AN UXBRIDGE primary school is one of only a handful in the capital to be rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted since new grading criteria were introduced.
Since January, fewer than half a dozen schools in London have got the top grade out of more than 100 Ofsted reports.
St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School, in Rockingham Close, was given the top award after inspectors visited earlier in the year.
It was graded outstanding in every category – overall effectiveness, achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.
Headteacher Ann Shelvin, who has been in her role for six years, said it was a triumph for the school, its staff and the pupils.
She said: “We are very pleased, and I think it is down to everyone working together as a team.
“We were all very happy we got the grading and everyone who works here has good links with the community and the parents of the children and we are always trying to do better. The hard work now is to maintain these standards and keep moving forwards.”
The school, which has more than 240 pupils, is one of the first to be graded under the new Ofsted system, which makes an outstanding rating more difficult to attain.
In its report, Ofsted said: “[St Mary’s] success is based on ambitious leadership at all levels, from the determined headteacher through a highly cohesive staff team to a challenging governing body.
“The excellent teaching of a rich curriculum to highly motivated pupils leads to their outstanding achievement and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
“The school lives its mission statement on a daily basis, so that pupils thrive in a harmonious, family atmosphere in which they know how much they are all valued.”
