A JUNIOR School in Harlow, which caters for children aged 7 to 11, has been praised for its pastoral care in its most recent Ofsted report.

William Martin Church of England Junior School in Harlow is celebrating a ‘Good’ Ofsted result following its latest inspection. Inspectors spent two days at the Junior school before concluding that it was ‘Good’ in all areas, making a special note of the highly positive relationships between pupils and adults and how ‘leaders have prioritised the pastoral care of pupils’.

The report also praised William Martin’s reading provision, noting how “reading underpins the entire curriculum”. Inspectors were impressed by the diverse range of books that pupils are encouraged to read during their time in school, which has led the children to develop a love for group reading.

Gina Bailey, Headteacher of William Martin C of E Infant and Junior School, said; “We are particularly excited that OFSTED have recognised our broad and ambitious curriculum, that we have a passion for our children to excel in reading and that our strong pastoral offer remains a key part of the collaborative work we continue to provide with our families and the wider community.

“We have all been on such a journey together over the past few years since we joined William Martin Schools as Executive Head and Head of School, and we feel very privileged to work with such a fantastic group of children, an amazing team of staff and such supportive parents.”

Emma Wigmore, CEO of the Vine Schools Trust, commented; “We’re very pleased with William Martin’s Ofsted result. It’s lovely to hear how the school fosters a culture of kindness and positivity, especially how pupils have been taking charge of their own learning by asking staff to add ‘be kind’ to the school rules”