Staff and pupils at Southbroom Infant School in Devizes are thrilled to share the school’s new Ofsted report following an inspection on 17 and 18 June 2025.

Southbroom Infants, part of The White Horse Federation, is now rated ‘Outstanding’ in three out of five categories, including personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.  The school is also rated ‘Good’ for the quality of education and behaviour and attitudes.

The latest report signifies remarkable progress since the school’s last graded inspection in 2023 as the school has improved in four out of five categories (behaviour and attitudes remains ‘Good’).

Most significantly, early years provision has gone from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’. 

Some of many highlights from the report include:

  • The school is warm and welcoming and staff have created an environment where pupils feel valued.
  • The school has high ambition for pupils and what they can achieve. Across the school, pupils achieve well and are ready for their next stage of education.
  • Pupils benefit from an exciting and engaging curriculum and the curriculum helps them to be curious about the world.
  • The early years curriculum is described as “exceptional”. Staff skilfully support children to develop strong communication and language skills. This helps them well to build their knowledge across the curriculum. By the end of the Reception Year, children achieve strong outcomes and are very well prepared for the key stage 1 curriculum.
  • Reading is at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils are keen to access the wide range of books available in the vibrant reading areas and the school library. 
  • Pupils who need extra help with reading practise reading every day. Staff support them well to build their reading fluency. As a result, pupils who are at risk of falling behind become confident readers. 
  • Staff have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and pupils show positive attitudes to their work and each other.
  • In classrooms, pupils follow learning routines well, and there is no disruption to learning. Pupils move around the school in a calm and orderly manner. 
  • The school provides pupils with exceptional personal development opportunities. Raising pupils’ aspirations underpins this work. 
  • Pupils benefit from a wealth of rich experiences, including poetry recitals and music performances. They take on leadership roles. These opportunities are highly effective in building confidence and character in the youngest of pupils.
  • Leaders across the trust have supported the school exceptionally well during a period of change. They provide staff with highly effective development opportunities. 

Amy Edwards, Headteacher at Southbroom Infant School, said:

“This exceptional outcome belongs to everyone. It is a reflection of the shared high expectations and aspirations that we have for all pupils at Southbroom Infants and our belief that every child deserves the very best to enable them to achieve their full potential.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our school is a place where all children can achieve. I am so proud to lead our school community, and this judgement validates the dedication of an extremely hard-working team of staff, and the brilliant children who learn here.

 

Simon Cowley, Director of Education at The White Horse Federation, said:

“Congratulations to everyone at Southbroom Infant School. We are pleased and proud that this report reflects the significant improvements that have been made.

“Thank you to all staff, pupils and parents and carers for supporting the school throughout this journey and also sharing the ambition to provide the best experience possible for all children.”