Lincoln primary exits special measures in record time

St Giles Academy’s new senior leadership team had made “positive changes”, said Ofsted inspectors, and their findings were backed up by parents who praised the school’s speedy transformation.

Run by Harbour Learning Trust, the judgement, published in June, had triggered a Termination Warning Notice, with the school at risk of being re-brokered to another organisation.

The latest inspection on 3rd and 4th February came only 99 teaching days after the notice to turn around the school and concluded the pace of improvement had been so rapid the special measures judgement no longer applied.

New Executive Principal Emma Emson was appointed after last year’s inspection alongside a new senior leadership team.

Caroline Poole HMI, who led the inspection, told them in her summing up: “The school is no longer in special measures.

“We are full of admiration for what has been achieved in a short space of time.

“I have confidence in you and it would be a real shame if the school is taken away from the Trust.

“Ofsted firmly believes the school and Trust has the leadership skill and capacity to take the school forward.”

Chief Executive Officer of Harbour Learning Trust Richard Briggs said there were “unique circumstances” which contributed to last April’s judgment.

“Since then, we have recruited an outstanding leadership team, invested more than £250,000 in improving the school environment and worked with the community to raise expectations of what we can achieve together,” he said.

“Emma and her team have turned the school around more rapidly than I have ever seen in my 30 years in education and I am very proud of them.

“Each of our seven other schools in Lincoln and North East Lincolnshire is either good or outstanding and we will not rest until St Giles joins this list.

“The Trust has experienced eight Ofsted inspections in the last two years and, in seven of those, the school has improved by at least one Ofsted grade, demonstrating our skill and capacity to improve schools and create wonderful environments for our children to thrive and achieve.”

Emma said: “There hasn’t been a school in the country that has moved out of special measures in only eight months for more than 15 years, and that was under a very different inspection regime.”

“Our achievement is very special but we will never be complacent. Our job is to make sure these improvements are sustained and embedded so the reputation of the school is seen as excellent for generations to come.

“With our incredibly supportive parents and our kind, caring and ambitious children, there is no ceiling to what we can achieve together.

“The school is oversubscribed for September in reception. This is testament to the hard work of my staff team who fill our school with a tangible sense of ambition and bright futures.”

Martin Smith, Assistant Director for Children’s Education at Lincolnshire County Council, visited the school and praised Emma and her team.

“I would like to thank you specifically for your dedication, commitment and leadership at St Giles.

“I know and appreciate you have really driven rapid improvement in the school and this has been recognised. Well done!

“I would like you to pass on my thanks to the team on the frontline who made the progress with you.

“The team has clearly shown strong commitment to change, development and improvement that has rapidly improved the provision and education the children experience.

“I hope they are proud of what has been achieved.”

The Ofsted report, published today, makes judgements on eight different areas of the school’s performance.

The inspection team recognised the progress that has been made in every area of school life.

“Leaders’ work to create an inclusive school culture,” the report says.

They “do not tolerate bullying or discrimination” and “pupils get on well together, work hard and listen to their teachers”.

The report states staff have been “provided with considerable training to develop their professional skills and knowledge” and that the curriculum is “ambitious, detailed and well-sequenced”.

In the Early Years, “children learn together well in a happy and safe environment” and the personal development programme helps “pupils to develop confidence and a sense of personal pride alongside a secure understanding of fundamental British values.”

The report also says: “Parents have greater confidence in the school and trust staff to educate and care for their child.”

Attendance at the school is 2.5% above where it was last year and 92% of parents attended a recent parents’ evening.

One parent, Kirsty Ward said: "The school has truly turned around.

"My son, who is in year 5, who previously could only manage 90 minutes a day, is now attending full-time. They have created a space where children can finally learn, make friends, and enjoy school."

Another parent, Courtney Raynor said: “The transformation under the new leadership team has been remarkable, and we are now incredibly pleased with my children’s progress (Year 2 and Year 3)."