A lot to celebrate at Fir Tree as Ofsted marks improvements with good rating

CELEBRATIONS were had at Fir Tree Primary School recently, as it received its first ‘good’ rating since it was served a notice to improve in 2010.

The academy school, in Fir Tree Lane, Newbury, was deemed to be providing an inadequate service to its pupils when Ofsted visited four years ago.
However, this time around, following inspections on September 25 and 26, inspectors were pleased with the progress.
The inspection report read: “Teaching is now consistently good...pupils are now making good progress.
“The behaviour is good and is greatly valued by the pupils and their parents. Pupils care for and are very respectful of one another. Pupils say that they always feel safe.”
To reach outstanding status, the school was advised to further improve the quality of teaching and to make effective use of new monitoring systems, to enable governors to challenge and support the academy’s leaders. Headteacher Laura
Dove said: “The report highlights all the excellent things that happen at Fir Tree.
“During the inspection, our whole school community really did come together, with each individual showing what they could do for the collective good of all.
“I am incredibly proud of our staff and children for all their hard work, not just during the inspection, in order to make the school a great place to be.”
Executive headteacher Charlotte Wilson added: “I am so very proud of Mrs Dove, all the staff and all the children at Fir Tree.
“This is a fantastic report which highlights all our achievements at Fir Tree School, it recognises the hard work, commitment and enthusiasm of the whole school community.”