School has turned its fortunes round (From Stroud News and Journal)

School has turned its fortunes round

A STROUD primary school has improved from having serious weaknesses to being found to be a good school providing good value for money.

The improvement at Callowell Primary School in Farmhill, which has taken place in just two years, has been highlighted by Ofsted inspectors.

Callowell was found to have serious weeknesses due to ineffective leadership after an Ofsted inspection in February 2000.

At that time the inspectors found that there was a lack of direction for the work of the school and that some staff and many parents had lost confidence in the school's leadership.

A new head teacher, Mary McLearie, was appointed in June 2000. Inspectors returned to Callowell in March of this year and issued their report this week, declaring the school to be much improved and well placed to improve further.

"Good leadership and management by the headteacher makes a significant contribution to the school's achievements, the staff have good teaching skills and are strongly committed," the report stated.

"Pupils make good progress in their learning, including in English, mathematics and science, as a result of effective teaching.

"Pupils' attitudes and behaviour are a credit to the school and a good partnership has been established with parents."

The report concluded "While there is work to be done to improve the work of subject co-ordinators and to raise standards in art and design, the school's strengths greatly outweigh its weaknesses. Overall it provides good value for money."

Mrs McLearie is understandably very pleased with the results of the latest inspection.

"To have gone from serious weakness to being a good school in such a short time is a huge leap," she said.

The improvement, she added, had been made through a combination of factors including an investment of £140,000 by the Local Education Authority.

This money had been spent on internal improvements and providing the school with a computer suite.

Other factors had been a restructuring of the school day, an increase in the number of learning support workers and the introduction of learning objectives for the pupils.

A huge improvement in the standard of achievement in maths at the school - brought about mainly through dividing the classes into sets - led to a request for Mrs McLearie to address a teachers' conference on the subject.

The delighted school governors said the report was recognition from Ofsted of the quality of education and care in Callowell School.