26 Jan 2024
The headteacher of Fleetville Junior School was praised for driving through “significant and positive changes with enthusiasm and energy” following their first Ofsted report in more than 12 years.
Although it was awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating back in 2011, this has now been changed to ‘Good’ following the inspection on November 21 and 22 2023.
Inspectors found Fleetville Junior School, which is based in Hatfield Road, to be ‘Outstanding’ in the categories of behaviour and attitudes and personal development, and ‘Good’ for the quality of education and leadership and management.
Clare Whitehouse took over as headteacher following the sudden departure of predecessor Gareth Linwood in June 2022, and James Maton, chair of the Local School Committee [board of governors], recognised the improvements she had made since starting.
He told parents: “In the short time that Ms Whitehouse has been the leader of the school she has driven forward significant and positive changes with enthusiasm and energy.
“It is a shame that the inspection did not take place a little further into her tenure, and after the new senior leadership team she has built had been in place for longer, as I am sure that the evaluation would have been even stronger.”
The Ofsted inspectors said pupils at Fleetville love to learn, are proud of their school and like to celebrate and share in others’ successes, while also behaving exceptionally well.
“Promoting pupils’ personal development is a strength. Due to well-sequenced planning, pupils learn a depth of knowledge that helps them make sense of the
world… Pupils are very clear about right and wrong. As a result, they are well-prepared for the next stage in their education…
“The school provides a rich extra-curricular offer, including visitors and trips, which enriches the class learning. The school teaches pupils about the wider world and their place in it. Leaders pose thought-provoking questions for pupils. As a result of pupils’ well-developed knowledge, they can make informed and compassionate decisions.”
But they said although leaders have constructed an ambitious curriculum, there were still improvements which were necessary: “In some subjects, the small steps of knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn are not identified precisely. Teachers sometimes do not help pupils build towards an understanding of more complex knowledge as pupils have not been taught the underlying knowledge they need to do so.
“The school must ensure that, in all subjects, the knowledge that pupils should learn is precisely identified and broken down into smaller components, so that teachers plan activities and sequences of lessons that build towards pupils understanding more complex concepts.”
In a letter to parents highlighting the school’s Ofsted report, James Maton said: “As a school, we have only one identified area for improvement. This relates to our self-evaluation and the on-going process of continuing to refine some subjects in our foundation curriculum. Inspectors praised our work to date in this area.
“You can be assured that we will not rest on our laurels, and that we are continually working to improve and develop our school.”
