Blaise Primary and Nursery School has been rated as Good in every category in its first Ofsted inspection for 12 years.
The 441-pupil school in Henbury was described as being “at the heart of the community it serves”.
“Pupils describe it [the school] as a welcoming place where everyone works hard to make friends,” the inspection report said.
The Ofsted team of three judged Blaise school to be Good for quality of education, leadership and management, pupils’ behaviour and attitudes and their personal development and early years provision. Safeguarding was said to be effective
The many positive comments included:
• The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve.
• Pupils build warm and respectful relationships with staff.
• The school has a clear vision for what pupils can achieve. An ambitious curriculum is designed and sequenced well.
• The school provides pupils with wide-ranging opportunities to develop personally.
• The school is ambitious for an increasing number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Children in Nursery play well together.
• Governors know what the school does well and where it needs to improve.
To improve further, the inspectors said the school should ensure that learning is suitably adapted so that all groups of pupils progress well. and should continue the work it is doing to improve the attendance of pupils who are persistently absent.
Blaise school has been given a disused double-decker from First Bus in the West of England for use as a classroom, play and meeting space.
Local MP and Cabinet Minister Darren Jones was given a tour of the bus.
Headteacher Massimo Bonaddio said: “I’m not sure who is more excited about having this converted bus space on site, myself and staff team, or the pupils!”
Doug Claringbold, the bus firm’s managing director, said he was proud to see the bus in use for the community.
Photo: Jon Craig