Previously failing Stourport school now top rated (From Kidderminster Shuttle)
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Previously failing Stourport school now top rated
7:40am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News
By William Tomaney
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Bright future: Helen Davies with pupils Jasmine Simpson,11, top and Megan Roe, 8. Picture: PHIL LOACH. 111339L.
STAFF and students at a Stourport school are celebrating being graded as “outstanding” in an Ofsted report, two-and-ahalf years after coming out of special measures.
Inspectors visiting Lickhill Primary School, Almond Way, on February 7 and 8 praised the school’s teachers, behaviour of pupils and their achievements in the report.
The school, which became an academy last year, was placed in special measures in December, 2008 after it was deemed to be providing an inadequate standard of education.
That news came as a campaign was being fought to overturn Worcestershire County Council’s plans to close the school.
In a dramatic turnaround, it has been rated outstanding – the top grade – in all four areas inspected by Ofsted, pupil achievement, teaching quality, pupil behaviour and safety and leadership and management.
Headteacher, Helen Davies, who joined the school in June, 2009, said: “Everyone at the school is really delighted and over the moon – we have had a lot of very positive comments.
“We have worked really hard to cultivate aspirations and high self-esteem to ensure our children have the brightest possible future.”
She said after joining the school she made “very rapid and structured improvements”.
The report said: “Achievement is outstanding. Pupils leave the school with above-average standards in all subjects and current achievement shows pupils are on track to continue to improve upon these results.”
Mrs Davies added she was particularly pleased the report highlighted the outstanding behaviour of pupils and their learning attitude.
To improve, the report said the school could provide more opportunities for pupils to find out about the different ways of life of those from backgrounds and areas different to their own - a change Mrs Davies said could be “very easily implemented”.
“We see the school as having a very bright future,” she added.
