Lillington School celebrates 'exciting journey of improvement' resulting in 'good' Ofsted rating

Lillington Nursery and Primary School in Leamington is celebrating ‘an exciting four-year journey of improvement’ resulting in a rating of ‘good’ from Ofsted inspectors.

The school was put into special measures after its Ofsted inspection in 2019 but has changed considerably for the better in the past four years.

The latest inspection took place in October and the report was recently published and can be found on the school’s website here https://www.lillingtonprimary.com/ofsted/

The inspectors found that the school “offers a warm and inclusive welcome”.

The report says: “Pupils are happy, safe and working hard.

"Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve and pupils try their best to meet these.

“Pupils know and understand the school values well and become ‘values champions’ as a reward for living them.

"Values including kindness, honesty and respect are woven into the fabric of school life.

“Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. They are polite and friendly.

When some struggle to behave due to their additional needs, staff support them kindly and skilfully.

"Pupils speak positively about the school’s behaviour policy and about how much behaviour has improved because of it.

"They know to ‘stop, walk and talk’ if another pupil were to upset them.

“The school has been on a significant journey over recent years.

"When the predecessor school was inspected, there were many weaknesses.

"Pupils, staff, parents, carers and governors alike commented on how much the school has changed and improved.”

Victoria Wallace became headteacher at the school, then just called Lillington Primary School, after the 2019 report.

She said: “Lillington Nursery and Primary School has been on an exciting journey of improvement over the last 4 years which has resulted in the school being graded ‘good’ by Ofsted.

"I have loved seeing the school develop, improve and become a place where children feel safe and love learning.

"The last four years has come with its challenges, Covid for one, however every step of the way the staff at Lillington have continued to ensure that the children are experiencing the very best education.

"We also had the bonus of joining Finham Park Multi Academy Trust three years ago and with this came the opportunities to work with a variety of specialists and staff from other schools to support our team to continue the journey.”

"I am proud to have been leading this journey for all those in the Lillington community, the children, staff, parents, carers and other stakeholders. “Now is the time to enjoy our success, keep travelling along the road of further improvement towards being a beacon of excellence in Warwickshire.

"Outstanding, here we come.”

Mark Bailie, Executive Headteacher/CEO of Finham Park Multi Academy Trust added: “Everyone at the Trust is delighted that Ofsted have recognised the significant improvements made at Lillington Primary over the last three years.

"The governors, headteacher, and other colleagues have driven developments in almost every area of school life, working in collaboration with trust staff to ensure that children are now benefiting from an excellent curriculum that is well led, taught and supported.

"Congratulations to Mrs Wallace and her staff, all the children and their families.”