School succeeds in raising standards’

STAFF and pupils at a Royston school are celebrating after being praised for their outstanding work in an Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors were impressed with the excellent behaviour from "enthusiastic" pupils at Greneway School, and also the work carried out by staff.

The school also got top marks for its outstanding work with pupils' personal development and well-being, including their spiritual, social and cultural development.

The report said: "The head teacher and her senior leadership team have succeeded in raising standards and in providing a supportive environment for all learners that promotes high quality care; as a result the pupils' personal development is outstanding."

The inspection team were pleased, too, with the pupils' desire to do well, their confidence and teamwork and how polite, helpful and friendly they were.

The curriculum at the school in Garden Walk was acknowledged as outstanding and innovative and the teachers' enthusiasm was said to motivate the pupils to learn.

Head teacher Sue Kennedy said: "Staff were delighted that their continued hard work with the pupils was recognised and that the pupils' behaviour was deemed excellent by the Ofsted team."

Inspectors recognised three key areas of improvement at the school including raising standards of achievement by providing a greater challenge in some areas.

Jeff Gill, chairman of governors, said: "We are very pleased that Ofsted recognised Greneway as a school with a curriculum that was 'outstanding with some innovative features' and a school where there is a strong emphasis on inclusion."

Mrs Kennedy added: "We are now in a very strong position to go from strength to strength where we can provide an even greater challenge and develop further the Government's latest drive for a 'personalised approach to learning'.