Ofsted praise for two Southend schools

Officials from the national education watchdog, Ofsted, have praised the two Southend schools they recently inspected.

These were St Nicholas Community Special School in Philpott Avenue, and Porters Grange Primary School and Nursery in Lancaster Gardens.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council‟s Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Mark Flewitt said: “Congratulations to all involved in both these schools – the staff, pupils and their parents and carers, whose efforts have all contributed to these very praiseworthy findngs from Ofsted.

“There are always things to learn from official inspections, and both schools will be looking to see how they can further improve these already very positive outcomes for their pupils.”

Inspectors rated St Nicholas Community Special School as good, with good capacity for sustained improvement.

They said: “St Nicholas is a good school with a strong sense of community and a well organised staff team. “Standards have improved because of effective leadership and management” and they considered the Governing Body to be “impressive.”

The inspectors added: “The school provides a calm and secure environment in which students settle well to their learning.”

They observed students to be polite, attentive in lessons and well behaved, and continued: “Teaching is good and some outstanding teaching was observed. As a result, students make good progress in their lessons. Teachers are skilful in meeting the personal learning needs of students.”

In their letter to pupils, the inspectors wrote: “We are very pleased to tell you that you go to a good school. The teaching you receive is good and you make good progress. Teachers are skilful at checking you understand your work in lessons.”

Head Teacher, Mrs June Mitchell said: “Our dedicated team of staff and governors have worked hard to develop a good provision for secondary aged pupils with Special Educational Needs.

“I am therefore delighted that the school has been recognised as such during our recent Ofsted inspection and feel sure that St Nicholas will continue to develop further in the future.”

Porters Grange Primary School and Nursery in Lancaster Gardens, Southend, was satisfactory with many elements classified as „good.‟

Following their visit, inspectors wrote: “Porters Grange is a satisfactory school where pupils find their lessons interesting and have good relationships with each other and adults. Behaviour is good in the happy and caring environment.”

Noting “clear signs of success”, the inspectors added: “The headteacher has strengthened the positive drive for improvement in the school with support from the senior leadership team and the committed staff.”

Among the many specific elements rated as good, were: the extent to which pupils feel safe, their behaviour, the extent to which pupils adopt a healthy lifestyle and the extent of their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and the curriculum.

In their letter to pupils, the inspectors wrote: “Porters Grange is a satisfactory school that has improved over the past couple of years, especially in the interesting things you learn about. You behave well and get on together, which makes your school such a happy place. Staff take good care of you.”

Porters Grange Head Teacher, Ros Ferdinand said: “We are pleased to have the strengths of the school recognised, and both the hard working pupils and staff at Porters Grange Primary will continue to raise the expectation and achievement of all the pupils in our school.‟”