The Willows is 'improving rapidly'

Ofsted inspectors have noted significant improvements at The Willows Primary School in Greenham

THE Willows Primary School in Greenham is now “improving rapidly”, according to a recent Ofsted inspection report.

The school, formerly the failing Greenham Court Primary, was reopened under the Government's ‘fresh start' scheme as The Willows in 2007.

But following its first full Ofsted inspection in March 2010, the school was placed in special measures as inspectors said that although there were times that the school had moved steadily forward, there were others when it had faltered.

In November 2009, the headteacher of Hampstead Norreys Primary School - one of the best performing schools in West Berkshire and the country at the time - Alex Butler, was drafted in as executive headteacher to oversee improvement at the troubled Greenham school.

And now, in the latest monitoring inspection at the school - the third since the school was placed in special measures - inspectors have noted significant improvements to the curriculum and continued improvements to pupil behaviour and attitudes to school and learning.

In his report, inspector Christopher Russell said that attainment and behaviour at the school had improved.

He said: “Attainment is rising as pupils increasingly make better progress. They were making at least satisfactory progress in all of the lessons observed during the inspection; in some cases, they were making good progress.”

He added: “Pupils have good attitudes to school and to learning. Exclusions are now extremely rare.”

The Ofsted inspectors who visited the schoolsaid pupils were well supported, and they praised Miss Butler and her deputy for continuing to provide strong, clear and effective leadership, adding that staff morale was found to be good.

However, they did identify one priority for improvement, which is to develop the way in which leaders work with individual teachers to help them develop their teaching, ensuring that support is closely tailored to teachers' specific needs.

Commenting on the report, Miss Butler said: “This is another extremely positive report gaining ‘good progress' in five out of the six possible areas.

“We hope that our next inspection will take us out of an Ofsted category in the Autumn and by then we'll be well on our way to becoming the primary school of choice in Newbury.”

The chairman of the school improvement board, Rod King, said the report was a significant milestone towards excellence and congratulated Miss Butler and her staff, adding that the school's focus was on the progress of every child and the partnership with their families.

The report was also positive about the support offered to the school by West Berkshire Council and the new executive member for children and young people, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston), said a lot of hard work had gone in to improving the school, which she was sure would continue.