‘I am incredibly proud of everyone’: Joy as Ofsted inspectors highlight border primary school’s strengths

A headteacher of a school near the south Shropshire border with Worcestershire has spoken of her pride after their strengths were picked up by Ofsted inspectors.

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Burford Church of England (CE) Primary School in Tenbury Wells was visited by the education watchdog in June for the first inspection at the school - which is part of the Diocese of Hereford Multi-Academy Trust (DHMAT) - since Ofsted launched its updated framework late in 2025.

Ofsted now rates schools in seven separate areas and inspectors who visited Burford graded the school as being at a strong standard in three areas and the expected standard in the other four.

In their report, published this month, inspectors said pupils at the school are “very well cared for and supported”.

Ofsted also found the curriculum devised by the school’s leaders was broad, balanced and typically taught well, with inspectors stating that it is carefully sequenced and matched to pupils’ needs, ensuring that they are well prepared for their next steps.

The report also noted that pupils behave well, both in lessons and around the school site, and that their relationships with adults are “warm and positive”.

Academically, Ofsted reported that pupils build key knowledge and skills securely from their starting points, and that they know and remember more as they move through the curriculum.

In addition, pupils who need additional help to learn to read receive effective support and this helps them to catch up and access their wider learning. Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities also typically “achieve well from their starting points”.

Headteacher Emma Partridge said: “The Ofsted report is an amazing boost for our school and I am incredibly proud of everyone who plays their part in making Burford Primary the great environment that it is.

“It is incredibly rewarding to read that the Ofsted inspectors were able to see the many strengths we have here and that they were clearly impressed with almost everything they saw. To achieve a strong standard in three areas under the new framework is fantastic and a true reflection of where we are, but I can reassure people that we’ll only be looking to build on that moving forward.

“While everyone who cares about our school can be proud of this Ofsted report, the work at Burford does not stop and we will continue to strive to get even better across the board because that is what our pupils and the wider school community deserves.”