Fourth consecutive “Outstanding” Ofsted rating for The Link Primary School

Pupils, staff, governors and the wider school community are celebrating the result of their recent Ofsted inspection in which inspectors judged The Link Primary School to be “Outstanding”.  This is the first Ofsted inspection since the school joined Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) in July 2017.

Headteacher, Mrs Sandy Turner, said: “I am particularly proud of this rating as it is our fourth consecutive “Outstanding” judgement.  As a team, we all strive to provide the very best we can for all our pupils with our child centred ethos at the fore, but how wonderful it is to have this acknowledged and confirmed by Her Majesty’s Inspectors.”

The Link Primary School is a specialist school for pupils from 4 to 11 years old. It specialises in supporting pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

During the two day inspection, inspectors met pupils, staff, governors and the CEO of OHCAT, Mr John Prior. They observed lessons taking a keen interest in reading, science, PSHE and relationships education. They discussed the curriculum design with leaders, carried out lesson visits and reviewed pupils’ work.

The report praises staff highly, stating, “Pupils thrive at Link Primary School. Staff are expert in communicating with pupils. They work tirelessly to develop pupils’ confidence and their ability to interact positively. Pupils feel safe and happy. They play and learn together with minimum disruption despite their many varied needs.”

After spending time with pupils and observing teaching and learning, the report concluded that “Staff are extremely knowledgeable about their school community and are always seeking new, better ways to maximise learning for all. They ensure that pupils get the right help at the right time. Staff aim high for pupils.”

Inspectors were also impressed at how pupils gain valuable knowledge and experience of the wider world through real-life experiences. Pupils regularly enjoy local visits and take part in specialist sessions like horse-riding which promote their increasing confidence and self-esteem.

The report also stated that, “Leaders have well-designed plans for how subjects are taught so that the needs of all pupils are met. As a result, pupils achieve well. Leaders show clear ambition and vision for the school. Staff are relentless in ensuring that pupils achieve their potential.”