Galleywall Primary rated outstanding by Ofsted

Galleywall Primary City of London Academy in Southwark has received a glowing Ofsted report achieving an ‘Outstanding’ rating in every one of the five assessment categories.

The school’s regulator, which visited the Galleywall Road site between 14 and 15 May, said since opening in September 2016, the City of London Academies Trust, governors and leaders have provided inspirational leadership and that their determination and drive for excellence has ensured that pupils develop into successful learners.

Inspectors found that “teachers have high expectations of all pupils; consequently, pupils thrive. Strong, positive relationships and well-established routines mean that pupils become confident and enthusiastic learners.”

The report praised the school’s broad, balanced and rich curriculum, finding that the, “leaders have ensured the curriculum has firm foundations in the school’s values, performing arts and the development of language. The curriculum provides children with a breadth and depth of learning activities.”

Ofsted said that pupils demonstrated consideration towards adults and each other. The inspectors noted that the “‘Galleywall values’ – aspirational, compassionate, enlightened, entrepreneurial and individual – thread through the school and underpin the curriculum.”

The report also stated that the extra funding for pupils with special educational needs, disabilities and children from disadvantage backgrounds, was used effectively and that the early years provision provides children with, “an exceptional start to their education.”

Parents also made comments through the regulator’s online questionnaire, with one saying: “the school provides an incredibly nurturing and holistic approach to learning.” They went onto to say that they were “confident their child is receiving an education which will “enrich and prepare him well for life.”

Sheila Cohring, headteacher of Galleywall Primary, said:

“I am delighted that we have been recognised as an outstanding academy in the work we do in serving our young people.This is a phenomenal achievement.”

“I would like to thank everyone involved in its growth, especially our parents who really are ‘pioneers’.

“Their faith, belief and trust in the school and staff has allowed our vision to become a reality. We must alsothank our talented children for being such a credit to us.

“The Ofsted inspection has been our first since becoming an academy school and I am exceptionally proud of all the children, staff, governors and parents for their contribution and hard work in making this an outstanding school.”

Andrew McMurtrie, Chair of the City of London Academies Trust, said:

“This is an exceptional Ofsted report. We are pleased to see that inspectors recognised the hard work and dedication taking place at Galleywall under the leadership of headteacher Sheila Cohring.

“We are fully committed to providing access to excellent education and learning opportunities for children and young people across the capital.”

Galleywall Primary School is part of the City of London Academies Trust, which runs the City of London Corporation’s sole sponsored academies.

The City of London Corporation sponsors or co-sponsors 10 schools across Hackney, Newham, Islington and Southwark. It also supports one maintained primary in the Square Mile as well as three independent schools.

In 2017 and 2018, Sutton Trust named the City Corporation as the UK’s best academy sponsor for empowering pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to perform above the national average, and the leading academy sponsor for Progress 8 and Attainment 8, which track pupil progress and achievement.

To read the full Ofsted report please click here.