St John’s Primary School, Penge gets good Ofsted after years of underperforming

St John’s Church of England Primary School, in Maple Road, Penge, was inspected earlier this month.

Lynda Doel was appointed executive headteacher by the Aquinas Academy in 2018 and arrived at a time when parents were sending their children elsewhere.

In March of 2017, Ofsted concluded the school "required improvement" in three of the five key areas.

However, the new head made quick changes to a school where progress and expectations were low.

Speaking of the recent inspection report, which concluded the primary was "good" in all five areas, Ms Doel told News Shopper: "We are so happy for the children and families that their school is being recognised as a good school.

"It was all achieved by pulling together a fantastic team."

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A spokeswoman for the school said Penge can now be proud of St John’s.

She said: "This is not just good news for the children at the school who deserve the best but also great for the community where local residents can now be proud of the school where their children attend and look forward to its ever-increasing success."

No historical evidence of previous inspections before 2017 are available – but the school say they contacted the diocese who said it had been 20 years since a "good" Ofsted was achieved.

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In the recent Ofsted report, inspectors said management had been "tenacious in improving the quality of teaching, learning and leadership".

The reported added: "Over the last three years, pupils’ progress at the end of key stage 2 in mathematics has been below average. Inspection evidence confirms that most current pupils make consistently good progress.

"Historical underachievement in this subject is being eliminated due to leaders’ effective actions and their high expectations."

The inspection took place on July 3 and 4.