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Hard work has paid off

28/ 2/2008

STAFF and pupils at two local schools are celebrating after receiving glowing Ofsted reports.

Werneth Junior School in Oldham has seen a major turnaround since its last full inspection in 2006. Then, it was given notice to improve; now it is a "good school with outstanding features".

Neighbouring Spring Brook Community Special School, on Heron Street, achieved two outstanding and four good grades across the seven inspection areas.

Rapid improvements at Werneth were attributed to outstanding leadership and management which has rejuvenated the school.

Inspectors noted that issues identified within the last inspection have been tackled, and teaching and learning are now consistently good across the school.

Headteacher Chris Green-Hughes said: "This is a wonderful Ofsted report which demonstrates the fantastic work taking place at the school and the great strides being made by all teachers, pupils and governors.

"We are very proud of the excellent work which has taken place at the school and we look forward to continuing the schools success."

Inspectors felt that to improve further the school should make more effective use of ICT to support teaching and learning.

At Spring Brook, inspectors praised the curriculum and care, guidance and support offered to pupils as outstanding. Leadership and management were said to be good with the headteacher setting a "clear educational direction and helped the school establish a role as a centre of expertise".

The report added: "On entry, pupils are below average. However, whatever their starting points, they respond to the supportive learning ethos of the school and make up much of the ground previously lost.

"The school is excellent in overseeing the academic and personal progress made by its pupils and challenging them to do better."

Delighted headteacher Janet Jones, said: "We have all worked hard for a long time to develop a high quality provision so that children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties who have been overwhelmed by the challenges of mainstream education are able to re-engage with learning and be happy in school once again.

"When many special schools throughout the country for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties have been closed or are requiring special measures or notice to improve we are pleased and proud to be able to provide a ‘good’ school in Oldham where children can make ‘good’ prog-ress."