St Mark’s CofE Academy Rated ‘Good’ in Final Ofsted Report

St Mark’s CofE Academy in Shop is celebrating after being rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted following an inspection carried out prior to the summer holidays.

The recognition marks the final time the school will receive such a rating, as Ofsted has confirmed it will be scrapping the one or two-word grading system. Moving forward, schools in England will instead receive a new “report card” style assessment.

Praise for Relationships and Enrichment

In their report, inspectors highlighted the strong and respectful relationships at the heart of St Mark’s, noting that pupils are happy, safe and show high levels of care for each other.

The school’s variety of enrichment activities was also praised, with inspectors recognising that pupils highly value the strengthened range of opportunities now available to them.

Reading and Nursery Commended

Reading was singled out as a particular strength. Inspectors commented:

“Children in the Nursery Year enjoy listening to stories and joining in with well-known rhymes. Children start to learn to read as soon as they begin the Reception Year. There is precise support in place for pupils who fall behind to catch up rapidly with their peers. Pupils read with interest and become confident, fluent readers.”

The purpose-built nursery was commended for providing a nurturing environment, with children learning routines to prepare them for starting school.

Headteacher’s Response

Deirdre Petersen, Headteacher at St Mark’s CofE Academy, said:

“I am delighted that Ofsted noted that St Mark’s is ambitious for what our pupils can achieve, both academically and in their wider development and that our children meet these high expectations. This positive report is a testament to our entire school community and I want to say a massive thank you to all our pupils, staff and families who make St Mark’s such a special place to learn and grow.”

Facilities at St Mark’s

The school enjoys a range of facilities, including a well-stocked library, cookery suite, IT suite and extensive outdoor grounds. These include a wooded learning area with a purpose-built shelter and bandstand, a gardening area, a large playing field, playground and trim trail.

St Mark’s also has a purpose-built nursery, welcoming children from the age of two. The nursery is open Monday to Friday during term time, and the school hosts a Baby and Toddler family group every Tuesday morning from 9.15am to 10.30am.

Part of a Wider Trust

St Mark’s is part of the Learning Academy Partnership, a trust of 18 schools across Cornwall, Devon and Torbay. The trust’s mission is to enable “Flourishing Futures” for children by working together as a values-led family of schools, delivering exceptional education in their communities.