COLYTON Primary Academy in East Devon has been rated Good in the OFSTED report across the board.

The school has also received high praise for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Staff, pupils, parents and carers are said to belong to a “friendly community”, with children who “arrive each day with smiles on their faces and an eagerness to learn” and have been recognised as having a “deep sense of kindness and empathy towards each other.”

The report said, with a well-designed curriculum in all subjects and a particular focus on reading, pupils have been shaped into extremely perseverant, “confident, independent learners” who meet “the high expectations set for them in their learning”.   

Mrs Aerfen Mills, head of school for Colyton Primary said: “We’re extremely pleased to have received this report from Ofsted and feel delighted that the inspectors can see the hard work and significant progress we’ve made over recent years. We have worked tirelessly to ensure the school is the best it can be. I’m so proud to have been part of this journey. I love our school and community, and this is excellent recognition for us.”

She added: “We always strive for excellent behaviour which our pupils embrace as they aim for ‘Thursday Shout Outs’ and ‘Pride of Colyton’ awards. We’re proud of our close links with the local community and we maintain strong relationships with parents and carers who have described the support from school as ‘excellent’, making ‘school a positive experience.”

The ‘Colyton extras’ programme was also mentioned, where children learn important life skills including managing budgets and ironing. The report said the children “learn about equality, diversity and discrimination from a young age”.

This, and Colyton’s unique careers curriculum, “ensures that children are ready for their next steps in education and life”.  

The report also highly praises the focus on and passion for reading and approves of the school’s teaching methods in this, and other areas.

The report says the reading lessons are “well-targeted interventions successfully support any pupils who need additional help with their reading’ and ‘as a result, pupils become confident, fluent readers.” 

“I want to say thank you to the parents, carers, pupils and Trust - the support we receive has been an instrumental part of this important journey. We now continue with our work to be ‘a school to be proud of in the heart of our community’ and we look forward to building upon the progress we’ve made,” Mrs Mills continued emotionally.