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Feb
Masham primary moves on from 'inadequate' past with conversion to academy status
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Masham’s only primary school has converted to academy status two years after it was deemed by Ofsted to be ‘inadequate’.
Masham Church of England Primary School was a voluntary aided school, but as of yesterday (February 1) it is now an academy and, following approval from the Department for Education, part of the Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust.
Back in 2013, the school was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, but when it was inspected six years later, it had slipped to being simply ‘good’. Then in January 2024, it was rated ‘inadequate’, scoring particularly poorly for ‘quality of education’ and ‘leadership and management’.
An ‘inadequate’ rating automatically triggers conversion to academy status and usually also a change in senior management.
The school will retain its Anglican ethos.
Headteacher Jane Wood, who took charge at the school last year, said:
This marks an exciting new chapter for our school. Becoming part of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust enables us to continue to develop the highest standards of education while benefitting from additional expertise, collaboration and capacity.
We are proud to join a Trust that shares our values, our priorities and our commitment to every child.
Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust is an Anglican family of schools that includes St Aidan’s High School, Pannal Primary, St Peter’s Primary, Oatlands Infant School, and Richard Taylor Primary School – all in Harrogate – as well as North Rigton Primary School and All Saints in Kirkby Overblow.
Jane Goodwin, chief executive of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, and Jane Wood, headteacher of Masham Church of England Primary School.
Jane Goodwin, chief executive of Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, said she was “delighted” to welcome Masham into the trust, adding:
The school embodies the values that matter to us, including as a place where everyone is respected and valued and we have ambition for children and staff alike.
Having been part of the governing body for nearly a year, I have seen the great progress that the school is making and am delighted that this is being recognised both internally and externally.
The school is blessed with a talented group of staff and I look forward to continuing to work with them, governors and families as we continue to build on the school’s strengths to the benefit of children.
The new sensory room has been a great start as a fantastic place for children to step away from the busy school day and ready themselves for the next steps in their learning. We are looking forward to opening a new library in the coming weeks, which further positions the joy and importance of reading at the heart of the school.
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