POSITIVE steps are being taken to ensure a Teesside primary school meets and exceeds Government targets after inspectors found it required improvement in key areas.
Ofsted inspectors visited Marton Manor Primary School, in Middlesbrough, in January, and their report has now been released to parents.
The inspection found the school required improvement in four areas: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; and leadership and management.
However, Marton Manor was also assessed as “a friendly and inclusive school” with a ‘Good’ rating for early years provision.
Leaders have pledged to take the report’s findings on board and intensify efforts to ensure the necessary improvements are made.
The inspection came during a period of upheaval for Marton Manor, and the report acknowledged there had been a number of recent changes to leadership and staffing.
After the retirement of the Head Teacher in December 2022, Emma Watson, chief executive of the James Cook Learning Trust, stepped in to become interim headteacher of Marton Manor Primary for one term until the new Head Teacher takes up post after Easter.
Mrs Watson said: “We are naturally disappointed with the results of the inspection, but we are taking positive steps to address the areas identified for improvement.
“We are proud that Ofsted noted we are ‘a friendly and inclusive school’ and although the report recommends that we review our safeguarding procedures to make them more robust, it recognises they are effective.
“I’m also pleased it recognises we have already implemented responses to many issues highlighted in the report, which now need more time to become embedded and effective.
“However, we fully acknowledge that this is not the result that parents or staff had hoped for, and I can assure everyone that we are making it our priority to respond to the concerns raised.”
Voluntary merger talks are at an advanced stage for the four schools in James Cook Learning Trust to become part of an expanding educational trust, enabling the development and improvement of wider school leadership and increasing capacity.
The plan is for Marton Manor Primary, Lingfield Primary, The Avenue Primary, and Captain Cook Primary to join up with nine schools run by the successful Lingfield Education Trust from September.
Nick Blackburn, chief executive of Lingfield Education Trust, said: “We look forward to finalising the arrangements for the four schools to join our growing family, and working closely with the staff, parents and governors to make sure every child in our care gets the best possible education.”
Lingfield Education Trust currently comprises: Handale Primary, Loftus; Hemlington Hall Primary; Preston Primary, Stockton; Cambrai Primary, Catterick Garrison; and five Darlington schools – Corporation Road, Heathfield, Mount Pleasant, Northwood, and Hurworth.
Share