A PRIMARY school has received a damning inspection report – on the eve of it entering a new era.
Marden Lodge Primary School has been told it requires improvement, after falling short in all four key categories – behaviour, leadership, pupil achievement and quality of teaching.
And the Ofsted inspectors came up with eight areas in which improvements were needed, following their visit in July to the 175-pupil school in Croydon Road, Caterham.
But the school's former senior governor insisted the findings are out-of-date and Marden Lodge has since made rapid improvements. The new head teacher is also positive about the future.
The school has become an academy from this term in a link-up with Ewell-based Glyn Learning Foundation. The new venture could see fundamental changes in lesson times, the uniform and even the school's name.
During their inspection the Ofsted team concluded:
Children's attainment, especially in maths, has been much lower than average.
Pupils, especially boys and brighter pupils, do not make fast enough progress.
Teaching is not consistently good so some children get distracted.
Not all leaders check that the actions they have taken to improve standards affects pupils' progress.
The outdoor area for Reception children does not give a wide enough range of interesting activities to develop their skills.
Areas where the school did well included children being polite, and teaching and attainment improving. Inspectors also said the school looks after its pupils well, and the governors have acted well so the school is well-poised to make improvements.
Mark Jones, a former governor at the school, where his son Jack attended, said: "It's a shame a local community school has been graded as this – I am personally aware first-hand that a lot of the teaching staff have been working hard.
"Now, with the Glyn Academy as the leadership team and a new head teacher, Marden Lodge will flourish and be the community's first choice again," he added.
Ros Rawling, who was chairman of governors until last term, said: "I'm disappointed that the school is being shown in this light because an awful lot of improvements have been made.
"And I am excited about the future with the new academy. We are going in the right direction."
Former head teacher Georgina Steinthal left in July to take over at a school near Redhill.
New head teacher Fiona Jarman said: "The Ofsted team were very positive about the children and the progress the school has made. They identified many strengths especially the relationships between students and staff.
"This year's results are the best for many years and all indications show that the school will do even better next year."
