Winchester MP Steve Brine visited Oliver's Battery Primary School and declared a school "on the up" after a number of difficult years.
Mr Brine dropped into the school on Friday 19th June, his first such visit since being re-elected last month, to meet with new head teacher Fey Wood to discuss the turnaround plan now in place.
The MP heard how the school has been working hard to get to a 'Good' Ofsted rating after a difficult few years which have seen the school placed in Requires Improvement since October 2013. A report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools earlier this year said that 'senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection' and it now faces a second Ofsted inspection in October of this year.
Steve Brine said: "Things have not been great at Oliver's Battery for quite a while now and it's not acceptable to staff, parents or us in Government. These kids deserve the best start in life and for their school to match some of the high achieving institutions elsewhere in Winchester."
"It was very good to meet Fey Wood who certainly comes from some tough challenges elsewhere; if anyone can turn this school around it's her and the team, new and old that are in the school. It was good to go through some of her plans ahead of the return of Ofsted later this year and I've agreed to speak with Ministers to see how we can ensure that she is able to continue to make a difference at Oliver's Battery Primary School. I especially liked the developing School Charter where the children participate in creating the ethos of the school. They have a fantastic opening line with 'We are proud of our school' and, from what I have seen, they will soon have even more to be proud of."
Headteacher Fey Wood added: "It was a pleasure meeting Steve and to have the opportunity to share with him all the improvements that have and are taking place in the school. All children deserve the very best education and we are working hard to ensure that Oliver's Battery Primary School delivers the very best. The school has come a long way since October 2013 and is definitely 'on the up' We very much look forward to meeting Steve again in the new term and hope he is in good voice as the children have even more questions to ask him."
During his visit the MP spent time outside with a group of students from Year 1 to Year 6 answering their questions.
Pictured; Steve Brine MP chatting with students from Oliver's Battery Primary School
More information ...
Oliver's Battery Primary School http://www.oliversbatteryprimary.com/index.php
