Change of Management Spells Success for Wakefield School

4 October 2007

Lawefield Primary School of Wakefield has been given a huge vote of confidence by Ofsted inspectors - just two years after being ranked as one of the poorest schools in the country.

When Lawefield Primary School Wakefield received a damning report from Ofsted inspectors in 2005, headteacher Keith Lowery resigned.
 
But now all the hard work has paid off at the school and it has the Ofsted report to prove it.
 
Inspectors who visited said:
 
"The previous designation that the school has serious weaknesses no longer applies.It has moved a long way in a relatively short space of time and now provides a satisfactory standard of education for pupils."
 
Leadership and management at the school were said to have improved substantially with new headteacher Craig Batley at the helm.
 
The report said:
 
"Mr Batley has set a clear direction for the school. He has clearly outlined areas for improvement and worked with all staff and governors to make sure previous weaknesses in this area no longer exist."
 
The report praised the school's achievement in test results for seven and 11-year-olds, which had been unsatisfactory for years, but improved dramatically this year, bringing them in line with national expectations.
 
In 2004, the school's performance in national tests ranked it in the bottom five per cent nationally.
 
Inspectors said pupils had developed positive attitudes to learning in all lessons, adding that they were well-behaved and enjoyed coming to a school where there was a 'friendly and positive atmosphere at all times'.Standards of teaching and learning were also highlighted as a strength.
 
Inspectors said:
 
"Lessons are well-planned and activities are usually matched to the often diverse needs of different groups of pupils."
 
The school was graded 'satisfactory' in five of the eight areas assessed including overall effectiveness, achievement and standards and curriculum.It was graded 'good' in three areas, including leadership and management, care, guidance and support and personal development and well-being.
 
Craig Batley, Headteacher of Lawefield Primary School,Wakefield said:
 
"It is fantastic that the hard work of staff, children, governors and parents has been acknowledged by Ofsted.
 
"The staff have worked tremendously hard and are a credit to their profession. The school now has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future."