A SCHOOL that has ‘something magical’ about it has been recognised for its supportive learning environment and put forward as School of the Year at this year’s Proud of Barnsley.
Worsbrough Common Primary School has prioritised creating a safe environment for its pupils, building a community where youngsters from various backgrounds can connect and learn.
In their latest Ofsted inspection at the end of April, the school received an overall good grade, but with outstanding grades awarded to three of the five categories.
In the report, inspectors noted that the school’s leadership placed a ‘strategic and thoughtful approach to school improvement’ with strong support for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access the same curriculum as their fellow pupils where possible.
It goes on to say: “All subjects are coherently planned and sequenced - teachers use the same lesson structure to teach all subjects.
“This contributes to pupils knowing and remembering more.
“It also contributes to creating calm, purposeful classrooms that are free from disruption.
“Reading is a high priority for the school - pupils understand the importance of
learning to read.
“The school is determined to equip pupils with skills that will serve them well in
adulthood - there is a very well-planned programme of wider opportunities on offer
to pupils.”
Head of school Kate Ainley told the Chronicle: “It’s a really inclusive school - there’s just something that you can’t quite put your finger on that’s magical.
“Staff here are fantastic and work well as a team, and we have pupils from so many different backgrounds.
“Our learners are really dedicated.
“No day is ever like another.”
Kate takes pride in the school’s diversity, celebrating the fact that there are currently 26 languages spoken there.
“Because we’re so diverse it’s easy to celebrate and teach diversity since we’re living and breathing it,” she added.
“If I want to do an assembly about Eid, we’ll have a pupil who celebrates it themselves who I can bring out to talk about it personally.
“It’s fabulous that we’ve been nominated now - our staff work so hard.
“Everybody’s so passionate.”
