A school in Manor Park has upped its game to achieve an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted report, two years after it was deemed to ‘require improvement’.
Kensington Primary School in Kensington Avenue has ‘improved significantly’ since its last inspection in February 2014 when school regulator Ofsted said it ‘must work on its leadership efficiency and quality of teaching’.
But in the most recent report, released yesterday, the school was praised for its curriculum changes to support pupils who do not speak English as their first language. Of its 528 pupils, 84 per cent speak little or no English when they enrol, compared to the national average of 12pc.
Lessons have been shaken up to focus on using everyday vocabulary as part of cross-curricular projects to improve language skills.
The Ofsted report said: “There has been a wholesale reorganisation of the school’s systems, procedures and facilities [since 2014]. As a result, there have been significant improvements to teaching and pupils’ achievements.”
The school will now continue to develop its partnership with Curwen Primary School in Atlas Road, Plaistow.
It will also maximise the potential of a new outdoor learning area to improve language and counting skills for reception pupils.
Executive headteacher Paul Harris took on responsibility for Kensington in September 2014, replacing former head David Barker.
Mr Harris now has top responsibility at four schools in the borough: Kensington, Curwen, Ranelagh Primary School and Rebecca Cheetham Nursery in Stratford.
Acting headteacher Ben Levinson said: “We’ve done a lot of work with Curwen – they’ve always had some of the top results in Newham. Working partnerships are really important.
“We’ve known for a long time that the school is better than its previous Ofsted report – and now we’ve got that proof in black and white.
“It’s a testament to the hard work of everyone at the school that has got us to where we are today.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here