With the news in November that Francis Combe Academy, Garston, received its first ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted, the Schools Inspector, Richard Harrington MP has welcomed that all of Watford’s secondary schools are now rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.  In addition, 90% of local primary schools are rated ‘good’ or above in spite of a tougher inspection regime from Ofsted. 

Speaking about the news, Richard Harrington MP for Watford, said:

“Every child should be able to go to a great local school. A good school can transform lives and set young people up for a bright future.

Watford is well-known for having many of the best schools in the country but I think in the past schools like Francis Combe and Westfield were forgotten about in favour of the Grammars and Consortium schools. Now, in spite of a tougher inspection regime, our fully comprehensive schools have been recognised as being good places of learning.”

Speaking about the news, Nicky Morgan, Education Secretary said:

“This is great news for families in Watford. A key element of our drive for educational excellence everywhere is the ambition that every child should be able to go to a good school – this is now the case in Watford.

“Success stories like this show the Government’s reforms are working. The landscape of English education has been transformed over the past 5 years through raising standards and expectations. Thanks to the hard work of teachers and our ambitious programme of reforms, there are now 3,455 more pupils being taught in ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools in Watford compared to 2010.”

On Friday 8 January 2016, Richard Harrington met with Deborah Warwick, Principal of Francis Combe Academy, to celebrate this great news and to hear how Ms Warwick, a former Francis Combe pupil herself, has transformed the school. (Pictured with students and Ms Warwick)

Watford’s schools have received over £50m of investment from the Government in the last five years including Francis Combe’s £25 million new buildings which opened in 2012.