PUPILS and staff at Hale School were able to celebrate a ‘good’ Ofsted rating before the end of the summer term.

The report, released on July 20, follows an inspection in June during which Hale School was found to be ‘good’ in all five areas measured by Ofsted.

It represents a significant advance on its previous Ofsted review in 2015, when the school received a “requires improvement” grading.

This reflects the impact of an intense three-year change programme spearheaded by headteacher Serena Hemmings, who joined Hale School shortly before its last Ofsted inspection and will leave the post this summer for family reasons.

The school’s 2017 Ofsted report praises the headteacher for having “transformed all aspects of the school”, adding she has set “a compelling positive vision for an inclusive school” which is “shared by all who work in the school”.

The report notes that “pupils make strong progress and attain well in their learning”, while they “behave well in lessons and around the school”. In the classroom, the school was praised for its “lively and interesting teaching”.

Hale School was also rated highly for its work to promote the personal development and welfare of its pupils.

Its Ofsted report states that its “strong focus on values ensures the pupils have a keen understanding of right and wrong”, while the school’s efforts to teach pupils to accept people from other different cultural and religious backgrounds “prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain”.

In its review of the school’s overall governance, Ofsted found Hale school’s finances to be “sustainable” and notes that “governors have made sensible decisions to secure the long-term future of the school.”

Headteacher Mrs Hemmings said: “I am thrilled that Hale School has been recognised as a good school by Ofsted. This achievement reflects the incredible journey the school has been on in the past three years, and is the result of a lot of hard work by everyone involved with Hale School: staff, governors, parents and, of course, the children themselves.

“Hale School today is a school that is ambitious for all children no matter their starting point, postcode or needs. It is a quality school where children can thrive and achieve more than they ever thought possible. It is the school our children deserve. I could not be happier.”

Dick Peppin, chairman of Hale School’s board of governors, added: “I’m extremely proud of Hale School achieving a good rating from Ofsted, just two years after it received a ‘requires improvement’ grade.

“This reflects the truly exceptional improvement in standards that has taken place at the school - many education specialists have told me they’ve never seen such a quick change in such a short period of time.

“I’m extremely grateful to everyone at the school and in the local community who have played their role in the transformation of Hale School. I must, of course, save special praise for Serena Hemmings, who is one of the best headteachers I have ever worked with. Serena’s vision, passion and commitment have made a lasting impact on the school.”

The publication of the Hale School’s new Ofsted report marks the culmination of Mrs Hemmings’s work at the school, as she will be stepping down for family reasons at the end of August.

Ann Wheeler, the school’s current deputy headteacher, will become acting head.

Mr Peppin has also announced the end of his tenure as chair of Hale School after four years and will be replaced by Katie Jansons.

Read Hale School’s Ofsted report in full online at www.hale.surrey.sch.uk/key-information/ofsted.