Dane Ghyll Community School celebrates good Ofsted result

Dane Ghyll Community Primary School and Nursery on Skelwith Drive continues to be a good school after a visit from inspectors in July.

The report said: “Pupils, including children in the early years, enjoy coming to this lively, happy school.

Nursery children enjoy playing outside (Image: Newsquest) “They look forward to their time in the classroom, where they particularly like learning with their friends.”

The school is described as having ‘high hopes’ for all pupils, who ‘strive to do their best’.

Click here to find out how to take advantage of our exclusive, limited-time subscription offer.

Inspectors said pupils behave well, listen carefully, and are keen to join in. They also benefit from a rich set of activities, and know their opinions are valued, with opportunities to contribute to some of the decisions made in school, such as deciding where the money from fundraising activities should be spent.

The school quickly identifies pupils’ additional needs and adaptions are made, helping pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to make good progress, the report said.

Year 5 pupils enjoy outdoor equiptment (Image: Newsquest) Ofsted said they have ‘successfully fostered a love of reading’ and created a ‘buzz’ among the pupils.

In the early years, staff are said to ‘nurture a love of learning’, while staff further up the school are described as well trained to design interesting and engaging learning.

The school is credited with having established a ‘broad and ambitious’ curriculum, with most pupils achieving well.

To improve, Ofsted highlights that the learning required for some subjects is ‘less well defined’.

Mr Mills ready for action at the new play trail in Dane Ghyll School primary school (Image: Newsquest) Headteacher Pete Mills said: “We are really pleased with the outcome of our recent Ofsted – it was a really enjoyable and valuable two days right at the end of the summer term.

“We were all really proud of our amazing pupils (all 282 of them).  As a school we have an unrivalled curriculum and alongside the traditional curriculum we offer that includes five years of curriculum based multi-instrument tuition and a unique BSL program that starts at age two. 

“Our dedicated staff team all go the extra mile to offer an incredible extra-curricular program too, and these are some of the many reasons we remain the most popular and over-subscribed primary school in Westmorland and Furness.

“Last year we featured on North West Tonight, Newsround, and even had messages from famous rock bands about the amazing things we do – so the fantastic Ofsted report was the perfect way to end an action-packed year.”