Triumphant Trio

By Martin Gazzard - Sheffield LEA

The recent release of the OfSTED inspection report for Whiteways Junior School has rounded off a marvellous year for the schools and local community in the Fir Vale area.

Owler Brook Nursery Infant School
Back in the summer of 2001, Owler Brook Nursery Infant school was described by OfSTED Inspectors as a good school offering a good education for its pupils. Teaching was never less than satisfactory with almost three-quarters of the teaching seen good or better with teachers concentrating on clear learning objectives. No teaching observed was less than satisfactory. 

Fir Vale Secondary
In January 2002, Fir Vale School’s OFSTED inspection really grabbed the headlines as the most successful fresh start school in the country. Inspectors described it as “a good school with many outstanding characteristics”. Just over three years ago the DfES labelled Earl Marshal as one of the worst secondary schools in the country, so this turn round really is truly remarkable and prompted the Prime Minister to write to the school in January to congratulate everyone. Concentrating on improving the quality of teaching and learning improved achievement and parental confidence in the work of the school. Attendance is now above the national average for secondary schools. 


The OfSTED verdict on Whiteways Junior School in February 2002 showed a good school with strong teaching a key feature with pupils making headway in their learning.  The school is described as providing good value for money and many in the local community will agree.

Executive Director of Education, Jonathan Crossley-
Holland commented:

“This is a wonderful good news story for these schools, the children and their parents. The key point which links all three schools as much as their close location is how they have all concentrated their efforts on the quality of teaching and learning in classrooms and this is clearly paying off in what the children and older students are achieving.”