Crabtree rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted

Crabtree Junior School has been rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted.

The school, in Harpenden, retained the highest grade following its latest inspection in November. Crabtree was previously rated Outstanding in 2009.

It was subject to a full inspection, over two days, and was found to be Outstanding in all five areas, including quality of education, personal development and leadership and management.

The school was praised for its rich, ambitious curriculum and the impressive knowledge and behaviour of its pupils. Inspectors also commented on the school’s high-quality pastoral support, saying: “Pupils are itching to get to school each day.” 

The report says: “Pupils here have ‘G.R.I.T’ in abundance. The values of growth, resilience, independence and teamwork are golden threads that run through the school. A plethora of opportunities to be leaders are hungrily accepted by pupils, who want to make their school the best it can be.”

It adds: “Pupils produce work of a consistently high standard. Classrooms are vibrant, happy places. While pupils have much fun and laughter with their friends, they know that when play stops and work starts, they are expected to concentrate and try their best. This is exactly what they do.”

Emma Simmons, Executive Headteacher of Crabtree, says: “I couldn’t be prouder of this exceptional result. The children’s love of their school shone through and the way in which they proudly showcased Crabtree and everything they do was incredible.”

Emma adds: “The school has a fantastic staff team, who all go above and beyond to provide the children with the very best experiences. The lead inspector commented on the pupil, staff and parent surveys, saying that he had never seen results like it.” 

You can read the full Ofsted report here.