St Nicholas CE Primary School in Child Okeford, has been praised as a community where pupils and adults are truly flourishing, following a SIAMS inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools).

The report affirms that St Nicholas is living up to its foundation as a Church school, with its Christian vision of “Love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34) clearly informing leadership, relationships, curriculum and daily life. Inspectors praised the school’s strong culture of love, inclusion and dignity, noting that positive relationships are at the heart of the community.

This achievement is particularly commendable given the difficult circumstances faced by the school during the inspection period. Significant local flooding resulted in staff shortages and additional pressures for the school community. Despite these challenges, leaders, staff and pupils demonstrated remarkable resilience, teamwork and commitment.

Headteacher Jill Watson said “We are so pleased with this SIAMS report, especially given the significant challenges we faced with the weather and the disruption it brought to our school. Despite these circumstances, the inspector still saw ‘us’ — the heart of our community, our values, and our vision lived out every day. Her report truly captures the essence of our wonderful school. I am incredibly proud of our staff, whose commitment and dedication ensured that our children continued to flourish, no matter what was happening around us".

St Nicholas Primary is a member of Sherborne Area School’s Trust (SAST) and the report highlights effective leadership at both school and trust level. It recognises SAST’s bespoke and supportive approach to monitoring and improvement and inspectors noted that trust and school leaders work together with courage and compassion, enabling the school to remain focused on inclusion, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The school’s curriculum was praised for being ambitious and inclusive, underpinned by the school’s Christian values, while collective worship and religious education were recognised as strengths that enrich pupils’ spiritual development and understanding of the world. Inspectors also commended the school’s strong sense of community, where pupils, staff and families feel supported, valued and nurtured.
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David Watson OBE, SAST CEO said “We are incredibly proud of St Nicholas Primary School and its whole community. To receive such a strong SIAMS report while navigating the challenges caused by flooding and staff absence is a testament to the dedication, professionalism and compassion of the school’s leadership and staff. The report reflects a school that truly lives its Christian vision, even in the most testing of circumstances.”