A school in Shefford has raised its game to achieve a 'good' Ofsted rating during a recent inspection.

Meppershall Church of England Academy was being inspected for the first time since it became part of the Poppy Hill Multi Academy Trust in 2021.

The last inspection under the old regime, in 2019, led to an 'inadequate' rating.

But that has all changed now, with a spokesperson for the school saying they are "delighted" with the good rating.

They thanked the school's "staff, students, parents and wider community for your continued support".

The school achieved a good rating in all five areas up for inspection - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Inspectors said pupils are "happy" and "enjoy attending school", taking "great pride" in their school values and maintaining "strong relationships" with each other and with staff members.

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They noted that many pupils "produce work of a high standard", and that they "gain independence" as they progress through the school. 

The school's curriculum was described as "broad and ambitious", with "effective teaching" ensuring "strong progress".

Inspectors also wrote that the school identifies the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities "quickly and effectively", with staff "well trained" to make suitable adaptations.

Two points for future improvement were noted:

  • Curriculum planning is new in a few subjects, with structuring needed to ensure that pupils can effectively build on what they have previously learned
  • A focus on the quality of provision for all pupils, with some current inconsistencies in the quality of education that pupils receive