WOKINGHAM’S first STEM school has been deemed as ‘outstanding’ during its inaugural Ofsted inspection.
Evendons Primary School, which specialises in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculum was inspected by the school’s watchdog on June 27, and the report was made public on September 8.
The school, which opened in 2014, was deemed as Outstanding across the board, with inspectors Catherine Old and Cathy Burnham calling headteacher Patrick Pritchett ‘inspiring’.
The glowing report praised the way the school’s staff and governors work with children and their parents to form a ‘harmonious’ community, and noted the pupils’ ‘excellent’ behaviour and determination to work hard.
The school’s ‘superb’ STEM curriculum was said to make an ‘excellent contribution to pupils’ achievement and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development’ and teachers use their ‘excellent subject knowledge to plan and teach lessons which enthuse pupils in their learning’.
One parent was even quoted as saying: “‘Evendons is a wonderful school. It is providing the best possible start for my child.”
Headteacher Patrick Pritchett said: “We were delighted to get the outstanding judgement of the Ofsted inspection in June. For Evendons this is a milestone. We are three years old and our approach to primary education has been validated by Ofsted and graded at the highest level in all areas.
“At Evendons the team have worked exceptionally hard to develop a thematic and experiential curriculum; we want the children’s learning to stem from meaningful activities and events. This week, for example, they have organised a Vegan Day where the children will learn about veganism, meet vegans and begin to understand the relationship between humans and animals. For the older children, this will lead onto a more detailed project on sustainability.
“Our innovative work in these areas is supported brilliantly by our parents and it is with their continuous encouragement that we have developed what Ofsted refer to as a ‘superb curriculum’.”
To read the full report visit https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/140953.