Good news for Wisbech school as Ofsted says it is on its way out of 'special measures'
A Wisbech school is on the road to improvement according to government inspectors who last year rated it as 'inadequate' and put it into special measures.
A special measures monitoring visit was paid by Ofsted inspectors to Ramnoth Junior School before lockdown at the start of March.
A report by inspector John Lucas published this week said: "The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the school became subject to special measures following the inspection that took place in March 2019.
"Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time: Leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.
"The school’s action plan is fit for purpose. The trust’s statement of action was previously judged to be fit for purpose by one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors."
It also gave welcome news that the school may now appoint newly qualified teachers - something a school in special measures is banned from doing.
The good news was given to Deborah Hannaford, the federated improvement executive principal for the school, in a letter, which Mr Lucas said he would also be sending to the chairman of the board of trustees and the chief executive of the Elliott Foundation Academies Trust - of which the school is part - as well as to the regional schools commissioner and the director of children's services for Cambridgeshire.
Ramnoth Junior School was put into special measures having slipped from being rated as 'good' by Ofsted in 2015 to 'inadequate' last year.
A report published following last March's inspection concluded: “Chief Inspector Tracy Fielding is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school.”
It listed a number of actions required which included improvement of the effectiveness of leadership and management.
