Teachers take pride in 'outstanding' Ofsted report (From Watford Observer)

Teachers take pride in 'outstanding' Ofsted report

3:13pm Wednesday 13th July 2005

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TWO schools in the Watford area have been named among the most outstanding in the country.

In Ofsted's Annual Report 2003/04, Watford Grammar School for Girls and Breakspeare School in Abbots Langley have both been praised.

Following visits from Ofsted inspectors, the schools were found to "have a notably successful effect on the lives of individual pupils, often in the face of difficult circumstances. They were both found to be extremely effective, with the quality of education provided excellent across the full range of their work".

Headteachers from all the schools featured in Ofsted's annual report have been invited to a special reception in London on Wednesday, July 20, to celebrate their success.

Helen Hyde, head of Watford Grammar School for Girls, said she is delighted with the latest accolade.

She said: "I'm very proud of the school. This is testament to the hard work of all the staff and pupils."

Meanwhile, Gill Williamson, headteacher at Breakspeare School, said it is a real confidence boost to be praised in the report.

She said: "I am thrilled to pieces we are in the report. I burst into tears when I told the staff about it. I was so worried before the Ofsted inspectors came and I obviously didn't need to be. The report has developed my confidence to do the job. In all my years of teaching it is the first time I have been given such a pat on the back."

The school in Gallows Hill Lane teaches children from two to 19 years old with severe learning disabilities.

As well as receiving the good news of the Ofsted report, this week has also been a special one for the school because it has had two teachers visiting from Novgorod, Russia.

As reported recently in the Watford Observer, deputy headteacher, John Addison, visited Novgorod over Easter, as part of a school exchange organised by Watford Borough Council.

Now it is the turn for the Russians to visit and see how things are done over here.

Prikhodko Galina and Inna Grigoreva both teach in schools for children with special needs in Russia.

Inna said: "I have learnt a lot from this school and I have got a lot of new ideas to take home. It is useful to compare their methods with ours. They do things differently here because they have more money and equipment, but the approach is the same."

Ms Williamson added they have also learnt from having their Russian friends to stay. She said: "It has given me a chance to see the way we do things through their eyes. It has made me look again at things we take for granted."

Mr Addison added: "It is about learning from each other and gaining a global perspective."

The Russian teachers have been staying with host families all week. However, their departure will not spell the end of the partnership, as Breakspeare School intends to stay in touch. It is hoped students from both schools can be matched up to become pen pals and future visits can be organised.

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