Long Stratton's St Mary's Junior Academy is working hard under new leadership after Oftsed report
A new leadership team is remaining positive and is working hard to improve St Mary’s Junior Academy in Long Stratton after a below par Ofsted report.
The school was assessed as part of its first inspection since the Covid-19 pandemic and was told it requires improvement in all categories, with the report highlighting several areas where there is room for progress.
Despite this, inspectors underlined that the school’s leaders and board members for St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust are aware of the weaknesses and are working at pace to improve them, having already put in place a new leadership team.
Trust chief executive Richard Cranmer said: “It was very clear that when St Mary’s joined St Benet’s that, significant changes were needed in the school to provide the high-quality education that we expect every one of our children to access.
“These improvements are now in place, and I am reassured that the inspectors were able to see them in action and to recognise the impact they are already having in enabling the children to enjoy a broad and balanced experience at St Mary’s.”
Since September, executive headteacher Adam Riley and deputy executive headteacher Laura Richardson have led both St Mary’s Junior Academy and Newton Flotman Primary Academy.
They had both been in post for nine weeks before the inspection but gave the Ofsted inspectors confidence in their plans for improving the school in the future.
Mr Riley said: “Obviously, we would have preferred Ofsted to visit later in the academic year, when the changes we have introduced would have had time to embed more.
“That being said, there are many positives to take from the report and it is good to see that Ofsted was able to identify the positive direction the school is moving in.
“Miss Richardson and I are excited to be working at St Mary’s Junior Academy.
“The children have been fantastic and the support we receive from parents and the community is positive.”
