Primary school earns rave reviews for its embrace of music and social awareness
By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter
A primary school that sees children sing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and write to their local MP has been rated as ‘Outstanding’.
Marlborough Primary School in Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, was given top marks across all areas by Ofsted inspectors following a visit in September.
The inspection follows a new rating system, which came into place that same month.
Inspectors found the school had an excellent curriculum for personal development and encountered pupils who were proud to talk about their different beliefs and backgrounds.
They said teachers honed in on the precise knowledge and skills they wanted pupils to learn and helped students develop them over time.
The report read: “For example, in music, children in nursery develop their musical awareness by learning to clap, sway and join in with familiar songs.
“This also supports children’s wider learning through the development of social awareness, turn-taking and self-control. In reception, children start learning to sing together. This means that older pupils can sing short melodies in three-part harmony.”
Headteacher Sally Keck said staff ensure the school’s motto of ‘excel, enjoy and achieve’ is in everything the pupils do. She said: “We have high expectations and beliefs in the children.”
Sally said students are chosen to sing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and have performed at the Royal Albert Hall and at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
She added: “Singing is one of those things that is collective. We come together. We sing. We have singing assemblies every week and they’re very, very special. I do think music is hugely unifying.”
She said pupils recently had their local MP visit after writing a letter about litter, vaping and pollution in the local area. She said students also attend one music concert and museum a year as part of their development.
Children also recently attended a jazz concert and worked with the English National Opera and regularly visit the Science Museum and Natural History Museum.
Sally, who came in as part of new leadership in September 2020, said this was the first time the school had been ranked Outstanding across all areas.
She said: “The children are so motivated. The team is incredible. There’s something about the collective energy about this school that just makes it an incredible place to learn.”
Sally said the school does not use detention to punish students. Instead, children are moved in “zones” and spoken to about their behaviour and asked how their actions can be remedied.
She said: “When I took over, Marlborough was known as the school with the nice building. Now we’re known as something different.”
Pictured top: Marlborough Primary School Year 6 students working in a classroom (Picture: Marlborough Primary School/Panos Karachalios)