Release date: 10/03/2010
By: Charlie Masson Smith
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or email cmassons@wandsworth.gov.uk
Smallwood enjoying rapid progress
Smallwood primary school in Tooting has enjoyed rapid progress in raising standards of behaviour, learning and teaching, education inspectors have concluded.
Officials from the schools' watchdog Ofsted judged that Smallwood had improved in leaps and bounds under its interim head and is now set to continue that progress under its new headteacher, Martin Roughley, who took up his post there at the beginning of this year.
The Oftead team concluded: "The school is providing a satisfactory and improving standard of education for its pupils. Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development.
"The headteacher took up his post in January 2010 and has wasted no time in securing a detailed understanding of the culture of the school and its wider community.
"With good support from the local authority and senior leaders, he has maintained the drive for continuous improvement and is uncompromising in setting high standards."
The inspectors found that since their last inspection in the summer of 2008 "significant improvements have been secured".
"Pupils’ enjoyment of learning has increased and their achievement has risen. The learning environment in the main school, which includes the language unit, has been transformed. Pupils appreciate their bright, well-equipped and organised classrooms.
"Behaviour in lessons and around the school is now good. Pupils are supportive of each other and their warm relationships with staff are an important factor in their sense of belonging and feeling safe. These positive attitudes are reflected in improving attendance, which is broadly in line with the national average."
At Key Stage 2 the inspectors noted that the vast majority of pupils "make good progress from their well-below average starting points to reach broadly average standards at the end of Year 6. As a result of high levels of well-focused support, pupils in the language unit make good progress.
"Provisional data for 2009 confirm a significant improvement in pupils’ performance in national tests at the end of Key Stage 2. Standards are coming into line with national averages, beginning the reversal of a general pattern of low attainment.
"Parents who were interviewed were largely positive about the school. They were happy that their children were looked after well and enjoy coming to school. Communications with the school were regarded as satisfactory and parents said they were kept informed about their children's progress. They were pleased with the improved quality of education and care in the school."
Schools spokesman Cllr Kathy Tracey said: "Smallwood is making very good progress. The interim head, Joyce Moore, did a brilliant job in raising standards. We are delighted that the school is improving so fast and are confident that this will continue under its very effective and determined new head teacher.
"It cannot be denied that there are challenging circumstances at the school and that in the past it has not performed as well as it should. However with the backing of the education authority, staff, parents, the Interim Executive Board of governors and the wider community, Smallwood is now performing well.
"And under its new head teacher, we believe it will now go from strength to strength."
To read the latest Ofsted report on the school visit www.ofsted.gov.uk
ENDS
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