Gosport school becomes ambassador after teaching improves

A SCHOOL branded inadequate for its teaching standards is now an ambassador for learning.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th May 2016, 06:11 BST
L-R Brittany Davidson 15, Jack Hazzard 15, Cameron Moore 16, Chris Cooledge 16, Olivia Hillan 16, Emma Medhurst 14 and Olivia Eldred, 16L-R Brittany Davidson 15, Jack Hazzard 15, Cameron Moore 16, Chris Cooledge 16, Olivia Hillan 16, Emma Medhurst 14 and Olivia Eldred, 16
L-R Brittany Davidson 15, Jack Hazzard 15, Cameron Moore 16, Chris Cooledge 16, Olivia Hillan 16, Emma Medhurst 14 and Olivia Eldred, 16

Bridgemary School, in Gosport, has become a national ambassador for the The Schools, Students and Teachers Network (SSAT).

It comes just weeks after the school got out of special measures to be marked as good by Ofsted.

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When the school went into special measures in 2014, it was suggested it start The Teacher Effectiveness Programme run by SSAT.

In 13 months, teaching has improved so much the school will now be used as an example for others nationally.

Headteacher Vicki White said: ‘Becoming an ambassador school is fantastic news.

‘To go from having teaching that was inadequate to it now being good with outstanding features is practically unheard of.

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‘It really shows who we are as a school now and what we have achieved.’

For The Teacher Effectiveness Programme, all of the teaching staff had to go on a course.

It looks at improving the way teachers approach their subjects and the students.

Mrs White added: ‘For us, the programme looked really valuable so we decided to introduce it.

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‘We got great support from the parents who were happy with the teachers taking a couple of extra inset days to take the course.

‘The teachers also welcomed the training and the result has seen them become national ambassadors.’

At the end, staff achieve a Level One or Two qualification.

Their success at the programme saw the school become an ambassador and they will now host meetings, go to conferences and share their experiences.

Assistant head of teaching and learning Becky Mountford also puts messages on Twitter giving tips to other schools.

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Mrs White said: ‘Not only is this a good thing for the school and for our pupils, it is good for Gosport.

‘Bay House School is also an ambassador so it means we can exchange ideas and work together.

‘We can build a positive relationship with them which can only be a good thing for young people in Gosport.’

As previously reported in The News, Bridgemary School’s recent Ofsted report rated the school good.

It comes less than two years after Bridgemary, off Wych Lane, was rated as inadequate and put in special measures.

Related topics:GosportStudentsOfsted