Ofsted report Oct 2024 "Good with Outstanding in EYFS provision"

Welcome, and thank you for taking the time to visit Foston CE VC Primary School’s website.  I am extremely proud to be the Head of School at this wonderful, inclusive village school.  The pupils and staff at Foston ‘Love, Learn and Grow Together’ during their time here, and I feel very privileged to be part of their journey. Our recent Ofsted gave the School, Good with Outstanding in EYFS provision, we are extremely pleased that the hard work in developing this provision has been recognised.  It was also identified by the inspectors that "Parents and carers highly value the supportive and nurturing school community ethos. Parents are very appreciative of the care and support the school provides to them and their children". Ofsted Oct 24

Foston CE VC Primary School is situated just off the A64 in the beautiful village of Thornton-Le-Clay, 15 minutes from both Malton and York.  We are a school that is very much at the heart of the community and pride ourselves in having a nurturing and inclusive environment.  Children can start their educational journey with us in our nursery, from 3 years old, and leave us in year 6, fully prepared and ready for the next stage of their education. We are a thriving school that has grown from 18 to nearly 70 pupils in recent years.  Our families are the true advocates of our school!  With smaller than average class sizes our pupils benefit from a more individualised and unique learning experience.

Our Christian Vision underpins the teaching at Foston CE VC Primary and our core values of love, joy, patience and self-control, which are rooted in the words of St Paul (Galatians 5v 22-23) are fostered in the pupils and staff. During our recent SIAMS Inspection it was recognised that as a school we show ‘relentless commitment to include and nurture everyone. Support for pupils who may need extra help is exceptional, enabling pupils to flourish together within a loving school environment and provide extensive enrichment opportunities celebrate pupils’ unique gifts and interests, enabling them to question, learn and flourish with confidence.’

We pride ourselves in having a broad and ambitious curriculum that creates academic challenge, enrichment opportunities and real experiences for the children. We have identified four core curriculum enhancers which form the foundation of our curriculum teaching, and which prepare the children for life in the modern world when they leave Foston. 

These curriculum enhancers are:

1. Creativity: We foster a curriculum that encourages creativity and imagination. Through various art forms, projects, and problem-solving tasks, students are provided with opportunities to think critically and outside the box.
2. Diversity: We celebrate diversity in all its forms by promoting understanding, appreciation, and respect for different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. We aim to create global citizens who can thrive in a diverse and interconnected world.
3. Sustainability: We are committed to educating our students about environmental issues and sustainable practices, and endeavour to instil a sense of responsibility towards the planet, empowering students to become environmentally conscious individuals.
4. Community: Our curriculum emphasises the importance of community engagement and social responsibility, and we encourage students to actively participate in community projects and learn about the impact of their actions on society.

Please look at the curriculum and class pages of our website and find out more about our exciting topics and teaching. You will also see the vast range of educational visits and enhancement opportunities, which are some of the advantages of our collaborative federation partnership with Stillington Community Primary and Terrington CE VA Primary Schools.

I invite you to visit our wonderful school so that you may look around, meet our staff and pupils and witness our ethos in action.  Please email us on fostonoffice@foston.n-yorks.sch.uk or ring 01653 618265 in order to arrange a convenient time.

Miss Katie Stringer
Head of School