'Kind' Rotherham school praised after landmark Ofsted inspection

Recently, the Wellfield Crescent base was rated as Rotherham's best performer at the end of Key Stage 2.

Now they can boast that they were the first local school to be judged under new, more stringent Ofsted examination… and came through with flying colours.

Inspectors awarded them a 'strong standard' status in fields like teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance.

Rotherham Cllr Victoria Cusworth congratulated headteacher Matt Revill. The Ofsted outcome: "Reflects the exceptional hard work, dedication and ambition that is clearly embedded throughout the school," she said.

"Woodsetts Primary is a place where children feel safe, valued and inspired to do their very best. I am immensely proud to see such strong practice recognised.

"Woodsetts is a school not only achieving excellent academic outcomes, but also nurturing children’s wellbeing, character and love of learning. It is a credit to its community and to Rotherham. You should be extremely proud of the impact you are making for children and families every day."

So what makes the school so special? We set some homework for head teacher Mr Revill, in a Q&A session.

Q: What is the significance of being the first Rotherham school to be inspected under more rigorous testing?

A: We were assessed under more demanding expectations than schools had previously experienced.

In simple terms, Ofsted raised the bar. They looked more closely at the quality of education pupils receive – not just results, but how well the curriculum is designed, how effectively teachers deliver it, and whether children truly understand and remember what they are taught.

Inspectors spent more time talking to pupils about their learning, reviewing pupils’ work in detail, and discussing curriculum planning with teachers and leaders.

Q: Pupils “consistently achieve significantly above others nationally” – how was this assessed?

A: This is done through the national measures of Early Learning Goals. In our SATs, 100 per cent of our children achieved the 'Expected Standard' in reading, writing and maths. (National average: 65 per cent)

Q: A few months ago, Woodsetts was rated as the best in Rotherham at the end of Key Stage 2. How does the full Ofsted compare?

A: It helps confirm the strong curriculum offer we provide for the children – Ofsted saw strong practice which translates into exceptional results.

We believe this is a partnership with families as we all work together to help the children achieve so well.

Q: You describe the pupils as "amazing ambassadors" – how so?

A: They represent the very best of our school every single day. They demonstrate our values not because they are told to, but because they genuinely live them, through their kindness, respect for one another, and enthusiasm for learning.

They spoke with confidence and pride about their school.

Inspectors commented on how polite, welcoming and articulate they were.

They held doors open, greeted visitors warmly, and showed genuine care for each other. Those small, every-day actions say a great deal about the culture of a school.

They are ambassadors not just when visitors arrive, but in how they support their classmates, how they approach challenges, and how they take pride in being part of the community. They make us proud because they reflect the nurturing, inclusive and ambitious environment we strive to create; and they carry that with them wherever they go.