Newcomen Primary School building for the future

A Redcar primary school, excited at the prospect of a planned £5million rebuilding programme due to start later this summer, has been given another boost by Government inspectors.

Newcomen Primary School, says the Ofsted report, is "a good school with some outstanding features. Children make good progress in all aspects of their education, particularly in their personal development which is outstanding."

The report adds: "The pupils are polite, friendly and helpful. Their behaviour is exemplary. They are justly proud of their school and enjoy their education. They view the school as an oasis of peace in a challenging world."

Parents, too, are pleased with Newcomen. One parent told inspectors: "I have nothing but praise for this school and its dedicated staff."

The leadership of headteacher Barbara Linthwaite and her management team is "good" and the report says: "In the last four years, the headteacher has moved the school forward significantly.

"She has a vision of a school that challenges individual pupils to develop their learning skills and understanding of the wider world. This is shared by the highly committed staff team. Teaching and learning is good and in some lessons outstanding. This enables the majority of pupils to achieve well."

Mrs Linthwaite is delighted with the Ofsted verdict. "The report is a wonderful testament to the hard work of everyone connected with the school, pupils, parents, all staff and governors.

"It was also very rewarding to see Ofsted congratulating the school for continuing to provide quality for the pupils during the disruption caused by the building works.

"We are all delighted and the report has strengthened our feelings of empowerment and excitement as we take the school forward to our new build."

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education Councillor Ian Jeffrey said: "Life is never easy for a school that is on the brink of such a major rebuild, but I'm delighted at how well Newcomen has done and that all their good work has been rightly recognised by the inspection team."