A Secondary school is celebrating a ‘good’ Ofsted inspection less than four years after it was rated 'requires improvement'.
King Alfred’s school in Wantage has been rated as good overall and in every single inspection category.
The recent Ofsted report appears less than four years since the academy was rated as 'requires improvement' at the last inspection in 2018.
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Since that inspection staff at the school have focused on improving teaching, student behaviour and pastoral care.
The turnaround from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ has been achieved during the two years of disruption to education caused by the Covid pandemic, which resulted in schools being closed for two lengthy periods during the lockdown.
During the inspection, Ofsted noted that students, were keen to recognise the improvements which have been brought about.
The report stated “Pupils remark on the positive changes that have happened at King Alfred’s in recent times. They say that the way in which pupils behave has improved and there is not much about the school that they would improve.”
One parent with a child at the school said: “I can see how hard the staff are working and feel they have made great strides since the last Ofsted report.”
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Headteacher Rick Holroyd said: “We have felt for some time now that King Alfred’s Academy once again deserved a good judgement, and to have this validation from Ofsted is really pleasing, most importantly for our students. This is their school; they are the most important people in the buildings, and they make the academy what it is. I am delighted for them that they can feel so confident in their own school, and in the quality of education and support that they all receive here.”
He added: “I sincerely hope that this will be very good news for Wantage, Grove and the wider community beyond, to reflect that – yet again – there is a very ‘Good’ school offering opportunity for all at the heart of the community.”
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However, there are already plans to make further improvements to the school in response to Ofsted’s points.
Richard Evans, the Vale Academy Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a wonderful achievement. The Trust and its Board are very proud of the turnaround achieved through the immense efforts of Rick Holroyd and his team. Everyone at KA’s is to be congratulated on this result that confirms that the academy is now providing an excellent education for its students – the goal we aspire to for every school in the Trust.”
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