The interim headteacher of Falconer’s Hill Junior School has said there is work to be done after Ofsted put it into special measures.
Rosalyne Peet, interim headteacher, said: “We do not shy away from the fact that the Ofsted report is difficult reading for everyone associated with our school. Nor do I think it right to hide away from the comments that are made within it.
“In fact, many of the issues raised do not come as a surprise. The inspector has addressed areas that we are acutely aware of and are things that we are already working to address. For example, our governing body has recently been reconstituted, we have had a significant change of staff, our staff development programmes have strengthened and a new creative curriculum has been brought in.
“There have been some difficult conversations within the school, but I feel that Falconers’ Hill Junior is now heading in the right direction. The reality is that, while the Ofsted inspector talked about us having “green shoots” in terms of the quality of lessons and teaching standards, many of these changes simply have not had enough time to show any sustained impact.
“In saying that, there is still more to do and every member of staff here is committed to ensuring that Falconers’ Hill becomes the school it can and should be.
“We will be recruiting for a permanent headteacher in early 2014 and are working closely with other schools, the local authority and the department for education to ensure that we are embracing new ideas to improve outcomes. We are also setting the foundations to become an academy with a strong sponsor in the New Year who has a proven record of helping schools like us.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our pupils. They were praised in the report for their behaviour, their relationship with staff and their positive attitude to learning.
“The school has much to do to improve, but it would be wrong to lose sight of how proud we are of the children here and how all our school’s community needs to support one another to give them the best possible education.”