Wellesley Park Primary School has been assessed as ‘a good academy’ in the latest report by Ofsted Inspectors. They spent 2 days in the school in October attending lessons and with staff and pupils and took full account of parents’ views and the work of Governors.
The inspection team’s report notes the improvements made since the last inspection in 2013 when it was judged as ‘inadequate’ overall. In April 2013 the school converted to an academy and now works with other schools as part of the Collaborative Academies Trust (CAT). The current Head, Lindsay Gabriel, was appointed at that time and the report states that she “works tirelessly to provide a clear sense of direction and improve the culture of the academy to one of high expectations in all aspects of its work. This has been pivotal in bringing about the rapid improvement in pupils’ standards and securing significant improvements in the quality of leadership and teaching and to pupils’ learning.”
The Inspection assesses the school as ‘Good’ in terms of overall effectiveness as well as in each of the 5 key categories of assessment: effectiveness of leadership and management; quality of teaching, learning and assessment; personal development, behaviour and welfare; outcomes for pupils and early years provision.
The report identifies areas for further improvement to fulfil criteria needed for the school to be assessed as ‘outstanding’. These include improvements in the consistency and quality of mathematics teaching and learning to challenge the most able, ensuring assessment information is used to plan lessons that challenge all pupils and maintaining consistent expectations of the way pupils present and complete work.
Lindsay Gabriel said, “We are extremely proud of our report and the grading we have achieved as a result of the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of all staff, governors, parents and children. This attainment has been a team effort and along with our sponsor, Collaborative Academy Trust, we are delighted with the outcome. The Chief Executive has said ‘A grateful thanks to all those who have contributed along the way, from within CAT and from the school and its local community.’ We look forward to the continuing future success of our school.”
All the local primary schools in and around Wellington have now been judged as ‘good’ using Ofsted criteria as the result of inspections in the last 2 years.
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Parents with children due to start school in September 2016 should submit applications by 15 January 2016. Applications can be made online at http://www.somerset.gov.uk/education-learning-and-schools/choosing-a-school/apply-to-start-school