RAKE Primary School has retained the ‘good’ overall effectiveness Ofsted rating it has held since 2012.

Ofsted last went there in April 2016 for a one-day inspection but the school received a two-day visit at the end of October as one of the first in the country to be assessed under a new inspection framework.

Rake was also rated ‘good’ in all five categories of the inspection – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

The report said Rake pupils “develop important skills in a range of subjects”, while the school’s leaders were “passionate about providing pupils with a rich learning experience” and had “planned the skills and knowledge they want pupils to learn in all

subjects”.

The inspector praised the school for its “enrichment opportunities”, including trips, forest school, STEM and art days and physical

education.

Executive headteacher David Bertwistle said: “I am particularly proud that our staff have created an environment in which, as Ofsted said, pupils enjoy coming to the school and relationships at all levels are kind and caring.

“As the report clearly recognises, pupils respond well to this and therefore have positive attitudes to learning.

“To me, that’s what small schools can do best and it’s the main reason why parents choose this school – and our partner school Rogate.”

Co-chairman of governors, Nicholas Taylor, said: “In her feedback to the governors, the inspector praised the strong partnership we have formed with Rogate and the joint work we are doing together. We look forward to doing even more.”