RIVER Mead School has been praised in its most recent Ofsted monitoring report, which deemed the school to be taking effective action towards improvement.
The school, which was rated ‘Inadequate’ in a report in March this year, has since been visited twice by Ofsted to monitor its progress. Both reports have praised staff at the school for the ongoing improvements.
The most recent report – published on 2nd September following a visit in June – deemed that the school was continuing to make progress.
The report read, “It is clear that senior leaders are strengthening the drive for improvement in all the areas identified as weaknesses in the section 5 inspection. As a result, staff are now very clear about what is required to ensure pupils make more rapid progress in their learning.
“The focus on improving pupils’ attitudes to learning has resulted in pupils being much more engaged in their own learning and with a better understanding of how they can improve their work.”
The report also praises the improved provision for children with special educational needs, and the governors’ involvement with improvements.
Headteacher Nicki Henderson said, “We’re pleased that the Ofsted inspection report has recognised the improvements being made at the school. We’re proud to be making huge and significant strides in our progress.
“Ofsted’s recognition is a good measure of how well the school is doing, but what really fills me with confidence is the children’s excitement about their learning, and the parents’ confidence in River Mead. I recently had a letter from a parent saying that for the first time since moving to Melksham, they felt their children were safe and happy at school, and that’s so important to us.
“We also received a letter directly from the Secretary of State for Education, saying how well the school has done under the Mead Academy Trust; not many schools can say they’ve had that.”
Despite the report containing more good news than bad, Ofsted had still identified weaknesses in the consistency of teaching and staff’s reviews and evaluations.
To see the full inspection report search ‘River Mead School’ at www.reports.Ofsted.gov.uk
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