AN ARBORFIELD school has undergone a significant transformation which has seen it receive praise from academic regulators.
Ongoing improvements at The Coombes CE Primary School saw it achieve an overall grade of ‘good’ in its Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) report in February.
Improvements have included recarpeting, installing new furniture, decorating, new IT equipment, a new library and development of outdoor learning spaces, including its swimming pool.
Headteacher Luke Henderson said: “We had our Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection at the end of February which went really well. It’s a really fantastic to have the quality provision within the school recognised through the inspection process; an outcome that the school community is very proud of.
“Our site itself is extraordinary. We’ve got everything from a swimming pool to ponds and woods, over recent months we have been on a journey of rapid improvement, aiming to repurpose and improve the spaces for the benefit of our children and staff.
“The refurbishment, which is taking place as part of our rebranding, has and will allow us to provide the best quality education possible.”
The conclusion of the SIAMS report said: “The Coombes is an effective Church school where everyone is cherished.
“It is a place where the vision inspires and encourages all to grow to be the best that they can be.”
Mr Henderson added that since the pandemic, its swimming pool had been used only sparingly, despite being one of the few facilities of its kind in the area. Children throughout the school now receive water safety/swimming lessons as part of the PE curriculum.
In addition, the school has recently partnered with community swimming lessons company Ducklings to Dolphins, who now provides swimming lessons outside of school hours 6 days per week to children in the local area.
The Coombes, part of The Keys Academy Trust, opened as an academy school in September 2017 and is a mixed school for children aged three-11. It sits at the heart of the Arborfield village which has seen 3,500 new homes developed through the Arborfield Garrison Strategic Development Location.
Mr Henderson highlighted The Coombes’ commitment to providing the highest quality education to children and in addition, provide provision for the pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing that goes well beyond the national curriculum.
He explained: “We’re really big on exercise, mental health and wellbeing, providing learning experiences that go well beyond the national curriculum.
“We are in the process of establishing ourselves as a ‘Forest School’, our pillars involve environmental education, sustainability, outdoor education, horticulture – we’ve got a STEM lab installation planned in early July and hold eco-days, which take place every term. It’s a great way for our students to get to know nature.
“We’re the only school that I know of that has a dedicated environmental teacher, who we’ve brought in this year.”
