Outstanding local school receives outstanding report

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Headteacher Penny Orme, pupils & staff celebrate their success

Townhill Infants School gives the children very best start to their education according to the latest Ofsted report. The school was given the highest possible grade of "outstanding" across the board following its inspection. The inspection was also backed by the test results with pupils gaining higher than above average standards in reading, writing and maths by the end of year two.

All staff were complimented for working "tirelessly" in encouraging children to reach their full potential and children were found to have an excellent start in the foundation stage. The high teaching standards in all years were also said to be complemented by "happy" and "caring" environment that enabled the children thrive both academically and personally.

The report said the school's strengths were :-

• outstanding teaching with a stimulating & excellent curriculum

• outstanding leadership and management at all levels with effective governors

• teachers have excellent relationships with pupils and their teaching assistants make an excellent contribution

• extremely rigorous monitoring of pupils' progress is combined with high level of pastoral care

• pupils work well together and have outstanding achievement

• excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development within an extremely caring ethos

On the report Headteacher Penny Orme said:-

"I am delighted that the wonderful work undertaken by the teachers and support staff in making this school outstanding in all aspects of the Ofsted inspection framework has been recognised. I am so pleased that the judgements made by parents in choosing our school and entrusting their children's education to our care have been justified. We are thrilled with the recognition that the children who come to Townhill Infant School get the best possible start to their education."

Southampton Itchen's PCC and governor at the school David Goodall added:-

"This is a fantastic report and it fully backs the excellent impression I have gained both as a Governor for the past 7 years and as a parent when my children attended to school a few years ago."

The only area needs to improvement is attendance. Although Inspectors also praised the school for improving pupils' attendance and the school will continue to emphasise to parents the impact that missing school has on their child's progress and hopefully this report will also help persuade them to get their children to school.

Related Links:

Townhill Infants Ofsted Report 2008.

Related story - Jan 2006 - Great Success at Townhill Infants School.

Related story - Dec 2005 - New play areas for Townhill.

Related story - May 2005 - School Travel Plan for Townhill Schools.