John Hunt primary improves as Ofsted gives 'Good' rating

Ofsted has given John Hunt primary a 'Good' report as it improves from its previous review.

The school has made serious changes to ensure children and staff are performing at their best after its report in 2017 which said improvement was required.

Leadership levels were said to have "improved rapidly" with a "good capacity" to ensure the school's continued success, as well as developments in pupils' reading, writing and maths by the end of key stage 2.

"This is a significant achievement for the school that was failing 2 years ago. Since Lisa Mole took over as Headteacher, there has been a complete rejuvenation of the school," said chair of governors Nick Hemsley.

He added: "The success is down to the hard work and determination of all the staff and governors, they have worked tirelessly to make significant changes leading to rapid improvements and we are very proud that this has now been recognised by Ofsted. John Hunt is now a fantastic school for the children offering a high quality education and a wide range of enrichment opportunities."

The review of the curriculum was said to be particularly impressed with the school's 'enrichment afternoon' where pupils can choose from a range of activities like pottery, yoga or archery, giving every child the opportunity to boost their health and wellbeing. This is also very popular with parents.

"Teachers use sound subject knowledge and questioning to good effect. This ensures that pupils develop and deepen their knowledge and understanding across a range of subjects," stated the report. "Safeguarding is effective. Pupils, staff and parents agree that the school is safe... and pupils' behaviour around school and in lessons, is good. Pupils respond sensibly to routines and instructions and are keen learners."

Applauding the school's recent achievement, headteacher Lisa Mole, added she was "immensely proud" of the pupils, staff, governors and families at John Hunt primary.

She said: "The effort and hard work put in by everyone over the past two years has been incredible and as a result we have revitalised and transformed the quality of education we provide at the school.

"We were particularly pleased that Ofsted recognised that the school has developed a high expectation culture and that the school has the capacity to continue to strengthen and sustain the good progress it has made. This is not the end of the improvement journey for John Hunt, it is just the foundations from which we will continue to build."

But despite the drastic advancements in the school overall, the Ofsted report said it needed to improve the impact of leadership and management by ensuring leaders make better use of the information about SEND students.

This would make it easier for staff to plan practically "for the changing needs of the pupils in the school and pupils with SEND to make securely good progress from their starting points," said Ofsted.

It added: "Improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, by ensuring that teachers consistently set work that is well matched to the needs of the most able pupils, so that a greater proportion attain at greater depth and at the higher standard at the end of key stages 1 and 2."