Outstanding Ofsted for Woods Loke Primary School Lowestoft

Staff, pupils, parents and the governing body at a Lowestoft-area school are celebrating following an 'Outstanding' Ofsted inspection.

Ofsted visited Woods Loke Primary last month, with the school on Butley Drive, Oulton Broad - which was last inspected in May 2022 - upgraded from good to outstanding.

Woods Loke Primary School on Butley Drive, Oulton Broad in Lowestoft, has been graded outstanding by Ofsted. Picture: Woods Loke Primary School (Image: Woods Loke Primary School)

After the inspection was carried out on April 16/17, the school achieved top marks in all areas.

Lead Ofsted inspector Adam Cooke and inspectors Jo Nutbeam and Glenn Russell found Woods Loke to have an 'outstanding quality of education’, with 'outstanding leadership and management', 'outstanding early years provision', 'outstanding behaviour and attitudes' and 'outstanding personal development' as it's 'overall effectiveness' was rated as 'Outstanding.'

With 482 pupils on the school roll, inspectors said: "Pupils love their school and value the education they receive.

"They attend exceptionally well.

"They behave respectfully and are kind.

"Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary."

Ofsted praised the "very strong subject knowledge" that teachers have, and with the school part of the Hartismere Family of Schools multi-academy trust, inspectors added: "Governors, the trust and leaders have built a highly supportive ethos.

"This empowers teachers to realise leaders’ bold, outstanding vision for these children’s lives."

A school spokesman said: "This academic year - since September 2023 - there have been over 400 Ofsted inspections in the East of England.

"There have been 40 schools who have been graded as ‘outstanding’, but all of them were maintaining a pre-existing outstanding judgement.

"Woods Loke is the only school to have improved from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ in the eastern region since September."

With headteacher, Joel Crawley having been in post for eight years, in this time he has led Woods Loke from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’.

Mr Crawley said: "We are delighted with the outcome of the inspection.

"It is a testament to the tremendous commitment, dedication and hard work put in by our entire school community over several years.

"Staff, governors, parents and children have all worked together to make this school into a very special place indeed."

Mr Crawley added that, while the school is celebrating its achievements, the "hard work" does not stop and it will continue to improve and develop.

'An honour'

Chair of Governors, Phil Humphrey, said: "An excellent result justly deserved owing to the commitment, dedication and hard work of the Headteacher and all the staff.

"The youngsters feel safe and secure to achieve their full potential.

"It is an honour to be linked with this school."

Woods Loke pupils are aided by the schools' 'character' programme which nurtures their personal development, helping them to gain important life skills and setting them up well for the future.

This includes growing and cooking their own food and lessons on managing their finances.