Broadlea Primary School in Lake has been rated ‘good’ in all areas by Ofsted inspectors following a long-awaited inspection last month.
The COVID pandemic has meant that the school has had a long wait from its judgment of ‘requires improvement’ back in February 2018. Now, 3-and-a-half years on, the school is doing well and joins the 37 other ‘good’ schools across the Isle of Wight.
Broadlea is said to be a place of fun, laughter and learning where everyone strives for excellence every day. The curriculum is said to be challenging and builds on pupils’ knowledge, skills and interests step by step. This was recognised by the inspectors who found that “leaders are aspirational for all pupils and determined to ensure that they are successful academically and become responsible young people”.
Inspectors also said that “pupils enjoy school, have positive attitudes towards learning and want to do well” and that “pupils feel happy and safe”.
At Broadlea, much of the learning in Reception takes place outside of the classroom, in the garden and 2 Forest School areas. The inspection team found “children in the early years have positive attitudes to learning and the activities planned for them. They enjoy learning in the classroom and in the well organised outside area”.
Inspectors also noted “staff in the early years get to know children before they join the school. This enables the school to plan activities that match and address children’s educational and emotional needs from their first day at school”.
Headteacher Sharon Freeley says:
“It has been an amazing journey of improvement and I am delighted that the hard work of staff, pupils and parents has been recognised.
“I am delighted that Ofsted has recognised the strengths of the school and the leadership team but we could not have made such significant and rapid changes without the support we have received from Hampshire Inspection & Advisory Service. The partnership agreement between Hampshire and the Island has been central in changing mind-sets, developing our ethos and improving outcomes for our children.
“Working closely with Teach First, a charity that develops and supports teachers and leaders who are determined to make a difference where it is needed the most, has also been significant in helping us develop our extended leadership team to achieve this outcome”.
