Significant progress at Tavistock school
Children at a Tavistock junior school have made big advances in achievement in the past term under a new acting head.
Jane Byrne took over as acting executive headteacher of St Rumon’s Infants and St Peter’s Junior C of E schools earlier this term following a critical Ofsted report of St Peter’s.
She has now been succeeded by the new permanent headteacher, Chris Conners.
Ofsted inspectors returned to St Peter’s just before Christmas to monitor the improvement work that has been done and their report has just been published.
Lead inspector Catherine Leahy concludes: “Detailed information on pupils’ achievement shows progress has significantly speeded up this term.
“An increasing proportion are making good progress in English and maths.
“Pupils say: ‘We are working harder and being pushed more’.
“Parents now have greater confidence in the leadership of the school.
“They say their children are noticeably more engaged with their learning and have a better understanding of the progress they are making.
“Pupils’ successs is now actively celebrated. This is encouraging them to achieve higher standards.”
Mr Conners, who grew up in Plymouth, was head of Kemble and Siddington primary schools in Gloucestershire.
When he took over there, both primaries were judged satisfactory by the school standards agency Ofsted. Their latest ratings are good and good with outstanding features.
Last term Ofsted ruled that St Peter’s required special measures because pupils’ achievement and teaching was inadequate and leaders had not ensured that it improved.
Mrs Byrne, the executive head of Ermington and Ugborough primaries, was seconded to lead the two schools up to Christmas.
In her monitoring letter to Mrs Byrne, senior Ofsted inspector Catherine Leahy says: “You are taking appropriate actions to set the school on the path to improvement.
“You and the governors have responded positively to the inspection and are determined to improve pupils’ progress and raise standards.
“Staff have confidence in the work you are doing to improve the school.
“As a result, teachers are motivated and striving to improve their practice.
“Classrooms are vibrant and well organised to support learning.
“You have rightly concentrated your efforts on improving teaching and pupils’ progress.”
She says Mrs Byrne, the governors and Devon County Council have drawn up an action plan with clear, measurable targets for improving teaching and pupils’ achievement.
She adds: “Governors are committed and ambitious for the school.
“The local authority has provided a range of effective external support.
“Local authority leaders have shown their continuing commitment to the school by agreeing to further support during the forthcoming leadership changes.”
Chair of governors, Gareth Dempster, said : “We are delighted with the work that Jane Byrne did last term and the very positive judgements of Ofsted on how that has benefitted our children’s achievement and progress. We are very grateful for Jane’s massive contribution.
“We were pleased to be able to appoint Chris Conners as headteacher and we are confident he is the man to continue to lead both schools to excellence and build upon the strong foundations which Jane has established in the past few months.”
