New headteacher praises Spurcroft team

Nathan Butler-Broad looks forward to taking further steps forward with the Thatcham school

THE new headteacher at Spurcroft Primary School in Thatcham has said that he wants to further improve the school.

Nathan Butler-Broad, aged 35, took over officially as the new headteacher last Tuesday, after former headteacher Debbie Grimsey moved on at the end of last year.

He said that he had been impressed with the school when he visited it before his appointment and that he thought that the school was far better than satisfactory, as it was then deemed by Ofsted.

He said: “The biggest improvement was in the quality of the teaching and the learning.

“It was a real team effort.

“Debbie led the improvement.

“She invited Ofsted back in because she wanted to show the good work that had been put in.”

Mr Butler-Broad, who was previously deputy headteacher at The Hill Primary School, Caversham, said: “Essentially we want to take further steps forward.

“We want to increase the number of in our reception class from September and potentially increase some of the school from there.

“There's excitement there.”

He said that building work was currently going on at the school so that it was prepared to take on the extra number of pupils, come the new school year.

Before Mr Butler-Broad's appointment, deputy headteacher Beulah Letchford, worked as acting headteacher.

He said Mrs Letchford had done a “fantastic job” and led the school through its Ofsted inspection in January – when it was deemed to have improved to good.

He said: “We have got a really strong team and a strong school community.

“There's the desire from everyone to continue to move things forward.”

He added: “My first week has been brilliant. It has been a whirlwind but it has been fantastic.

“I have had a lot of support from everybody and they have all made me feel welcome.”

Ms Grimsey joined the school in January 1999 and became headteacher in January 2001.

She started as headteacher at Westbury Leigh Primary School, Wiltshire, earlier this year.