East Ward Community Primary School Receives Glowing Ofsted Report

Date published: 03 December 2008

East Ward Community Primary School is celebrating after Ofsted found that the
school provided a good education for its pupils. This is a huge achievement
for the school as just two years ago it was placed in Special Measures.

Since the school was placed it special measures it has received regular visits
from Ofsted to monitor progress and at the last inspection, which took place in
mid November, the inspectors were pleased to report back on the positive
developments which have taken place at the school.

Inspectors said that the school lived up to its aims and helped pupils
appreciate personal achievements and allowed them to understand the potential
they have to offer. Ofsted reported that the school had made improvements to
their pupils personal development as a result of good quality care and
guidance from staff. Staff were found to be successful in their attention to
their pupils academic, personal and emotional needs. All the pupils at the
school were found to be happy and enjoying lessons and activities on offer. The
inspectors recognized that all the staff at the school had put in a concerted
and successful effort to address the issues of inadequate progress and now,
Ofsted are pleased to report, pupils achieve well at each stage of their
education.

Inspectors recognized the value of a new pilot program for pupils from Year 5
and 6 which takes a more vibrant thematic approach to lessons being taken. This
project is designed to promote creativity amongst pupils and although at an
early stage inspectors could clearly see the extra enjoyment and learning
pupils took from this approach.

Inspectors identified that the key strength of the school is the good
leadership and management in place to ensure the smooth day to day running of
the school. The report recognized that the staff at the school have worked hard
to help bring about the changes needed to take this school out of special
measures.

Headteacher, Ross McMurdo said:
This is an absolutely fantastic achievement for all of us who are connected
with the school! The staff, children, parents and governors have worked
tremendously hard to ensure that the school has come out of special measures.
In addition, the school has been graded as 'good' in all areas; this is a rare
achievement for any school coming out of special measures. East Ward is
recognized by Ofsted as providing an above average level of education for its
young people and we are determined to ensure that the school goes from strength
to strength in the future. The feelings of us all were summed up by a parent
who commented when completing an Ofsted questionnaire that, The school just
gets better and better.