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Villiers Primary, on Prouds Lane, was found to require improvement when it was previously inspected in 2015, but thanks to the hard work of teachers, pupils, governors and parents, Ofsted said it has made rapid progress over the last 2 years.
The inspection took place on 7 and 8 February, 2017 and in his report, Lead Inspector Steve Nelson said acting headteacher Lisa Maskell and the leadership team had brought about "significant improvements in pupils' outcomes and the quality of teaching" at Villiers Primary.
Leaders and governors have taken "effective action to ensure the school is improving", and have a "clear understanding" of what the school does well and where further progress needs to be made. Together, they share "a determination to build further on the improvements". Members of the governing body were found to be "wholly dedicated to the school and to continuing its journey of improvement".
Good teaching, and the positive learning behaviour of Villiers' pupils, has led to "outcomes rising rapidly, especially in reading, writing and mathematics". A vibrant curriculum gives pupils a wide range of experiences and opportunities which is helping to raise aspirations.
The Outstanding Early Years provision is ensuring the youngest children "make very rapid and sustained progress" and that they are "well placed to succeed when they join Year 1. "Highly effective" teaching of phonics is also ensuring younger pupils make rapid gains in their reading.
Inspectors found that pupils enjoy being at the school and behave well, and noted the "highly productive" relationship between the school and the City of Wolverhampton Council, which has provided "effective support in monitoring and challenging the school so that the quality of teaching increased and pupil outcomes improved."
Overall effectiveness of leadership and management and the quality of teaching learning and assessment at the school, as well as the personal development, behaviour and welfare of, and outcomes for, pupils were all judged to be Good, while Early Years provision was found to be Outstanding.
Mrs Maskell said: "We are overjoyed with our Ofsted report. The children, governors and staff have worked tirelessly to make the learning in our wonderful school better and better every day.
"We would like to thank everyone in our school community and council who are helping us with our journey towards Outstanding.
"Our school motto is 'Work hard. Be kind'. It is a privilege to work with such a talented and dedicated staff and children who embody these values."
Jenny Perks, Chair of the Governing Body added: "It is a real joy to work with the staff and pupils of Villiers Primary. There is a friendly and purposeful atmosphere which encourages children from the earliest ages to become part of the whole family that is the very essence of the school.
"Parents, volunteers and staff are determined to provide the best possible education for our children and we are very proud of their achievements."
Councillor Claire Darke, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "This is an excellent outcome for everyone associated with Villiers Primary School, and is the result of a huge amount of hard work by all concerned. I would like to congratulate the leadership team, governors, teachers, pupils and parents on their achievements.
"Villiers Primary has also benefitted from its close links to council which has enabled it to receive significant support from our School Improvement Team, the effectiveness of which was recognised by Ofsted.
"The quality of the relationship between the school and the council provides Villiers with a secure platform to continue its rapid progress in the months and years ahead, and to further improve outcomes for its pupils."
She added: "Some 85% of schools in Wolverhampton are now rated Good and Outstanding schools by Ofsted, the highest ever, and that's testament to the hard work of schools like Villiers, which are determined to improve outcomes for our children and young people, and to the support and challenge provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council which is helping drive standards higher."
- released: Friday 10 March, 2017