Tue Sep 10 15:37:00 UTC 2024: ## Brentwood Primary School Soars to “Good” Ofsted Rating
**Brentwood, Essex -** Larchwood Primary School in Pilgrims Hatch has achieved a “good” rating from Ofsted, marking a significant achievement for the school. The inspection, conducted on July 2nd and 3rd, awarded the school “good” ratings for its quality of education, behavior and attitudes, and leadership and management.
The school, which caters to 421 pupils aged 4 to 11, received the second highest grade overall, just one step below “outstanding.” Notably, the school’s early years provision and personal development were both deemed “outstanding,” with Ofsted inspectors commending the “exceptionally well” listening and concentration skills of reception children.
“Staff are experts at identifying and supporting their needs,” the Ofsted report stated, highlighting the school’s strong focus on individual student development.
Headteacher Steve Bowsher expressed pride in the school’s achievements, stating: “We are very proud of our school and our children and are glad that Ofsted has recognized all the wonderful things we do as a school.” He further emphasized Larchwood’s success as a highly effective school, evident in its years of oversubscription.
The report also praised the school’s high-quality enrichment opportunities, including trips to museums and farms, as well as its focus on fostering a global perspective through interactions with pupils from other countries, such as China.
While the school’s curriculum was praised for its logical structure and progressive learning approach, the report did identify a minor area for improvement. Inspectors noted that staff sometimes assigned complex tasks without ensuring students possessed the necessary prior knowledge, leading to misconceptions and an incomplete understanding of important content.
Despite this minor observation, Ofsted concluded that pupils at Larchwood enjoy attending this “happy and welcoming” school and are well-prepared for their next stage of education.
First Piper 