Strong leadership improves Knuzden school (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Strong leadership improves Knuzden school

5:30pm Saturday 4th July 2009 in

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A primary school which was given notice to improve has now been graded ‘satisfactory’.

Ofsted inspectors declared that Knuzden St Oswald’s CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Stanhill Road, no longer requires signif-icant improvement follow-ing their latest inspection.

The 202-pupil school was first given notice to improve in March 2008.

Now it has been given a grade three ‘satisfactory ‘rating and is well on the way to gaining a grade two or ‘good’ in the future.

Inspectors also gave a grade two in the ‘effective-ness of the early years foundation stage’ category.

Headteacher Andrea Gray said: “We are extremely proud of our achievements since we were given notice to improve. We want to get better and go from strength to strength.”

Inspectors said: “The school has made significant improvement because the headteacher, with good support from the local authority, has tackled the weak-nesses identified in the previous report with energy and determination.

“Overall leadership and management are satisfactory. Strong leadership from the headteacher, coupled with the effective support of her senior colleagues, has transformed the school.

“Progress is accelerating, standards are rising after a period of steady decline and the quality of teaching and learning is improving.

“New and more effective assessment and tracking systems are helping identify underachievement at an earlier stage.

"Partnerships with other providers – for example, local family centres and community beat managers – are good. Parents have confidence in the school.

One Year 6 parent commented: “My child has thoroughly enjoyed his schooling and has made fantastic progress.”

“The inadequate teaching identified at the time of the previous inspection has been eradicated, partly through changes in staffing, but also because leadership and management have improved the quality of lessons through more effective mon-itoring, intervention and support.”