Good Ofsted report lights the way

A positive Ofsted report for a Manchester primary school where special lighting helps learning has brought it out of the shadow of special measures.

Green End primary school in Burnage, where 22 languages are spoken and many children come from a deprived background, was put into special measures more than two years ago.

But Lisa Vyas, who heads Ladybarn primary in Withington, was brought in to turn the school around in May last year after the school itself moved into new premises in February, 2006.

Now the latest Ofsted report states: "The rate of improvement has escalated since the new headteacher took up post because of her outstanding leadership."

It adds: "Her excellent strategic understanding of how to improve the school has been translated into practical approaches which make a demonstrable effect. This has given a boost to staff whose confidence and morale is now high."

Pupils - there are more than 300 on the roll - are now showing they enjoy school and have positive attitudes towards their work. Another feature is the rigorous and regular way in which pupils' progress is checked.

When the school moved in to a new £4.6 million building, pupils were able to take advantage of a dynamic lighting scheme developed by Philips that mimics natural light through the day.

t is thought to be the first school in the UK to use the system, already tried out in public buildings like hospitals.

It is believed changing light levels have the potential to improve pupils' sense of well being and to help them concentrate better and learn more easily.

The Executive Member for Children's Services, Councillor Sheila Newman, said: "We deeply appreciate the efforts of Lisa Vyas and the hard work of her staff in turning round the school. We're confident that the school - with its new building and a newly-energised staff - has entered a new era and will continue to improve."

Lisa Vyas added: "This is a fantastic outcome for the whole school community. We have ambitious and exciting plans to continue to take the school from strength to strength."

Lisa will continue to run both schools for the next two years as an accredited National Leader of Education from the National College of School Leadership (NCSL).

Toby Salt, NCSL's Strategic Director of School Leadership Development, said: "I would like to offer my warm congratulations and thanks to Lisa and her staff for working so hard to turn Green End around. This fantastic example is testament to the effectiveness of our National Support Schools scheme, in which we are harnessing powerful, effective leaders in great schools, and using them to support struggling ones."

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Jane Lemon, tel: 0161 234 3179