GOOD teaching and positive pupil attitudes are the winning combination enabling pupils at one Hampshire junior school to achieve well.
Foxhills Junior School in Colbury was described as "good" - the second highest grade possible by the Office for Standards in Education.
The mixed 395-pupil school for children aged seven to 11 years old was praised for its good teaching and curriculum. Children at the school were found to enter with average standards but results from last year's national tests for 11-year-olds found that they achieved "very well" reaching well above average standards in science and above average in maths and English.
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Inspectors found that in the best lessons teachers used "briskly paced" and "challenging activities" with a range of different teaching styles to motivate pupils.
As well as its complimentary Ofsted report the school has also recently been awarded a silver artsmark, FA Charter award and a healthy schools award.
Chairman of governors Ann Arscott said: "The governors are delighted with Ofsted's assessment of the school.
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"It recognises all the hard work put in by teachers, pupils and parents during the last four years.
"We are proud to be governors of Foxhills Junior and look forward to being involved with such a successful school in the future," she added.
Mike Espezel, the school's headteacher for the last 18 years, congratulated pupils, staff and governors for all their hard work in making the school a success.
Posted by: marie potts, south africa on 9:41am Mon 28 Apr 08
Well done to foxhills my daughter used to be a pupil there before we moved to south africa and she loved being there , keep up the good work[bold]bold[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic] [bold]bold[/bold]
Well done to foxhills my daughter used to be a pupil there before we moved to south africa and she loved being there , keep up the good work
Is this *really* news worthy?
Other local Schools have shown a bigger, mors sustained improvement than Foxhills and yet don't make the papers, their achievements going largely unnoticed.
Is this *really* news worthy?
Other local Schools have shown a bigger, mors sustained improvement than Foxhills and yet don't make the papers, their achievements going largely unnoticed.
[quote][bold]Slibo T'Ing[/bold] wrote:
Is this *really* news worthy? Other local Schools have shown a bigger, mors sustained improvement than Foxhills and yet don't make the papers, their achievements going largely unnoticed.[/quote] Erm, it's an Ofsted report. The Echo reports loads of these.
Believe it or not, parents like to know how schools are doing, so they know where to send their kids.
Slibo T'Ing wrote:
Is this *really* news worthy? Other local Schools have shown a bigger, mors sustained improvement than Foxhills and yet don't make the papers, their achievements going largely unnoticed.
Erm, it's an Ofsted report. The Echo reports loads of these.
Believe it or not, parents like to know how schools are doing, so they know where to send their kids.
Posted by: A school governor, Southampton on 3:31pm Mon 28 Apr 08
I agree with Slibo regarding other schools, but yes it is newsworthy.
Foxhills has a reputation - Estate Agents use it when specifying whether a house is in its catchment area. Personally I don't think it is justified, they are 'good', but not that good!
There are only 4 points on the Ofsted scale, so lots of schools get into this category. Their collection of 3 awards is also good, but way behind some schools in the area who obtained some of these years ago!
Unfortunately reading the report, I worry about section 'Care, guidance and support', which received a Satisfactory rating. It seems that the teachers and teaching are inconsistent, which can send mixed messages to both pupils and staff.
It reads as a 'could do better' report, and that is newsworthy.
I agree with Slibo regarding other schools, but yes it is newsworthy.
Foxhills has a reputation - Estate Agents use it when specifying whether a house is in its catchment area. Personally I don't think it is justified, they are 'good', but not that good!
There are only 4 points on the Ofsted scale, so lots of schools get into this category. Their collection of 3 awards is also good, but way behind some schools in the area who obtained some of these years ago!
Unfortunately reading the report, I worry about section 'Care, guidance and support', which received a Satisfactory rating. It seems that the teachers and teaching are inconsistent, which can send mixed messages to both pupils and staff.
It reads as a 'could do better' report, and that is newsworthy.
Posted by: Another school governor, southampton on 8:14pm Mon 28 Apr 08
As a school governor myself I am suprised at another seemingly slating Foxhills on their report. It shows an ever improving school compared to their previous Ofsted. Also this person chose to misquote the "Care, guidance and support" section which is quoted as saying pastoral care is " very good" but the MARKING can be inconsistent- NOT the teachers and teaching. I am often suprised at how parents are negative and derogatory of their schools.This is something that many governors despair about but all I can assume from this letter is that this is a governor from a nearby school who wants to earn scoring points.
As a school governor myself I am suprised at another seemingly slating Foxhills on their report. It shows an ever improving school compared to their previous Ofsted. Also this person chose to misquote the "Care, guidance and support" section which is quoted as saying pastoral care is " very good" but the MARKING can be inconsistent- NOT the teachers and teaching. I am often suprised at how parents are negative and derogatory of their schools.This is something that many governors despair about but all I can assume from this letter is that this is a governor from a nearby school who wants to earn scoring points.
Posted by: John, Southampton on 8:22am Tue 29 Apr 08
Interesting to see 2 governors view on this report. As a parent (not at this school), I had a look and I think both are right, but both are misquoting.
The report says in the summary '... ensure the best practice in teaching and use of assesement is shared more consistently...' which would indicate variability (it also mentioned a minority of 'satifactory' lessons - indicating that there is some problem which probably can be addressed quickly (bound to be one or two observed lessons).
On the marking 'at best there is good guidance'. I wonder what it is for when it is not at its best.
That aside, glad to see 'safe practices' getting an outstanding grade, but less pleased to see 'attendance' get a 'satisfactory' - my kids attend our school fine, but I was surprised by Foxhills.
Many parents are derogatory because they don't have the time or knowledge to get involved in the school. Didn't read anything derogatory about some constructive criticism above, but then I suspect the second governor is a governor at the school and is trying to score points over the first by taking a blinkered viewpoint.
I considered Foxhills, decided against it. Didn't really like the problems with access which may or may not have been sorted out now.
Interesting to see 2 governors view on this report. As a parent (not at this school), I had a look and I think both are right, but both are misquoting.
The report says in the summary '... ensure the best practice in teaching and use of assesement is shared more consistently...' which would indicate variability (it also mentioned a minority of 'satifactory' lessons - indicating that there is some problem which probably can be addressed quickly (bound to be one or two observed lessons).
On the marking 'at best there is good guidance'. I wonder what it is for when it is not at its best.
That aside, glad to see 'safe practices' getting an outstanding grade, but less pleased to see 'attendance' get a 'satisfactory' - my kids attend our school fine, but I was surprised by Foxhills.
Many parents are derogatory because they don't have the time or knowledge to get involved in the school. Didn't read anything derogatory about some constructive criticism above, but then I suspect the second governor is a governor at the school and is trying to score points over the first by taking a blinkered viewpoint.
I considered Foxhills, decided against it. Didn't really like the problems with access which may or may not have been sorted out now.
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