On Friday Richard Harrington MP visited pupils and staff at Kingsway Junior School, and saw firsthand how quickly improvements are coming through.
Last year the Watford Observer reported the damning report given by Ofsted to the school, and the need for the school to turn around following findings on inadequate teaching. The previous Head teacher resigned her post, and the school was given notice to improve and raise standards.
Just a term and a half in since new Head teacher, Jennifer Sherry, took up her post, Kingsway were re-assessed and moved out of the inadequate category. The School are in the unique position that they have a completely new teaching team, having attracted teachers from good and outstanding schools to come in and turn the school around. The difference has been noticed already, including by parents, and within a year the School has gone from being undersubscribed to full in some years, and almost full in others.
Improvements look set to continue with new Governors also being appointed, and a new energy throughout the whole school as a result of the restructure.
Richard Harrington MP said: “The proof that the school has really turned a corner is in the pupils. Having met with Y5 and Y6 pupils I was incredibly impressed with their focus, and genuine excitement about learning. Mrs Sherry seems to be doing an excellent job with the school alongside support from parents, the local authority, local community, staff and new Governors. The pupils are a testament to this and I’m sure they all have bright futures ahead of them.”