Haverhill school rated 'Good' by Ofsted inspectors three years after being told it must improve
A “warm and welcoming” Haverhill secondary school has received a ‘Good’ rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.
Samuel Ward Academy achieved the rating in all areas of the national inspection which highlighted the positive relationship between staff and students.
Executive headteacher Andy Hunter said: “I am very pleased that the whole Ofsted team agreed with my appraisal that this is a good school with a good sixth form.
“I’m also pleased, but not at all surprised, that they were struck by the calm, respectful, caring atmosphere of Samuel Ward Academy.
“That is a comment we often hear from visitors to the school and is a compliment to staff and students alike.”
In their report, Ofsted inspectors, who visited the school on November 1 and 2, said pupils experience a “well-planned personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) curriculum” which has led to a good understanding of diversity, citizenship and healthy relationships.
Other areas of praise included an effective safeguarding programme, a new behaviour system and the sixth form curriculum, which was described as ambitious, offering a broad range of different academic and technical subjects as well as a well-planned careers programme.
Having previously received a ‘Requires Improvement’ grade in 2019 following seven years of being rated 'Outstanding', Mr Hunter said he had been actually looking forward to inspectors returning to the Chalkstone Way school.
He explained: “I’ve been hoping that Ofsted would come for a long time now to see the changes we have made here in the last four years and I’m pleased that they have eventually done so.
“However, the report doesn’t change what we are doing or where we are going.
"My ambition is the same as it always has been - to make sure that Samuel Ward Academy is the best school it can possibly be.
“I would like to thank the entire school community for their ongoing support as we pursue that ambition.”
