High praise as primary school makes progress

A primary school in Great Cornard has been given a positive review by inspectors, following concerns over exam results last year.

Inspectors visited for a short inspection of Wells Hall Primary School in January, with the school not having had a full inspection since 2012.

Concerns had been raised over the school’s Key Stage 2 examination results in 2016, but inspectors said the school had shown progress as well as praising pupils and staff.

Interim headteacher Ian Kearns only arrived in January and had been in position for less than a month at the time of the inspection.

He praised the work of his predecessor Alastair Heath-Robinson and his colleagues for the work they had already put in.

Mr Kearns said: “The questions from Her Majesty’s Inspectors were how was it the results from 2016 came out as they did given the fact they were below where they should have been. They asked what we have done to ensure that didn’t happen again.”

Mr Kearns said the school had proved itself to be taking action on several fronts and also showed ‘notable successes’.

“We have really able and enthusiastic staff who are really receptive to the ideas to put right those results,” he said.

“There is really good teamwork and it’s because of that I was able to come in and ask whether they had done this, this and this. The answer was ‘yes, yes and yes’.

“The children here are courteous, polite and try their best and there is a lovely atmosphere in school.”

A new headteacher will be appointed in time for September. By then, the school will have become part of the Samuel Ward Academy Trust, the same trust which Thomas Gainsborough School is part of.

In his report, HMI inspector Adrian Lyons said: “The situation for current pupils has been transformed.

“Leaders have forensically examined pupils’ weaknesses on a question-by-question basis from last summer’s results.

“Resulting from this is a relentless focus by all teachers throughout the school on addressing the weaknesses identified.

“Behaviour around the school is good. Pupils work well together. They are keen for each other to succeed and learn well because lessons are fun.”