Gusford Community Primary School in Ipswich has had a brilliant start to the year having secured the school’s best ever ratings from Ofsted.

The school has been rated ‘Outstanding’ for personal development and ‘Good’ for all other categories including quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; leadership and management and early years provision.

The school had previously been rated ‘Requires Improvement’ overall (when single-word judgements were used by Ofsted) and had never received an overall ‘Good’ outcome.

Following the latest inspection in November 2024, inspectors highlighted that pupils enjoy coming to Gusford Community Primary School and are “eager to attend here and engage with their learning”. 

The school was praised for its core values - including kindness, honesty and responsibility - which are “lived out daily”.

The report also celebrates the school’s “high expectations for behaviour and learning” and mentions initiatives like the bluey club, well-being ambassadors and the eco-team for empowering pupils to make meaningful contributions to the school. 

Other highlights include:
●    The ambitious and carefully sequenced curriculum prepares pupils well for the next stages of their education. 
●    Personal development is a real strength. The school’s personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) curriculum is described as “exemplary”.
●    Reading is prioritised. There is a well-structured phonics programme that starts in the early years.
●    The school has an ambitious approach to learning modern foreign languages. Children in the nursery are exposed to Spanish from the moment they start. 
●    Pupils feel safe and well supported and parents and carers value the school’s nurturing environment. 

Stephen Tapley, Headteacher at Gusford Primary School, said:

“We are all extremely proud to be sharing Gusford’s new Ofsted report. This outcome is a hugely significant achievement for the whole school community and an historic moment since it is the school’s strongest outcome on record. 

“I want to thank all our pupils, staff, parents and governors for their support which has played such an important part in this achievement.

“We look forward to continuing to work together so that Gusford continues to develop and prosper.”

Lynsey Holzer, CEO of Active Learning Trust, said:

“Congratulations to everyone at Gusford Community Primary School on this excellent achievement.

“We are so pleased that this report reflects the nurturing and positive culture at Gusford and the rapid improvements the school has made in recent years.

“We look forward to continuing to support Gusford to progress together with the whole school community.”