Pupils’ running of tuck shop plays a part in glowing Ofsted report

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A Bromley primary school has received a near perfect score from Ofsted following a recent inspection, with pupils running their own tuck shop to raise funds for the school.

Pratts Bottom Primary School in Hookwood Road, Orpington, has been rated ‘Outstanding’ in all but one area by the watchdog, with the leadership in its management and behaviour of children being particularly commended.

The Ofsted report praised the personal development of pupils and the opportunities for them to take on roles of responsibility.

Abigail Carter, head teacher at Pratts Bottom, said pupils suggested running a tuck shop last year when exploring ways to fund new playground equipment at the school.

Ms Carter said: “Every Monday and Friday during morning play the children run a tuck shop. They take complete ownership of that, they sell healthy snacks for the other children.

“Every child can bring in 50p to buy one healthy snack. The children who run the tuck shop count up and collate the money and then they let me know when we need extra snacks as well – so they give me a bit of a shopping list too.”

The headteacher said the funds from the tuck shop have been used to repair a leak in the school’s reading shed and are currently going towards new footballs and sports equipment.

She added that pupils are also given roles as house captains to run assemblies on Fridays and encourage children to demonstrate the core values of the school.

The school’s three core values of kindness, unity and ambition reportedly underpin the conduct of staff and pupils at the school. Ms Carter said that children are encouraged to consider how their behaviour affects the community around them, with litter picks at play times.

The headteacher said: “We support our pupils to become confident, resilient and independent citizens so that they can really demonstrate a strength of character and have a positive impact on our community within the classroom, but also within our local and wider community as well.

“Getting these gradings really reassured us that the things that we are doing are the right things because they are having positive impacts on our children with their personal development, their behaviour, and with their learning as well.”

Pratts Bottom Primary School currently has 71 pupils. The school is part of the Small Schools Network, running alongside Chelsfield Primary School in Warren Road, Orpington.

Pictured top: Pupils of Pratts Bottom Primary School shown following the school’s recent report (Picture: Pratts Bottom Primary School)