Twenty seven primary schools - many of them within Cambridgeshire -, who were last year warned that pupil progress was too low, have been told they are now showing “much needed improvement.”
However an Ofsted report says the quality of leadership at the Diocese of Ely Multi Academy Trust (DEMAT) is still inconsistent and “trust leaders are rightly reviewing the effectiveness of school governance” because it does not always meet the “high standards expected”.
Ofsted inspector Paul Brooker said: “Trust executive leaders through strong leadership have corrected previous imbalance between local autonomy and centrally led.
“Provisional 2017 pupil achievement demonstrates that improvements are being made. The quality of early years is also improving.”
Over two days in October, inspections of seven schools found that three were good, three needed improvement and one was judged inadequate - although this is subject to Ofsted moderation.
“The Diocese of Ely has a wholehearted commitment to improving the life chances of pupils across schools within the trust, however small the school or whatever its starting point,” Mr Brooker’s report to chief executive Andrew Read said.
He added: “You and your team have since put in place systems and structures that are bringing about much needed improvements.”
Across trust schools in 2016 pupil attainment was below national figures in some classes but things are improving, Mr Brooker said.
“Leaders recognise that pupil outcomes remain too low and that improvement rates need to accelerate further,” he said.
“The encouraging findings of the inspection reflect the hard work of the staff and pupils within the trust’s schools.
“The many positive statements about the leadership team are well-deserved, but we also recognise the helpful areas for further improvement identified by OfSTED, many of which mirror the national challenges we face within the education system for which we all share responsibility”.
DEMAT board chairman Peter Maxwell said: “I am delighted with the positive findings by the inspectors - it is a real credit to our leadership team and to all those who work so hard in all our schools.”
DEMAT schools include:
• Mepal and Witcham
• St Andrew’s, Soham.
• St Peter’s, Wisbech.
• Ely St Mary’s.
• Anthony Curton, Walpole St Peter.
• Tilney All Saints.
• Marshland St James.
• Ten Mile Bank, Ely.
• Wisbech St Mary.
• Guyhirn.
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