6th November 2015 

A Beanstalk-supported school put into special measures by Ofsted last year has achieved an outstanding rating from inspectors just 16 months later.

Foxfield Primary School in London is among only five out of 56,000 schools inspected since 2005 to have managed such a feat.

"The unique leadership of the executive headteacher and headteacher underpins the school’s rapid and sustained progress" said the Ofsted report, published last month.

Nick Parker, Director of Operations, Beanstalk said:

“Beanstalk is pleased to work with such a forward-thinking school who have strived to make every effort to improve their school’s perception, both in the community and by Ofsted. Having recently started working with Foxfield, it is clear straight away that they represent the best in education.”

16 months ago Foxfield Primary School in Sandbach Place, Woolwich was failing badly.  Inspectors from the education watchdog Ofsted graded the school inadequate.

The school has been on an amazing journey over the past 16 months which began with a change of leadership just two weeks before the first Ofsted inspection back in May 2014.

Although the Inspectors recognised that the executive headteacher had quickly gained the confidence of staff and governors, unfortunately the achievement of pupils and the quality of teaching amongst other things let the school down.

The school launched an action plan following Ofsted’s visit in May and a new headteacher was brought in to support the executive headteacher.  This along with the strong partnership that they held with Woodhill Primary school helped the school make such a dramatic turnaround.

Transformation

In May 2014 the Ofsted Inspectors were of the opinion that the school required special measures because they were failing to give the pupils an acceptable standard of education.

The inspection in September 2015 painted a very different picture of the school.

The inspectors rated the school as outstanding in all aspects of its work and recognised that the results in English and mathematics were the best outcomes achieved by pupils in five years in both key stages and early years.  They found that the teaching was exemplary, and staff always made sure the pupils thrive and do their best.  As a result of this the school is used as a beacon of excellence, locally and nationally.

Foxfield work in close partnership with Woodhill Primary School and have launched a new partnership called ‘Inspire Partnership’.  Both schools are currently leading school improvement support, locally and nationally, in a number of ways. Their school improvement programmes are making a significant difference with tangible impact measures by offering more schools an opportunity to work with them in genuine collaboration to make a difference to lives of children in Greenwich and beyond.

 Notes to editors

1. Beanstalk has worked alongside Foxfield Primary School since June 2015.
2. Beanstalk is a national literacy charity that recruits, vets, trains and supports volunteers to work in primary schools with children who have fallen behind with their reading. To find out how to volunteer, visit  www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call 020 7729 4087
3. Beanstalk reading helpers work with children on a one-to-one basis, giving them their full attention and support to improve reading levels, increase overall confidence and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
4. Each Beanstalk reading helper works with three children and sees each child for two 30 minute sessions a week, during term-time, for a whole year. Together, they read, play and talk. With Beanstalk's support the child's approach to learning and enjoying reading is often transformed.
5. Beanstalk works in areas of deprivation across England through 17 branches in the North, Midlands, Greater London and Kent.
6. Beanstalk was founded in 1973 as Volunteer Reading Help by Susan Belgrave MBE, Beanstalk’s President.