“Happy, caring school” gets thumbs up from Ofsted inspectors

Pupils "love to learn" at a "happy, caring school" which has been rated Good for the first time by Ofsted.

Inspectors visited Nishkam Primary School last month and found leaders to have "high expectations of the pupils' behaviour and learning".

The school has "improved a great deal" since its last inspection with leaders and governors having "relentlessly focused their attention on the quality of education provided by the school".

Leaders at every level think very carefully about every aspect of the Great Brickkiln Street school’s curriculum to make sure pupils "build on their learning from one year to the next", with the teaching of early reading, as well as English and mathematics, particular strengths.

Leaders and staff "want all pupils to achieve their best in all subjects", and teachers are "passionate about what they teach and inspire pupils to learn".

Staff have good subject knowledge and enthusiasm for the subjects they lead, while the school provides a wide range of opportunities for pupils' positive personal development - including a '100 things to do before you leave Nishkam' programme - with high uptake of clubs among children.

The pupils themselves "behave very well and have positive attitudes". They are "polite, respectful and caring of everyone", which makes the school "an extremely positive and inclusive place to learn".

Leadership and management of the school, which is part of the Nishkam School Trust, was judged to be outstanding, with the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and early years provision all rated good.

Headteacher Harmander Singh Dhanjal said: "I am incredibly proud of each and every member of our Nishkam team. We have worked relentlessly to continue our journey to excellence within our inclusive, virtues-led school."

    Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "This is an excellent report which                 demonstrates sustained improvement at Nishkam Primary School over recent times.

“I would like to congratulate Harmander Singh Dhanjal and his team on their hard work which has enabled Nishkam to become a Good-rated school with outstanding elements.”

Some 13,000 more children now attend Good or Outstanding-rated schools in Wolverhampton than they did five years ago. To find out more about education, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/education.

Please see link to full report NPSW Ofsted Inspection Report February 2020

Photograph: Celebrating Nishkam Primary School's Good Ofsted rating are pupils with Councillor Dr Michael Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Headteacher Harmander Singh Dhanjal and Debbie Westwood, the Director of Primary Education for Nishkam School Trust.

    Issued by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Corporate Communications Team