Atherstone primary academy now a “Good” school after recent Ofsted inspection

Racemeadow Primary Academy in Atherstone has been rated as “Good” by Ofsted after being inspected last month. The school, which is part of REAch2 Academy Trust, was previously rated as “Requires Improvement” in June 2015, and before that was a failing school rated as "inadequate".

The primary school, which teaches pupils aged 4 to 11 was judged as “Good” in all areas. The report notes that “the headteacher has relentless drive and ambition. She has high expectations and has brought about secure improvements in pupils’ achievement” and “the commitment of senior leaders and staff results in the majority of pupils doing well in a range of subjects.”

Governors were said to “provide effective challenge to leaders. This ensures that the school continues to move forward and grow in strength” and “effective partnerships with leaders across the multi-academy trust have strengthened leadership at all levels within the school.”

The school is described as “[providing] well for pupils’ social and emotional development. As a result, they are well prepared for their next stage of education and life beyond school.” The report also states that “pupils behave well. This is a kind school, where adults and pupils respect one another. The school looks after the pupils well. It teaches them how to stay safe.”

The report continues to highlight that “good teaching and assessment ensure that pupils make good progress and learn effectively in lessons” and “learning displays celebrate the topics taught at the school.” Parents were described as being “very supportive of the work the school does. They appreciate the opportunities that the school provides for their children.”

Jo Collinson, Headteacher at Racemeadow, said:

“We are all delighted with the rating, which is testament to the dedication and hard work of all the staff and children here at Racemeadow. Together, we have all brought the school a long way in the last two years. We believe all children can be successful and we will continue to strive for the very best standards of education at Racemeadow.”

Sir Steve Lancashire, CEO of REAch2 Academy Trust, said:

“We are thrilled to see the improvements that Jo and her team have made in the last two years and we are extremely proud of what they achieved. The school has come a long way since joining REAch2 and we are excited to see what the future holds for Racemeadow.”