Torrington school in special measures

TORRINGTON Junior School has been put into special measures following a critical Ofsted report, but its new leaders have spoken of their vision of it becoming a home for learning. The head of Woolacombe Primary, Sandy Brown, is working alongside Great

TORRINGTON Junior School has been put into special measures following a critical Ofsted report, but its new leaders have spoken of their vision of it becoming a "home for learning."

The head of Woolacombe Primary, Sandy Brown, is working alongside Great Torrington's staff and the new chairman of governors, Marten Gallagher, to raise standards of teaching and learning at the junior school.

It follows a critical report by the school standards agency Ofsted which said Great Torrington needed special measures because pupils were under-achieving and the inspectors did not feel the previous leadership was capable of securing the necessary improvement.

Mrs Brown has joined the school team for the remainder of the academic year.

She is North Devon's only national leader of education, appointed by the National College of School Leadership to work with schools on improving performance and leadership.

Mrs Brown said: "I have been delighted with the children here. They are really lovely and well-behaved, as Ofsted pointed out.

"The inspectors also graded the school's care, guidance and support as good and the pupils' contribution to the school and the wider community as outstanding.

"But these children deserve a better deal in their learning and the opportunities and experiences that are available to them and that is what we are going to do.

"At the end of my stay here, I want Great Torrington Junior to clearly be becoming a home for learning.

"I want people to walk into the school and know that we are all about learning and children.