First school in Windsor praised all-around in Ofsted result

Dedworth Green First School has been rated ‘Good’ in every category – with praise given for its early years and special needs support as well as extracurricular activities.

The school, on Smiths Lane in Windsor, is part of Windsor Learning Trust, which also runs The Windsor Boys’ School, Windsor Girls’ School, Clewer Green C of E First School, Dedworth Middle School, Dedworth Campus Rainbow Centre and Oakfield First School.

It was inspected in July, with the results published on September 19.

A friendly and respectful community

Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy attending this friendly school. They feel safe and uphold the school’s principles of shared respect.”

Relationships with staff are described as caring, open and honest.

Pupils behave well, are kind to one another and ‘display high standards of manners and politeness’.

Weekly assemblies, led by pupils themselves, celebrate successes across the school. This recognition, the report said, means pupils have highly positive attitudes towards school life.

Personal development and wellbeing

The school’s personal development programme was singled out – pupils are given carefully planned opportunities to debate and discuss complex topics, develop talents and discover new interests.

Inspectors highlighted a strong sense of community. Children learn the importance of helping others and show ‘positive attitudes to citizenship’.

Activities such as a neurodiversity week and daily reflection help pupils manage their wellbeing.

Ofsted noted: “The school pays particular attention to pupils’ mental health.

“Activities such as a neurodiversity week and daily reflection aid pupils in gaining confidence to manage their own wellbeing.”

"The school’s work on developing character supports pupils to gain a detailed understanding of important concepts such as consent and healthy relationships.”

Ambitious curriculum

Ofsted said pupils have confidence in their abilities and enjoy learning.  Inspectors praised the school for offering an ambitious curriculum, defined with care.

Reading is a ‘clear priority.’ Staff support children who fall behind and make sure they catch up quickly. Pupils who need additional practice are given targeted help to keep pace with their peers.

The school also offers musical experience days with other schools, practical life skills sessions, and a range of clubs and events spanning arts, sport and performance.

Early years and SEND support

Children in the early years learn to communicate their wants and needs successfully and build a strong foundation for learning, Ofsted said.

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are ‘swiftly’ identified, and those with high levels of need benefit from ‘comprehensive and effective support’.

The school has a resource base for these students and also offers support in the mainstream part of the school.

There, SEND pupils also provide highly effective help, Ofsted wrote.

Points for improvement

Parents and carers told inspectors they value the support and care given to their children. Staff, too, said they are proud of their school.

Nonetheless, Ofsted found a few areas where the school could improve.

Some unevenness remains in how well pupils learn across certain subjects. Checks on what pupils have previously learned ‘lack sufficient rigour’ which slows learning.

Attendance has improved thanks to the school’s work with families, although some disadvantaged pupils are still missing too much learning, Ofsted said.

What the school says

Head of school Mark Mackie said the positive feedback is a testament to the dedication of the school community to ensuring every child succeeds.

Gavin Henderson, CEO of Windsor Learning Partnership, said: “This is a fantastic report that shows how this friendly school combines high aspirations with a deep commitment to community and care, ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.”