An education inspector has described a primary school in Caversham as being 'exceptional' following a recent visit.
The Heights Primary School is one of the newest schools in Reading, being founded as a free school 10 years ago in 2014.
Initially situated at a temporary site at Westfield Road Park in Caversham, a permanent home for the school was built at Mapledurham Playing Fields, with staff and pupils moving there in September 2021.
The school was recently visited by an Ofsted inspector who wrote a glowing report of the school.
The report states: "Pupils enjoy coming to this exceptional school.
"The school has high aspirations for all pupils from the moment that they arrive. It puts pupils’ learning at the centre of everything it does.
"As a result, pupils become confident, articulate and passionate learners.
READ MORE: Meet the new head at The Heights primary school in Caversham Heights
"This enables them to learn very well across the full curriculum. The school is particularly ambitious for disadvantaged pupils.
"Pupils’ behaviour in and beyond the classroom is exemplary. Pupils said that everyone treats each other with the same respect.
"Older pupils are exceptional role models, displaying respect, kindness and positivity. They form strong relationships with their younger peers, helping them to live up to these high standards of behaviour."
The report also stated that teachers feel valued and have 'very strong subject-specific knowledge'.
No direct recommendations for how to improve were given by the inspector.
Celebrating the news, Hayley Harrison, the headteacher, said: “We are delighted that Ofsted could clearly see how special our school is.
"It is a truly exceptional place I am very proud to lead, standing on the shoulders of the previous headteacher.
"We are truly keen to offer an exceptional education to local families, in purpose-built facilities and in a wonderful green location."
Mrs Harrison referred to the former head and founder of the school Karen Edwards, who retired this year.
READ MORE: Headteacher passes the torch after '10 truly wonderful years' at school
The Heights is a member of the Bellevue Place Education Trust (BPET), which also runs schools in Earley, Woodley and Wokingham.
Mark Greatrex, the chief executive of BPET said: “We are so proud of the journey The Heights Primary School has been on since opening 10 years ago and since joining BPET a year ago.
“The school offers exceptional standards of education and I am delighted Ofsted recognised this; we are looking forward to keeping on working with The Heights to maintain these standards long term.”
The visit was undertaken by Chris Parker, a lead Ofsted inspector over two days in October, with the report being published a month afterwards.
While one-word Ofsted judgements have been scrapped by the Labour government, Mr Parker wrote that the school would have been rated 'Outstanding' under the previous system.
The Heights previously received an 'Oustanding' rating after an inspection in May 2017, held at the school's temporary site at Westfield Road Park
One-word Ofsted judgements were scrapped this September following an inquest into the death of Caversham Primary School headteacher Ruth Perry in January 2023.
Senior coroner Heidi Connor concluded an 'Inadequate Ofsted' contributed to her death at the end of an inquest last year.
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