Dear Sandy Lane Families,

I am incredibly pleased to share that our recent Ofsted inspection report has now been published and can be found here.

We had a positive experience hosting the inspectors over two days back in April, who fully delved into our school, our classrooms, and what it truly means to be a part of the Sandy Lane school community. This report reflects the tremendous school improvement efforts that have taken place here, and Ofsted clearly recognised what we already knew to be true - that Sandy Lane is a great place to be!

We are extremely lucky to be part of GLT; the heavy support and guidance from GLT colleagues has been instrumental in helping us achieve these significant improvements so quickly. We are immensely grateful to be a school in the GLT family, and rest assured that this support and collaboration will continue as we look to the future.

While I encourage you to read the full document, I wanted to share a few specific areas the inspectors highlighted that reflect the heart of our school:

• Inspectors noted that staff know pupils well, contributing to a calm atmosphere where children feel safe and cared for, with effective support for wellbeing.

• Ofsted recognised that we have high expectations for behaviour and learning. They found that our consistent systems ensure pupils have positive attitudes towards learning, and that any discrimination or aggressive behaviour is simply not tolerated.

• The report highlighted our targeted actions to strengthen essential skills, noting that we have effectively prioritised the consistency of teaching and improved the curriculum, particularly in reading, phonics, and mathematics.

• Our specialist resource provision (SRP) was praised for providing effective, personalised curriculum pathways that help pupils develop vital skills and independence.

• Inspectors saw first hand how much our pupils enjoy school life, talking with pride about their leadership roles - such as our house captains, librarians, and German ambassadors.

• Alongside these massive celebrations, the inspectors looked closely at our pupil outcomes and noted that ‘Achievement’ currently needs attention. This is a reflection of past historical data. Crucially, Ofsted explicitly recognised that our leadership team has already 'taken appropriate and effective action' to overhaul our phonics, reading, and mathematics curriculum. Because these positive changes are relatively fresh, the report notes they simply need more time to be reflected in published results. We embrace this focus fully as we push forward.

As Headteacher, I fully agree with the report's findings, but I also know that a written report is just a snapshot of our ongoing journey. While it is reassuring that Ofsted recognises the great work happening here, my absolute priority remains keeping your trust.

We are already hard at work on the next steps identified in the report to keep driving us forward. Thank you for your partnership and for being on this journey with us as we continue to make Sandy Lane the very best it can be for your children.

Kind regards,

Ms K Parkhouse
(Headteacher)

Please click here to read the full Ofsted Report