After five years of hard work Colburn Community Primary School – which was once deemed to be failing by inspectors – has been rated as a ‘good’ school by Oftsed.
The school, which was put in special measures in 2012 after an ‘inadequate’ rating, is celebrating this week after being told it has made giant leaps forward.
The school says senior leaders and governors have worked relentlessly to improve the quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils.
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Chair of governors, Angela Dale, said she was delighted with the transformation.
“We are all very proud of this achievement as it reflects our ambitious vision and dedication to ensuring that all pupils achieve the best possible education.”
She added: “As a result of determined actions by senior leaders the quality of teaching is now good and pupils’ achievement across all key stages has improved.”
Debbie Nicholas, deputy head teacher, said: “We now have a staff team that work exceptionally hard to meet the needs of all pupils in the diverse community that we serve.”
The inspection, which took place in June, found that teachers have good relationships with pupils, good subject knowledge, effective questioning skills and use teaching assistants well to ensure that pupils progress effectively.
The report also said that pupils behave well, both in the classroom and in the playground and that pupils’ welfare and development is good.
The report said: “Pupils who have special educational needs or disabilities are supported appropriately and achieve well.”
It added: “Leaders, including the governing body, have created a culture of strong team work and a desire to do the very best for pupils, they have successfully tackled the areas for improvement since the previous inspection.”
It was also acknowledged that well targeted and effective use of the pupil premium funding enables disadvantaged pupils to make good progress.
It goes on to say that people who are eligible for the service pupil premium make the same good rates of progress as their peers.
However, headteacher Mike Watt said the school wanted to improve still further.
He said: “We are very proud of this achievement but we are now carefully planning, based on a thorough understanding of the school and its local community, how to secure the school’s future success.”
