Pupils and staff at Cedar Children’s Academy in Strood ‘on the right path’ as it retains ‘good’ Ofsted gradings

Pupils and staff at a primary school are celebrating after holding on to their “Good” status following an inspection by the education watchdog.

A team from Ofsted praised the curriculum at Cedar Children’s Academy in Strood for inspiring children to “build towards ambitious goals”.

Pupils told inspectors the best thing about their school was that teachers make learning interesting with trips to the Guildhall Museum and cathedral in Rochester.

The academy in Cedar Road was deemed to be “Good” in all areas in the recent ungraded inspection.

Under the new education framework that came into effect in September 2024, schools no longer receive an overall Ofsted rating.

However, Cedar Children’s Academy was inspected before the new framework in 2019 and was found to be a “Good” in all areas.

Following its most recent inspection in October this year, Ofsted found the school to have taken effective action to maintain its high standards.

The report highlighted the school’s commitment to fostering an engaging and caring community where students have a strong voice and feel empowered to make a difference, stating that, “pupils are happy to be part of this aspirational and caring school”.

“They proudly contribute to the wider school community” the report added, and that “adults are excellent role models and inspire pupils to be their best selves. Pupils strive to live up to the school’s high aspirations.”

The school was praised for providing their pupils with every opportunity to explore new experiences and build confidence.

The report stated “pupils know the school attributes and proudly strive to live up to them”.

Furthermore, the education watchdog commended the strength of the school’s leaders and with the support of the trust, applying the wealth of experience they offer to their school and teaching community.

The report noted leaders “focus their work sharply” on the areas that benefit pupils most.

It added: “The trust creates a climate of professional openness and honesty. It supports the school effectively, for example, through opportunities for training and professional development.

“Teachers have secure subject knowledge. They are clear in their explanations so that pupils fully understand new learning and do not fall behind.”

The school monitors and identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and is vigilant about meeting their needs.

The school was also found to consider staff well-being and workload when changes are needed.

“Staff feel valued and are proud to work at the school,” it noted.

As Cedar Children’s Academy continues to enhance its provision with its inspiring curriculum, school leaders say they will be focusing on ensuring pupils have even more opportunities to revisit topics and establish knowledge within their long-term memory and further embed the school’s new early reading curriculum.

We are determined to further build on this success, ensuring our school continues to be an engaging and aspiring place to learn

Tracey Baillie, head teacher, said: “I am incredibly proud of our school and thrilled to see that Ofsted has recognised the continued hard work of our Cedar community.

“This result highlights the nurturing, creative environment we have worked so hard to create, where every child is encouraged to thrive and reach their full potential.

“We are determined to further build on this success, ensuring our school continues to be an engaging and aspiring place to learn.”

Kirstie Jones, executive headteacher for the Thinking Schools Academy Trust which operates the school, said: “I am thrilled that Ofsted has recognised our continued dedication to providing the best possible educational opportunities for our children.

“The overwhelmingly positive feedback reaffirms that we are on the right path. As we move forward, we remain committed to evolving and adapting to meet the needs of our students, all while upholding the high standards that define our school.

“Well done to all of the school community to your ongoing support. This wouldn’t be possible without you.”