Congratulations to Hartburn Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees on achieving a rating of ‘good’ following their most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2023. The school, which is part of the Prince Regent Street Trust, was highly praised for the quality of education it provides and for its curriculum offer which is underpinned by the three core principles of resilience, high expectations and local and global responsibilities.
The headteacher of Hartburn Primary School, Claire Park said, “I am so incredibly proud to lead such a passionate, exceptionally talented and nurturing staff team. We are absolutely thrilled with our Ofsted inspection outcome; our school continues to be a good school. The report recognises many of the unique characteristics of our exciting provision, including the very rich, wider curriculum offer which includes an array of residential visits; leadership and teamwork opportunities and community partnership work. We are incredibly proud of our family-centred school ethos and of our pupils who are incredible ambassadors. They are excellent role models who encompass the ‘Hartburn Hopes’; character virtues we all aspire to. Our regular newsletters and social media posts are testament to the memorable learning activities the children experience on a daily basis. The inspectors verbal feedback moved us to tears and the parent view responses reflected the school’s mission to support our families, as well as the children. Hartburn Primary School is a very happy place to be.”
The report outlined significant strengths relating to the core subjects, stating that ‘adults teach phonics effectively, and this helps pupils to learn to read well’ and that ‘leaders have high ambitions for pupils in mathematics’.
The school’s Chair of Governors, Claire Berry, said, “As a governing body, we took immense pride when we discussed our school with the Ofsted inspector. We provided examples of exceptional practice that the school demonstrates on a daily basis, which enables our children to have the best possible outcomes, within a safe and caring environment. The report gives us many reasons to be proud of our children and staff, but this does not mean that we will become complacent: we will remain forward facing on our journey of continuous improvement. The local governing body would like to thank all of our children, their families, staff and the wider school community for helping make Hartburn Primary School an incredible place for children to start their educational journey.”
Within the report there are many references to how effectively the school supports pupils’ personal development, for example, through the promotion of ‘Hartburn Hopes’: a set of core values which encourage pupils to ‘make the right choices and do the right thing’. Pupils at Hartburn Primary School are encouraged to be ‘agents for change’ and are supported to be ‘active citizens’ who positively contribute to life in school and to their local community. Through those references it is clear that the school strives to instil core values in pupils which prepares them for the next stage of their education and for their future. Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes were celebrated with specific references to how pupils ‘behave well’, and ‘respond quickly to instructions from adults to maximise the time spent learning’.
Leadership at all levels was highly praised, with the report stating how ‘governors put the interests of pupils at Hartburn at the core of all their decision making’ and how leaders ‘are mindful of staff workload and well- being’. This recognises the positive culture and ethos that has been created at Hartburn and how the well-being of pupils and staff is high on the agenda. Kay Steven, the Chair of Trustees for Prince Regent Street Trust, explained, “As Chair of Prince Regent Street Trust, and previous Chair of Governors at Hartburn Primary School, I am extremely proud of the dedicated school and trust staff, leaders, governors and trustees who have all contributed to the success that has been captured in this first Ofsted inspection report that we have received since the trust was established in 2018. All stakeholders can be confident that the children in our schools have, and will always remain, at the heart of everything we do.” It is highlighted in the report that arrangements for safeguarding are effective, and how ‘leaders promote a culture of vigilance to ensure that pupils are safe’.
Julia Armstrong, CEO of the Prince Regent Street Trust said, “As the CEO of the trust, I am truly delighted with the outcome of the inspection and very proud of all of the staff and children for their ongoing hard work and commitment. We have very strong leaders, teachers, teaching assistants and non-teaching staff across our schools who clearly ensure that our children get the very best education that they deserve. We have a well-established and proven track record with our school improvement strategy across the trust which is taking us from strength to strength. We work in partnership with a large number of schools across Teesside and together, we continue to strive for excellence for all of our children.”
Hartburn Primary School actively promotes Prince Regent Street Trust’s core values of excellence, opportunity and partnership, with the role, and positive impact of the trust recognised during the inspection process. Staff reported that ‘senior leaders and the trust create a working environment that is
supportive’. The trust’s relentless focus on school improvement and its investment in staff were celebrated in the report, with specific reference made to how ‘staff appreciate working together with other trust colleagues to share good practice’.
Keith Morrison, the trust’s Director of School Improvement reinforced that, “The school is at the heart of the community, with leaders and staff working tirelessly to ensure every pupil in their care receives a unique educational experience, and where a culture of excellence permeates many aspects of school life. I have had the privilege to observe first-hand the quality of education provided by the school and it is obvious that the rich, broad and inspiring curriculum that has been specifically created, provides pupils with a strong foundation for the next stage of their learning and for later life. Leaders and staff at Hartburn Primary School are passionate, ambitious and outward facing. They work in partnership with our trust and partner schools in their continued drive for educational excellence.”
The school’s recent Ofsted inspection and the subsequent report have recognised Hartburn Primary School’s achievements; all members of the Hartburn community should be incredibly proud of their success which is richly deserved!