A PRIMARY school has celebrated being rated good by Ofsted for the first time in 20 years.

Cherry Tree Academy, in Colchester, was inspected by the education watchdog in February and told it no longer required improvement after a previous report in May 2018.

The school was rated good across all of the board in its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision.

Headteacher Charlotte Newley told the Gazette she wants to thank staff, pupils and families for playing their part in making the Holt Drive school a success.

She said: “It is the first time the school has been judged as good since 2002, and since the school’s last inspection, Ofsted has adjusted its framework to make achieving a good rating significantly more challenging.

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“To have achieved such a positive grade in all areas is something that we are all truly proud of and will celebrate.

“We know our hard work doesn’t stop here. We have already started work on the recommendations made by Ofsted and areas of improvement we have identified ourselves.

“Our journey is of continual improvement, so everyone at Cherry Tree remains committed to making our school the best it can be.

“I have no doubt that we will continue to develop and grow from strength to strength.

“I would like to thank all of our staff, pupils and their families for making Cherry Tree Academy a great place for all to learn and thrive.”

The impressed Ofsted inspector stated the school is “warm and welcoming” and praised it for having a strong culture of safeguarding.

They noted pupils’ relationships with each other are positive and they play well together in the playground and no child is left without a playmate.

The inspector’s report reads: “Pupils are treated as individuals; this creates mutual respect between adults and children. This, in turn, helps to create a calm school environment.

“Pupils are courteous and polite. Disruption to learning is rare because staff are quick to intervene and redirect pupils back to their learning.”

School leaders were told, however, they have not ensured teachers have received high-quality training across every aspect of the curriculum.