St Saviours Primary in Great Sutton is like a different school, say teachers

A SCHOOL in Great Sutton that was placed under special measures by Ofsted is well on its way to turning its fortunes around, says its acting headteachers.

As headteacher of Dee Point Primary School in Blacon, Dave Williams was responsible for changing the school from being under an Ofsted notice to improve to being an Outstanding provider.

Similarly, Jacqui Symes has done the same to Victoria Road Primary School, Northwich, which was under special measures until she transformed it into an outstanding school.

The pair have been given the task of improving St Saviours Primary School, Great Sutton, which was placed under special measures following an inspection in July 2010.

The school, in Seacombe Drive, was formed following a merger of the infant and junior school in 2008 and had 323 pupils aged four-11.

Mr Williams said: “We arrived just two weeks prior to the monitoring visit in January this year.

“We each have two days a week here and we have been working very closely with staff.

“Luckily we both have outstanding deputies and teams at our regular schools, so we can concentrate fully on St Saviours while we are here.”

Mrs Symes added: “Everyone took a big knock after the report came out, including the children.

“It was really important to build confidence as well as improving resources and providing emotional support.

“There was a serious lack of whole-school systems in place, so we have worked with staff, parents, governors and pupils to change that. It’s like a different school now.

“The diocese have also been brilliant, and we have also had a lot of input from assistant director Margaret Lillis.”

Ofsted inspectors identified a ‘woeful lack of resources’, including books and IT equipment, so the first thing the pair did was arrange for a large-scale investment in books and computers.

But Mr Williams says buying books is only the start.

“We have a rigorous monitoring system to ensure that children are getting the most from reading and putting that in place has been a mammoth task,” he said.

“But the children want what is best for them and they absolutely should have that.

“It is very humbling for us to be able to come here and help the team to grow in confidence and turn this school around, but there is so much to do here so this is just the beginning.”