Delight as Ofsted removes Sheffield primary school from special measures

Oasis Academy Fir Vale, off Owler Lane in Page Hall, has been rated as 'requires improvement' - a step up from the 'inadequate' rating it was given in 2016 when it was put into special measures.

Inspectors have praised improvements in teaching, safeguarding and pupils' progress and highlighted the impact principal Helen Round and her leadership team have made.

Ms Round said the report was a 'positive step forward' but admitted there was still lots of work to do to improve further.

“Each member of our team comes to the academy everyday dedicated to supporting our children to make excellent progress, and to creating an invigorating teaching and learning environment which captures our pupils’ imagination. I am grateful to them all.

“We are on a journey of improvement, and this report is the latest positive step forward.

"As Ofsted have noted, we already have the plans in place and are taking the action necessary to drive further progress.

"As a team, with the support of our local community, we are committed to making Oasis Academy Fir Vale the good or better school that our children deserve.”

The school opened in September 2014 as part of the national Oasis Community Learning Trust.

The effectiveness of leadership and management was rated as 'good' by inspectors.

The report said further work is needed to ensure that the quality of teaching is consistently good, pupils' behaviour needs to improve as does teaching in early years so that children make good progress.

However, they praised the work the academy was already taking to improve.

Oasis regional director for the North, Philip Beaumont said: "Ms Round and her team at Oasis Academy Fir Vale should be very proud of this report, and the transformation of teaching and learning that they have delivered for the children.”

“Oasis Academy Fir Vale’s pupils face unusually high barriers to learning, and when you step into the school it is immediately clear how much the teachers and staff care for the children, and the steadfast belief they have in them.”

"With our existing staff team being led by Ms Round, the academy is in a strong position moving forward.”