Bowerhill Primary celebrate ‘good’ Ofsted rating

Staff and students at Bowerhill Primary School are celebrating after securing a ‘good’ rating overall with ‘outstanding’ for personal development in their latest Ofsted report. 

Inspectors praised the school for the high priority placed on reading, the strength of relationships between pupils and staff, the variety of extra-curricular experiences offered to the children and the quality of the curriculum. 

The school, which is part of The White Horse Federation, was also commended for its effective response to its previous rating of ‘requires improvement’, with inspectors saying, “The school and trust have acted quickly to raise expectations and develop an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils.” 

Inspectors highlighted the way Bowerhill pupils are supported in school, reporting, “Pupils feel empowered to make a difference locally and in the wider world,” and, “Pupils are proud to attend Bowerhill. They feel safe due to the strong relationships they have with staff.” 

The school’s commitment to ensuring that all pupils can thrive was praised too, with inspectors stating, “The headteacher is determined that every child succeeds. He has cultivated a strong spirit of teamwork. Staff feel valued and appreciate leaders’ efforts to support their workload. The trust and local governors offer suitable support and challenge to ensure that every child achieves their potential.” 

Inspectors also gave the extensive opportunities Bowerhill pupils enjoy a special mention, saying, “The school meticulously plans opportunities to enrich pupils’ wider development. Its ‘seven in seven’ programme helps to raise pupils’ aspirations and reduce social disadvantage.” 

Headteacher Chris Light said, “I’m incredibly proud of all the staff and pupils at Bowerhill. Together we’ve worked really hard to improve things and make sure that our pupils enjoy the high-quality education and school experience that all children deserve. 

“It is reassuring to have the progress the school has made recognised by Ofsted. We have gone from ‘requires improvement’ to having the best Ofsted rating in Melksham and the surrounding area, as no other school has any areas currently judged as ‘outstanding’. But school improvement is never finished. This report provides the school with a fantastic platform and I am very excited about the future of our fabulous school.” 

Simon Cowley, interim CEO and director of education at the White Horse Federation, added, “This is wonderful news for the whole of Bowerhill Primary community. Chris and the team have done an exceptional job in driving change and improvements at Bowerhill and all that hard work is now having a real impact. Bowerhill is a fantastic school that offers children a caring, supportive environment where they can grow and flourish. We’re very proud to have it as part of The White Horse Federation family.”