more complex knowledge when they are ready.” Inspectors recommended further training for teachers to address this issue.

Leadership was described as strong, both within the school and the wider trust. “Trustees and the academy committee share the school’s ambitious vision and values. They support the school well. The trust adds capacity and expertise which benefits all aspects of the school’s work,” the report concluded. Staff collaboration across schools and consideration for workload and wellbeing were also singled out as positives.

Safeguarding arrangements were found to be effective. Inspectors noted a culture where pupils’ interests are placed first and where staff, leaders, and governors understand their responsibilities clearly. This report marks a clear improvement for Ashton Vale Primary and reflects a culture where, in the words of Ofsted, “learning extends beyond the academic.”

Principal Brad Arthur said: “I cannot be prouder of this Ofsted outcome. We have a very special community, with a huge amount of support from the Trust, staff, parents, carers and governors, all of whom are doing a fantastic job to shape the lives of our amazing young people.”

Nick Lewis, CEO of Excalibur Academies Trust added: “This report captures perfectly the wonderful ambience and ethos felt from the moment you enter Ashton Vale. The children’s energy, respect for one another and willingness to learn is evident to see.”