TWO schools at the heart of a local community have been highly praised by government inspectors.
Governors, staff and pupils at New Silksworth Infant and Junior Academies, Sunderland, celebrated after Ofsted officials confirmed both schools as ‘good’ in recent inspections.
The schools, both centres of education for children aged two to seven and seven to 11, came under the sponsorship of the Extol Multi-Academy Trust in 2016.
The recent Ofsted reports follow both schools’ first inspection since becoming academies.
Extol Multi-Academy Trust, an organisation renowned for standards and dynamism, also includes Eldon Grove Academy, Hartlepool, a National Support School also rated good by Ofsted.
The findings come less than three years since both Sunderland schools joined the Trust when the former infant school was ruled to be inadequate and concerns were raised by the local authority over the juniors.
Chief executive of the Extol Multi-Academy Trust Julie Deville said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed with the outcome of the first inspection reports for both schools since they came under the sponsorship of the Trust.
“It has not been a journey without challenge but the dedication, commitment and drive from everyone within both schools, the local community and the Extol family has now given us two ambitious academies to be proud of.
“To go from inadequate to good in less than three years is an amazing achievement and reflective of the whole team effort.”
Inspectors highlighted good progress in the following areas across both schools:
- The head teacher’s determination and passion supported by ambitious leaders to secure a good quality of education
- Children’s behaviour and personal development
- Progress of all children
- Good standards of teaching
- Ambitious staff
- Partnerships with parents
- An open door policy and engagement with the community.
Chair of governors Phil Tye said: “These reports are brilliant news for both schools, all our staff, students and the wider community.
“It has been a mammoth task to turn around two schools, which were so broken, in such a short space of time.
“We placed our trust in the Extol Multi-Academy Trust, our school leadership team, our staff, pupils and parents and we have not been disappointed.”
Head teacher Emma Robins, who was appointed across both schools in September 2017, added: “Everyone has worked relentlessly to provide the best possible opportunities for all of our children.
“Our academies have undergone total change, from the leadership to the infrastructure, including an £800,000 refurbishment which has completely transformed our learning environment.
“We now have an ethos and culture of ambition which underpins all our values and have schools of which the whole community can be very proud.”