Gold Mark for Ripon primary academy

Outwood Primary Academy (OPA) Greystone, based on Quarry Moor Lane, has been awarded the Quality Mark which celebrates outstanding religious education (RE) in all primary, and secondary schools, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There are three levels of award, bronze, silver and gold, with OPA Greystone being awarded the highest award.

The report found: “The RE syllabus and delivery in this school impacts the whole school, including staff, children, their parents and in fact the wider community of Ripon, including the Cathedral and the local Methodist church.

“The school is a school of sanctuary’ and parents are a part of a group to help a refugee family within it.”

And it added: “The RE syllabus covers all faiths and includes visits to all different places of worship. The evidence of high quality lesson delivery in school is evident, as well as RE lessons and times of worship online during this ‘lockdown’ period of life.”

The award marks a major turnaround for the academy which three years ago, prior to joining Outwood Grange Academies Trust, was rated as ‘Inadequate’ by Ofsted just as the current principal Victoria Kirkman, took up the post.

Since then, the academy has worked tirelessly to improve and has notably received the Gold Status by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health Award, the National School of Sanctuary Award, and now this RE Gold Quality Mark Award.

Victoria Kirkman, Principal at OPA Greystone, said: “We are honoured to have been awarded the Gold Religious Education Quality Mark by the Religious Education Council for England and Wales.

“The award is a celebration of the outstanding work of our wonderful staff, and as an academy we all view the personal development of our children highly, and we are aware that with 97 per cent of the children at the academy being white British, it is vital that we inform and educate our children well.

“We want our pupils to be positive and proactive citizens who put tolerance and understanding at the heart of everything they do and our RE efforts is an example of this.”