A SCHOOL in Salisbury has received praise in its first inspection by the education watchdog.

St Peter’s Church of England Primary school received a judgement of Good in all areas of the Ofsted inspection.

The school, deemed ‘an ambitious new school at the heart of the community’, opened in 2018 with just 69 children and three teachers.

There are now 268 pupils in eleven classes and a staff team of 29.

Lead inspector Kathy Maddocks said in her report: “The school has been on an extremely fast and purposeful journey. Leaders have dealt well with an ever-shifting landscape with both the Covid-19 pandemic and the changes to the locality,”

 “Staff and pupils follow the school’s motto, ‘Strive Beyond: Defy Limits’, with determination.”

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The report also listed that headteacher Ollie Martindale was a “lynchpin” in upholding the version of a school at the heart of its community.

Headteacher Ollie Martindale said: “I am enormously proud that our brilliant children, fantastic staff, and wonderful community have earned this recognition from Ofsted in our school’s first inspection.

“Our vision was to create a school for the community, where children love learning and thrive. This report is an important step on our continuing journey as we establish ourselves as a beacon of excellence in our community and within our Trust.”

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Ofsted rated St Peter’s as Good for quality of education, leadership and management, pupil behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision.

Chief executive of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust, Mark Lacey, said: “What Mr Martindale and everyone at St Peter’s has achieved in the last four and half years has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“They have turned every challenge into an opportunity and have earned the trust of families and stakeholders as they have established a strong church school for their community, where children can flourish in every way. “

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The report praised the ambitious curriculum including what is best for pupils and reflects on what to teach and when. The staff’s expertise in teaching phonics was highlighted in recognition of children needing to rebuild stamina and precision lost during the pandemic. 

Support for the individual needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities was also listed as a strength in the report.