Troubled school is on the rise (From Echo)

Troubled school is on the rise

1:40pm Tuesday 2nd March 2010 in

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A SCHOOL put into special measures last year is now making good progress with better attendance by pupils and an improved quality of teaching, a report has revealed.

Waterman Primary School, in Rochford, has undergone its second monitoring inspection since Ofsted inspectors found a series of failures in June.

The school, which had a capacity of 210 pupils, has seen its roll dwindle to just 40, taught by three teachers with learning support assistants and teaching assistants.

New management and teaching staff have been in place since September and the effect has been good ratings in three out of four key areas, Ofsted said.

Two acting headteachers and an executive headteacher, Debbie Rogan, who is the head of Wickford Church of England Infant School, have been leading the changes at the school, formerly Doggetts Primary.

Acting headteacher Rachel Welch said: “The feeling locally was the school was going to shut. That is definitely not the message now.

“Parents did withdraw their children before, as the school was put in special measures, but it is now improving.

“We have worked as a team with the teachers to improve standards and we understand quite soon the school will be taken out of special measures.

“We are doing really well and the school is now on its way up.

“Pupils are more interested in lessons, which improves their attitude and behaviour.

“We are definitely here to stay and we want to be one of the best schools in the county.”

The school was found to be “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education”.

The latest inspection, on February 10 and 11, found work to raise expectations of what pupils can achieve was satisfactory, while good progress was found in improving attendance and behaviour, the quality of teaching and learning, and in leadership and management.

Pupils’ attendance has been improved to just below the national average with an incentive programme, text reminders to parents and home visits by senior staff.

Each week an assembly is held, with parents invited, to reward good attendance and work.

Children also have a choice of lunchtime, before and after-school activities and clubs and visitors, such as storytellers, are coming to the school to make lessons more interesting and fun for the children.

The school also provides computer literacy courses for parents.