CHILDREN and staff at a Vale school are celebrating after Ofsted inspectors praised them for making ‘outstanding’ progress less than 18 months after the school was judged ‘inadequate’.
In January last year Fladbury First School was at one of its lowest points ever when inspectors gave the school one of lowest grades possible – meaning the school would have to be regularly monitored.
But following the appointment of a new headteacher, the school has made dramatic progress with inspectors rating the school as ‘Good’ after a two-day inspection four weeks ago.
Progress has been so impressive the report states standards at the Church Street school are ‘rising at a faster rate than seen nationally’.
The report stated ‘teaching has rapidly improved from inadequate to good since the last inspection’.
As well as pupils progress ‘accelerating quickly’, inspectors praised teaching staff for ‘rapidly improving’ with work ‘more demanding and expectations to what pupils should achieve are high’.
Fladbury First School headteacher Julie Wilson said she was delighted with the progress made.
“I am thrilled that the Ofsted inspection has recognised the journey the school is on and everything we have achieved so far,” she said.
“When I joined Fladbury in January 2013, I made a pledge to parents to take the school forward to Outstanding and this inspection proves that we are well on the way to achieving this.
“The support I have received from the staff, children, parents, governors and Local Authority has been second to none. We have a great team and I know we have a bright future.
“All the staff at Fladbury First School work incredibly hard, and are absolutely committed to working together for the good of the children in our care.
“We are so lucky to have enthusiastic children who want to learn, as well as very supportive parents and governors.
“Our Ofsted success is all down to team work, and everyone in the school community should feel very proud of what we have achieved.”
To make the ‘Outstanding’ grade, inspectors said the school needed to improve further by improving pupils’ speaking skills.
Chair of Governors, Revd Clive Fairclough, added: “This is a fantastic result. We have all worked incredibly hard to turn the
school around and I congratulate everyone on this incredible achievement.
“I understand that it is quite rare to move from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in such a short timescale and this is a testament to the leadership and staff at the school and the pupils and parents who make such a fantastic contribution.”
Visit www.ofsted.gov.uk to read the report in full.
