A SCHOOL in Kendal has turned around its fortunes after it received a rating of 'good' in its latest OFSTED inspection.
In 2016 Queen Katherine School (QKS), on Appleby Road, was rated as 'inadequate' and an inspection in 2018 found that the school had improved but still 'required improvement'.
But it received a rating of 'Good' in all areas in its latest OFSTED inspection in March.
The team of inspectors observed lessons, spoke to students and staff and toured the school 'extensively' over the two-day visit.
Inspectors found that pupils are 'given the opportunity to develop as individuals as well as gain a social, moral and cultural understanding of the world.
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QKS headteacher Jon Hayes said: "We're really pleased that the OFSTED team had come in and seen what we see every day, that students are happy, they feel looked after, they are well supported, they have great teaching and great lessons and that they get great outcomes from that."
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On what has been done to improve the school since the last inspection, Mr Hayes said the school had improved on everything.
"You can't improve one area in isolation if you want something the size of a secondary school to improve," he said. "You have to focus on the entirety of the child's experience.
"We're really clear with our values and what we expect from all of our community whether that is our students, our staff or our parents. We have our proud to belong values all around the school and that really underpins the idea that students are here to learn and to grow and develop as individuals.
"Our job as staff is to help them to do that. We are constantly looking at ways that we can make improvements. We have worked really hard on refining what goes on in the classroom, looking at our curriculum, how that is sequenced."
Mr Hayes said the 'key' was the community within the school.
"Everyone is here for the same reason, everyone is here to help that child whether they are in year 7 or year 13 to reach their potential," he said.
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