Corby Glen Community Primary School rated 'good' by Ofsted four years after 'requires improvement' status
A village school has emerged from a ‘dark cloud’ after earning a good school Ofsted rating from its latest inspection.
Corby Glen Community Primary School was given a 'requires improvement' status by inspectors in December 2017, a rating which hung over the school for four years while follow-up inspections were delayed by the pandemic.
“A lot of hard work has taken place over the last few years, but it's been a waiting game,” said headteacher Natalie Woodcock who joined the school in September.
“The requires improvement status over any school is a dark cloud.
"It does impact on your numbers and can affect parents’ judgment of schools before they come.
"The new report will allow us to showcase our school more and show it is the right place for their children and families.”
The school was rated good in all five key areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
The report said the school had a 'family feel', and praised their 'ambitious and well organised' curriculum and 'wider learning opportunities beyond the classroom'.
Staff were also said to feel 'supported by leaders and governors', while pupils 'enjoyed coming to school'.
"Pupils are polite and courteous," it said.
"In class, pupils work well with their peers and they are enthusiastic about their learning.
"Everyone is made to feel welcomed and valued.
"Leaders and staff have high expectations of pupils. They expect pupils to try hard and do their best."
Staff and pupils are working with other schools to promote diversity, while the children are encouraged to have their voices heard through a pupils parliament.
The school, which currently has 81 pupils, is also looking to develop more outdoors activities.
"We were pleased with the comments from Ofsted and they identified areas which we feel are particular strengths of the school," Natalie added.
"We weren't preparing for Ofsted - we have been preparing to be a sustainable school.
"Our staff are very driven and positive about the onwards journey.
"My challenge is to ensure the well-being of staff, pupils and our families, and embed the work already started."
