South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 18/12/2013

When the primary school league tables were published on 12 December 2013, it was revealed that Charfield is one of the top four primary schools in South Gloucestershire and one of the best-performing schools in the country.

Dafydd Lawday, Headteacher, said: “We have been focused on doing the right things, doing them well and doing them consistently. We knew that our children had performed well in the SATs and had exceeded our targets for the year. When we received our Value Added score of 101.9 we expected to perform well in comparison to other schools. However, to be in the country’s top three per cent is extremely satisfying.”

Jason Lugg, Chair of Charfield Governors, said: “These results are a tribute to the hard work and commitment of staff and pupils who well deserve this success.”

The school’s results speak for themselves. Charfield’s pupils exceeded the national average of 75 per cent with 96 per cent achieving the expected Level 4. Pupils exceeded the national progress rates too with 100 per cent making the expected progress in maths and writing and 96 per cent in reading.

Melanie Warnes, Executive Headteacher, speaking on behalf of Castle School Education Trust, the sponsors of Charfield, said: “These results are the mark of an outstanding school. Charfield has well and truly shaken off the label of special measures. Parents know from their child’s experience that Charfield is a successful school. Indeed we have received an increase in parents requesting places at the school since September. Children here have a bright future indeed.”

Jason Lugg put the remarkable turnaround of the school down to strong leadership at all levels, high expectations and investment in high quality teaching. “We have been relentless in our focus on our children achieving the very best. The school now awaits Ofsted to formally recognise that success.”