Charlton Wood Academy is Bristol’s rising star as inspectors heap praise on staff and pupils

A new school in Bristol which is popular with parents and pupils has wowed Ofsted inspectors in its first inspection. Charlton Wood Primary Academy on Charlton Boulevard, Patchway, has been rated Good in the quality of education, personal development and its leadership. The report heaped additional praise on behaviour and attitudes and early years provision, rating them Outstanding.

The school opened in September 2019 with just three classes and is still growing; currently with 330 pupils on roll. Year five are the current eldest children, and the school will continue to grow annually until full, and will cater for 420 pupils. It has an interim headteacher, and a new deputy headteacher.

It has recently joined the Teaching and Learning (Academies) Trust. The report stated: “Charlton Wood Academy is a successful school where pupils thrive. All adults share high aspirations for pupils.

Pupils work hard to meet these. “Parents’ views are overwhelmingly positive. They typically comment on the caring staff and dedicated support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

“Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They move around the school with a quiet focus. Classrooms, corridors and social times are orderly and calm.

From the beginning of the Reception Year onwards, pupils are kind and respectful to one another. They diligently follow the school’s routines. Pupils show highly positive attitudes to learning.

They feel safe at school. “Pupils know and understand the school’s values of respect, understanding, perseverance and pride. They go out of their way to help and support other pupils.

“The school provides opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills. For example, they enjoy roles as members of the pupil parliament, corridor monitors and environment leaders. Pupils enjoy the range of clubs, including dance, cookery and a range of sports.

This helps them to develop their talents and interests.” The report highlighted the school curriculum as being ‘broad, rich, ambitious and well planned’ and praised mathematics teaching, and that reading was a priority with a ‘sharp’ focus on communication and language skills. It also praised the high expectations the school has for SEND pupils, and the management of pupils’ behaviour which was ‘exceptional’.

The report added: “Pupils take pride in all they do, from supporting a member of staff on the playground to helping one another in times of need. Pupils’ conduct is exemplary. They are persistent in their learning.

The school takes appropriate actions that support pupils to attend well. “The early years provision in this school is exceptional. Staff secure children’s habits and routines from the very beginning.

Children play happily together and develop friendships. Warm, highly positive relationships exist between children and staff. Well-trained staff support children’s language development exceptionally well.”

Emily Smith, acting headteacher said: “We are delighted with the outcome of our first Ofsted inspection as the whole school community has worked tirelessly since our opening in 2019 to make Charlton Wood Primary Academy, the school our children deserve. “We always knew that we were a good school, but we are thrilled that Ofsted recognised that we were also outstanding in two areas. Inspectors commented that the journey we have been on as a school is ‘quite remarkable in such a short space of time’.

“Our journey is just beginning, and we hope to continue to grow and establish ourselves at the heart of the community.”