Top Marks in Talbot Village

SIAMS* Inspector Marcia Headon noted, “The school has a very effective partnership with the local church which it uses extensively to enrich its distinctive Christian ethos.

“The extensive nurturing given to pupils and the support they receive from all staff, ensures that the wellbeing of pupils is of the highest priority.

“The vision of the school, with its emphasis upon values, shapes the personal and spiritual development of pupils.”

The school exhibited clearly-presented traits of values, creativity and wisdom, with strong interpersonal relationships and a nurturing ethos. As well as the Understanding Christianity scheme, pupils receive a wide-ranging education in world faiths, and charities are supported regularly.

One parent wrote that, as a military person, he considered their Remembrance service to be among the best he had ever attended, with pupils showing real understanding and emotion for the significance of the occasion.

Deputy Headteacher Andrew Bright said, “With a slightly different focus to Ofsted, it was pleasing that the inspection picked up on the outstanding quality of care given to children and for the importance placed on wellbeing.

“There were many positive comments about the quality of leadership and teaching of Religious Education and how this is similar to other core subjects. Our thanks to Mrs Harley, who leads the subject and to all those involved in delivering high quality RE teaching in school.

“Well done to the children for living out our vision of achievement, respect and care in a happy, Christian community. We are planning an event for the children, to celebrate this fantastic outcome.”

The school will continue to work on formal systems for evaluation, feedback and benchmarking, to ensure even greater development of skills and learning, as well as sharing of good practice.

St Mark’s Church of England Primary School is a larger-than-average and oversubscribed primary school. There are 417 pupils on roll aged 4-11. Pupils come from a mixed range of social and economic backgrounds, but the majority live within the Parish of St Mark’s and are of White British heritage.

The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is well below the national average, as is the proportion with special educational needs and/or disabilities. A smaller-than-average proportion of pupils speak English as an additional language. In 2015 the school converted to an academy as one of the seven schools in the Bournemouth Septenary Trust.

www.st-marks.bournemouth.sch.uk

*Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools