STAFF and more than 1,400 pupils at Laurence School in Bradford on Avon are celebrating their latest Ofsted rating.

The school continues to be rated as ‘Good’ with many areas being identified as significant strengths after its recent Ofsted inspection on December 6 and 7. 

Wiltshire Times: St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon (Image: Freelancer)

The school was praised for its ambitious curriculum as well as for its teaching and learning; ‘Students enjoy attending St Laurence school’. 

The English, Maths, Science, History and Modern Language departments were inspected with inspectors observing well over 40 lessons across the two days.

The school and its pupils were also praised for their excellent behaviour in and out of lessons and the ‘strong culture of safeguarding’ which ensured students knew how to be safe.

St Laurence headteacher Tim Farrer said: “We could not be happier with our latest Ofsted report.

“The inspection was a robust and thorough review of everything in the school, with three inspectors covering five subject deep dives as well as student, staff, governor interviews, parent surveys and a review of all our school data and information.

“I was especially pleased with other key areas identified. For example, student leadership has always been something we have valued and promoted so it was great that this was recognised in the report, as well as our commitment to learning outside the classroom.

“This inspection came just eight months after our Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) which identified the school as ‘Excellent in all Areas’ so it has been a very busy time for everyone here at St Laurence.

“With the results that we have received, 2022 can certainly be counted as a great year.  We will continue to Care, Inspire and Succeed! 

"I would like to thank all the students, parents, staff and governors for their continued support and dedication to our school.”

The inspectors added: “Teachers help pupils to learn the curriculum. In a minority of subjects, the curriculum is less developed. Leaders have not identified the knowledge they want pupils to know. This means there are times when pupils do not easily recall what they have learned.

“In some areas of the curriculum, pupils do not retain the depth and range of knowledge they have been taught well enough. As a result, some pupils do not learn as much as they could.

The report can be found on the school website here.