It was a triple combination of hard-working pupils, highly supportive parents and a committed staff team that led to lavish praise from an Ofsted inspector and a solid ‘Good’ rating for Warren Mead Junior School, which delighted the Head Teacher, Sandra Cunningham.

The result of the inspection this term caps two consecutive years of the best SATs results in the school’s history. The upward trajectory started four years ago when the school joined Oaks Academy Trust and Sandra Cunningham was appointed Head Teacher.

The report credited her leadership along with her Deputy Head Teacher Anne Gibbard and their all-new Senior Leadership Team for rigorously ensuring the on-going strategic improvement of the school with the support of a dynamic Local Governing Body.

The praise flowed from one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors – the senior ranking within Ofsted – who noted how pupils thrive at Warren Mead Junior School, saying “Most pupils enter the school with knowledge, skills and understanding that are broadly typical for their age. By the time they leave, achievement is typically higher than the national average. The high attainment is notable, given the increased expectations of the new primary curriculum.”

Teaching was described as “consistently strong in all classes” in a school that has a “relentless focus on learning” and pupils are “encouraged to strive continuously to improve.” On Mrs Cunningham, the Inspector said “You have led the school with a high degree of resolve to improve the standards of academic and personal achievement for pupils. You have galvanised your staff team and governors in united support of your vision for the school and pupils in your care. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of your leadership and complimentary about the noticeable improvements since your appointment as head teacher.”

At Ofsted’s request, a survey sounded the views of parents and 130 out of 220 families immediately responded. The Inspector quoted parents and carers as saying “It is a well-led, nurturing school with an excellent staff team who enthuse and inspire pupils.”

The report went on “A parent thoughtfully wrote, ‘I feel that the school has established values and lives up to them.’” The report commented that “British values and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are woven seamlessly throughout the curriculum so that these values are taught in a meaningful and contextual way. They are intertwined with the school’s own values and ethos. “Because of your proactive approach, pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain.”

Referring to her conversations with the children, the Inspector wrote “Pupils enjoy school and their learning. Pupils have praiseworthy attitudes to learning and try hard to complete their work to a high standard. Pupils feel that their opinions matter. They doggedly persist when faced with challenging work, especially in mathematics. “They demonstrate perseverance and resilience. They told me how they learn to solve problems and work as a team. Pupils say that there are always more challenging activities and tasks for them to do, and so work is rarely too easy. ”

There are, as with all Ofsted inspections, suggestions as to how the school can continue to develop: - Embed initiatives so that disadvantaged pupils make increased progress - Continue to improve mathematics so that pupils achieve as highly as they do in English - Ensure that the new assessment system is used so that all groups make at least good progress.

Commenting on the report, the Chair of Oaks Academy, Richard Wagner, said “It is great to see that the leaps and gains we knew were being made at Warren Mead have been officially recognised.”

Based on information supplied by Richard Wagner.