THE headteacher of a Waterlooville school is confident of getting an outstanding rating in the future following a positive Ofsted report.
Inspectors visited Springwood Junior school in November and gave it a ‘good’ rating – an improvement on the previous inspection in which it was rated satisfactory.
Inspectors said that achievement has improved since the last inspection and that children behave well in all lessons.
Headteacher Gerry Lathem said: ‘It’s a huge step for the school. It’s been three years of hard work.
‘We were one of those schools that were doing OK but always trying to get the achievement of pupils up.
‘Although we had good teaching in the school, it’s good that now, with some changes made, we have got to that successful point.’
At the beginning of term, the school changed its name from Hulbert Junior School and joined together with the Infant school, now called Springwood Infants, which Mr Lathem said has already made a big difference.
‘Working together and bringing the schools together has changed the school,’ he added. ‘Already we are seeing the benefits of that. Teamwork is such a strength for the school.
‘My staff have been working in difficult circumstances, sometimes with not always some of the strongest backgrounds with our families in the area. They have worked very hard and the levels of teaching have gone up. Behaviour was good everywhere and sometimes behaviour was outstanding.
‘That’s important because it’s not just talking about naughty children, it’s learning behaviour. It’s really key that our children work well.
‘They are well-led by the teaching staff and they take pride in what they are doing so their learning behaviour is good.’
To improve further and to become an outstanding school, staff need to raise pupils’ achievement in writing by the end of Year 6.
And the amount of outstanding teaching needs to be increased and all teaching needs to be good.
‘There is the capability for the school to become an outstanding school,’ Mr Lathem said.
‘We will use this to spring forward in the future.’
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