Bristol school makes top 50 list
A Bristol school in one of the most deprived areas of the city has jumped into the top 50 of a national league table for the best state-run primary schools in the country.
Our Lady of the Rosary RC primary in Lawrence Weston is ranked joint 21st in the table published by the Sunday Times yesterday.
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The school was previously 144th.
St Mary's RC primary in Bradley Stoke is once again in the top 50 at 41st. It was previously joint 13th.
In a league table of top independent schools, Badminton School is 66th. Last year it was 41st.
Its junior school is 31st, compared with 55th last year.
Gerald Kloska, headteacher at Our Lady of the Rosary, which has 206 pupils aged four to 11, said: "This is wonderful news for Lawrence Weston and primary education in Bristol."
Ofsted inspectors who visited the school in June, said in their report: "Pupils' outstanding achievements are due to the very effective teaching, high quality of learning and the stimulating activities that are provided.
"Purposeful leadership has developed a strong sense of teamwork among all members of the school community."
The inspectors wrote to the pupils, saying: "You have an outstanding school which is successful in helping you learn."
Mr Kloska paid tribute to the "incredible hard work" that everyone connected with the school gave to make it such a success.
He said they had a long-established staff who were supported by retired staff, governors, nuns and other helpers.
The pupils come from Lawrence Weston, Shirehampton, Henbury, Sea Mills and Westbury-on-Trym.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Bristol's primary school's were improving with pupils achieving the best Sats tests results for several years.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families data shows that 74 per cent of children achieved the standard expected for their age in English and 73 per cent in mathematics. In Bristol's secondary schools, the results show they remain close to the bottom of national exam results league tables, but they are making progress.
The city's education leaders argue that the city's performance in secondary schools continued to improve faster than schools throughout the rest of the country.
Bristol saw a four per cent rise in the benchmark figure compared with 2007 while the national improvement rate was 1.3 per cent.
The Sunday Times' league tables include 2,000 schools across the state and independent sectors in the UK and including primary and secondary schools.
8 Comments
by Betty, Pacific Northwest
Tuesday, November 17 2009, 5:43AM
“This is a great article. It seems that the dedication of all is what makes this a success. I have been reading about another very successful school in a book called "Lives of Passion, School of Hope" by author Rick Posner. It¿s the story of an extended family of students, staff, and parents who have formed their own community of learners over the course of thirty-eight years. Another amazing story!
http://www.rickposner.com/”
by derek, Not in Briz
Monday, November 16 2009, 12:25PM
“Well done the school.When will these clowns give up.Whenever a happy story comes out,these idiots have nothing constructive to say,once again (As Sat) saying nothing re the achievment,just nit-picking.”
by Nikita, Bristol
Monday, November 16 2009, 11:53AM
“Well done to the kids and staff at the school. Keep up the good hard work.”
by Richard, Bristol
Monday, November 16 2009, 9:52AM
“Brilliant result, well done!
Hopefully secondary education will start to progress in the tables very soon as well.
It is superb to see children do well in primary school but then very sad to see their hard work wasted becuase their parents couldn't send them to a good secondary school.
Our new schools look really nice but complacent teachers need to be rooted out if the consistency from primary to secondary school starts to fail.
All too often I hear parents wanting to leave our beautiful city only to live in a better 'postcode lottery' location. Very few want to move but find its their only option to offer their children a better start in life. A sad truth unfortunately.”
by Richard, Bristol
Monday, November 16 2009, 9:49AM
“Brilliant result, well done!
Hopefully secondary education will start to progress in the tables soon as well.
It's one superb to see a children do well in primary school but then very sad to see their hard work wasted becuase their parents couldn't send them to a good secondary school.
Our new schools look reallt nice but complacement teachers need to be rooted out if consistency from primary to secondary school starts to fail.
All too often I hear parents wanting to leave our beautiful city only to live in a better 'school postcode lottery' location. Very few want to move but find its their only option to offer their children a better start in life. A sad truth unfortunately.”
by Grahame P, Central Bristol
Monday, November 16 2009, 9:42AM
“Hi Cargo. Ian doesn't need an apostophe if he's describing the avenue as one where a number of Pedants live, but does if he's referring to the avenue named after Pedant.
Just the mood I'm in. :-)”
by Cargo Cult, Bristol
Monday, November 16 2009, 8:05AM
“There should be an apostrophe somewhere in "Pendants Avenue" Ian.”
by Ian, Pedants Avenue
Monday, November 16 2009, 7:56AM
“Yet another case of a rogue apostrophe in an article about education!”