By Gavin Mackintosh-
A primary school once placed as a ”special measures” school which was inadequate is doing remarkably well after staff there devised a commuted strategy to raise standards in the school.
Willow Brook Primary School was highly criticized by ofsted during their inspection in 2014, but the school has made plenty of progress since then. Now rated as an outstanding school by Ofsted, the school has managed to get its pupils working hard and responding the collective training of teachers there. Last year over 70% of the children at the Leyton school achieved their expected standard in Maths and English, a testament to the hard work and drive of the staff there.
Pupils at the East London school now work very hard , promptly reading everything they are given to do, in addition to doing their homework on time. After the criticism by ofsted three years ago, a new headteacher, Graham Clifford, pushed her staff and students hard to broaden their knowledge base. Teachers became ”more focused” and detailed in their teaching methods, testing pupils regularly and skilfully, as well as creating an atmosphere that encouraged students to be excited about learning. They also endeavoured to liaise with parents to ensure their children were supervised at home to meticulously learn what they had been taught at school, and follow up oin extra reading they were given to do. Proud staff at the school are now flaunting the success of their hardwork, with parents promoting the progress of the school on social media. The eye of media.com heard that applications to the primary school have also increased dramatically this year.
Head teacher Graham Clifford told the eye of media.com ” I had a mandate to boost the standard of education in the school, as well as the level of enthusiasm, and we worked very hard at that. It appears to have paid off. working at the school in Church Road, Leyton shortly after the ‘inadequate’ report was released in 2014.
“The school’s relationship with the community had broken down and as a result it was at the bottom of the school league table for Waltham Forest.
“Morale was at rock bottom. It could not have been any worse.
“It was just a case of getting our heads down for a period of time and coming up with a vision for the school.
“The focus was to bring the arts and culture to the centre of things.
“Drilling children for success in tests makes them tired of learning. We have found ways of teaching maths through art work.
“Now, it’s a lovely place to be and the children love welcoming people to their school.”
East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Willow Brook primary school has missed its government numeracy and literacy target despite being an academy for more than a year
When the school was taken over by Griffin Schools, Trust changes were put in place to ensure the Parent-Teacher Association was more involved and children were “given a voice”.
This voice enabled teacjers to identify all areas of concern and address them in partnership with the children who were very co-operative, and appreciated the task of the school to raise their educational standards. The school then achieved ‘outstanding’ in all five categories in its inspection in June 2017. It is always vital that children in schools rated inadequate by ofsted appreciate the implications of the assessment, and are part of the overall plan to enhance the standard of education which will benefit them very much.
The school of 530 pupils have also introduced lessons in philosophy, Mandarin and a wide range of sports. The eye of media.com also heard from some parents at the school, that in addition to the excellent progress of the school, they have arranged extra private tuition for their pupils. The of media.com will be liaising with Willow Brook primary school to contribute whatever we can to the further development of the education of the pupils. The impressive progress made at this school is proof that every school can improve the standards of the children there if they commit toit and work on a very good strategy to achieve it.