Ofsted Report 15th and 16th November 2022

I am so pleased to inform you that following this ungraded inspection the outcome is that Hawthorn Tree continues to be a good school.

Here are some of the key highlights from the report that we are proud to share with you.

“There is a clear sense that staff and pupils live by the school motto: “where everybody is somebody”.

The report praises teachers for their “high expectations” and also the opportunities that the school provides its pupils to demonstrate leadership. The report states that parents speak very highly of the school; “Fantastic school, going from strength to strength. An amazingly dedicated group of teachers who work hard for all the children”.

The report identifies that leaders have constructed an ambitious curriculum which encompasses all the subjects and aims of the national curriculum. It also notes that teachers understand how to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, skilfully supporting them to access the same learning as other pupils.

Pupils develop a love for reading. Books read are well matched to the sounds that the children know, with texts that are chosen well to inspire and motivate our children to read.

Children in Early Years get off to a good start- “Teachers ensure that all activities support children’s development and prepare them well for the next stage of their education.”

Teachers encourage pupils’ broader development through assemblies and relationships education.

Bullying is rare and pupils know that in this school bullying is not tolerated. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. The curriculum teaches our pupils how to stay safe and pupils are confident in reporting their own concerns and worries and know how to do this.

We now need to continue to embed our curriculum so that subjects that have been recently re-designed ensure that all children have the depth of knowledge in these areas. We also need to continue to update our training for all reading interventions so that it is the best that it can be.

Thank you to all the parents that spoke to the inspector during his visit or who completed the online questionnaires. This really helped the inspector to gauge parental opinion.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and governors of Hawthorn who work so tirelessly to make this school such a happy, thriving learning environment where all children can reach their potential and aspire to be whoever they want to be.

Kind regards,

Michelle Palmer

Headteacher