12 Dec 2023
Pupils’ enthusiasm and love of learning shone through during a recent Ofsted inspection, says the headteacher behind the ‘outstanding’ Harpenden school.
Anna Archer, who has run The Grove Infant and Nursery School for the past 16 years. welcomed the result of the school’s first full inspection for 16 years.
Three Ofsted inspectors spent two days at the Dark Lane site in November, and found the school to be ‘outstanding’ across all five assessment criteria: the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
The report highlighted how pupils were highly motivated to learn and have extremely positive attitudes: “The school creates a buzz around learning and ensures pupils are fully engaged.”
Teachers were praised for their very strong subject knowledge: “They explain and model learning tasks extremely clearly to pupils… Teachers quickly spot pupils’ misconceptions. They then change their teaching skilfully to address any misunderstandings.”
Anna said it had been very difficult to stand in front of prospective parents knowing the last inspection had been in 2007, so they welcomed the opportunity to show what they were capable of.
“We aim to give children the very best start to their education – from nursery and reception through to Years 1 and 2 – and specialise in providing a fantastic, broad, exciting and inclusive curriculum which exposes them to lots of different things while encouraging them to value learning and their school.
“The whole school community – parents, staff and governors – is fantastic and everybody really cares.”
She explained how the pupils won over the Ofsted team: “They really sold the school to the inspectors. Their enthusiasm and love of learning shone through as they talked about what they liked and learned. They were unfiltered, and really so keen on everything.”
The school has a solid teaching team who Anna describes a credit to the school: “We have not had a new teacher here for five years. They stay here because they’re happy, and we all value each other and work closely together. I am very proud of all my staff, who work really hard and ensure everybody’s cared for, happy and engaged.
“Alongside the parents and governors we’re all focused on the same thing, helping the school to be the best place to be.”
The Grove has a lot of different innovations which are really embedded into school life, ranging from being the first forest school in Harpenden to having an allotment of their own. They still have a specialist music provision, a PE coach and a long-standing gold Artsmark, which reflects how arts, culture and creativity are embedded into the curriculum.
“These are things we believe in. We strive for a balance between doing the core skills really, really well, and exposing pupils to lots of other things around them.”
The school is also embedded in the Southdown community, whether that be parading with homemade lanterns to the annual Christmas lights switch-on or singing carols at St John’s Church.
Anna said: “You don’t have to live in Southdown to be part of the school community, but we feel it’s important for Southdown that the school has a presence there,”
The Ofsted inspectors did not recommend that any actions need to be taken going forwards, but Anna is keen they don’t rest on their laurels: “Education is always changing, so we will be carrying on with what we do really well, while embracing any new challenges on the way.”
Harpenden MP Bim Afolami welcomed the report: “It is fantastic news that The Grove Infant and Nursery School has again been rated as Outstanding. I know how hard that everyone at The Grove works to ensure that every child benefits from a top-class education and this is a richly deserved reward for that hard work.”
