Portsmouth school Mayfield on the up after Ofsted ranks it good in all areas

A PORTSMOUTH school has come on leaps and bounds after jumping up the Ofsted rankings.
Mayfield School headteacher David JeapesMayfield School headteacher David Jeapes
Mayfield School headteacher David Jeapes

Mayfield School in North End was rated ‘good’ by inspectors in all areas of its work.

It is a marked improved on its previous assessment in 2014, when the school was told it ‘required improvement’.

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But now an Ofsted report into its recent performances says the ‘high expectations set by the headteacher, well supported by senior leaders, about how the school had to improve in the last two years have been largely successful’.

It comes as the former secondary-only school works to becoming an ‘all-through’ establishment, educating pupils from four to 16.

It opened an infants school in September 2014 and will open an junior school next year.

Headteacher David Jeapes said: ‘Setting up a brand new school while running a large secondary school has had its challenges, but the community and the people around the school have got behind us and have been incredibly positive and supportive of us.

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‘We have over 300 applications for 60 places making us the most popular infant school in the city.’

The report highlighted improvements in GCSE results and teaching standards. Mr Jeapes believes there is still more to come from the school – which has the highest number of pupils from service backgrounds in Portsmouth.

He said: ‘We’re opening our junior section in September, and we will be working hard to ensure it is as successful as our infants section has been.

‘In terms of seniors, we are particularly looking at helping pupils become more independent and making sure every child understands what they need to do to move up the ladder, so that when they leave us they are well rounded citizens ready for the challenges of life.’

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The school’s governing body was described as ‘exceptionally well-informed, highly ambitious and uncompromising in its challenge and support for improving pupils’ achievement and personal development’.

Chairwoman of governors Sara Williams, 49, of Farlington Road, was delighted.

She said: ‘The governing body is delighted to achieve the grading we knew the school deserved.

‘We want to thank the headteacher, staff and pupils for all their efforts. It’s amazing to be a part of this great success story for the school.’

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