Blacon’s Dee Point Primary School gets top marks on Ofsted report

Dec 9 2009 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

A CHESTER school is celebrating after being awarded an Outstanding Ofsted grade.

Dee Point Primary School, Dee Point Road, Blacon was commended for its quality of teaching, provision for pupils with challenging needs and the caring environment provided by staff to aid pupils’ learning.

Head teacher Dave Williams – described in the report as ‘the heartbeat of the school’ – shrugged off the compliment and said the school’s success was a team effort.

He said: “The school is geared around the children. We have given them the self-confidence and the opportunities to have a go at things and to do their best.

“It is a true team effort – it isn’t just about the staff, but the parents as well, all working together for the best interests of the children.”

Dee Point has gained many awards in recognition of aspects of its work. These are the Kite Mark for inclusion, the Healthy Schools Award, the Active Mark for outstanding provision in physical education and the Eco Bronze award for its work promoting environmental awareness amongst pupils.

The report acknowledges these achievements and describes it as an outstanding school which makes a significant difference to the life chances of pupils and their families.

It reads: “The quality of education has improved rapidly since the last inspection as a result of inspired leadership and management, an innovative curriculum and the dedication of a talented teaching team. It is a long way down the road to achieving its mission of being a vibrant, ambitious community enriching children’s lives and laying the foundations for lifelong learning.”

Inspectors described the school as “extremely caring”, and in a letter to pupils said: “It is rare to be in a school as good as yours. It is outstanding. It was a delight to see how much you enjoyed learning, the way you take pride in all that you do and the way you treat others with respect and care. Walking around the corridors and visiting classrooms was a pleasure; at all times the school is peaceful.”