GLUSBURN teachers are top of the class when it comes to passing on the ‘three Rs’.

A Basic Skills assessor gave high praise to Glusburn Community Primary School for its teaching of reading, writing and ‘rithmatics (maths).

The assessor visited the school recently and, after consulting key staff, identified good practice in all 10 elements of the Quality Mark.

The elements included assessment, target setting, planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Head Richard Hunt said: “It was more than satisfying to receive such high praise from an outside agency and a huge pat-on-the-back for all our staff; acknowledging the school’s hard work in promoting the basic skills of reading, writing and maths.”

The assessor said: “The school continues to do excellent work to ensure that children of all abilities achieves their potential in speaking and listening, reading, writing and mathematics.

“It was clearly obvious that the school is very well led and managed in terms of Basic Skills.

"The staff are a very effective team who work together with enthusiasm and dedication.”

The assessor’s praised the ‘whole school’ approach which ensured that Basic Schools teaching was high-quality in all classes.

The assessor added: “The school has clearly written action plans for Basic Skills to ensure that targeted areas for improvement are thoroughly addressed and then evaluated to measure impact.

“The staff have appropriately high expectations for all pupils.”

Children in the early years classes were keen to share their Learning Journeys with the assessor, and spoke confidently and enthusiastically about their work.

The assessor said the school set appropriately challenging targets at all levels for both groups and individual pupils.

The school meticulously monitored and evaluated Basic Skills teaching, and kept governors, well-informed on progress and standards.

Under-achievement was identified through effective assessments, and appropriate action taken to improve each pupils’ progress.

The Glusburn school has recently introduced the Singapore Mathematics Programme, which has increased pupils’ confidence.

Computers are used to enhance teaching

The school was also praised for its communication with parents and support in encouraging their children in Basic Skills.

Glusburn Community Primary School received a ‘good’ rating in all areas during its last Ofsted inspection in March 2015.