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Category: Outstanding schools

Outstanding news from Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School

Every so often, a school’s success story makes you smile all day — and this is one of them. Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School in Wanstead has been graded Outstanding in every area.

What does it mean to be ‘Outstanding Against the Odds’?

In education, the word “outstanding” has long been tied to Ofsted — once a single judgement, now a set of gradings across areas, with a new scorecard soon to come. But beyond frameworks and metrics, when we talk about being Outstanding Against the Odds, we mean something deeper. It’s not about flawless performance or ticking every box for inspection. It’s about thriving for your children, even in circumstances that make excellence very hard to achieve. And schools are doing it — right now.

High achievement without burnout — and national recognition to prove it

East Wichel isn’t a shiny outlier. It’s a large, two-form entry school with high mobility and a deeply mixed pupil population. It’s in a town that’s been publicly called out as an education “cold spot” — a place often overlooked and unfairly judged. But under the leadership of Paula Phillips, something different took root.

The difference between good and great teams isn’t hours

Do 95%+ of your team work at least as hard as you? 58% of school leaders say *no*. And yet… 77% say 95%+ of their staff are driven by what’s best for the children. So where’s the disconnect?

People problems? This is what’s really causing them

People problems are inevitable. You work in a team. They’re doing their best, and so are you. But here’s the thing—there really don’t need to be as many people problems as there are. 97% of schools have at least one of the five common difficult conversations that crop up in schools. And they can all be fixed.

Getting staff to apply new ideas

Almost half of school leaders say getting staff to consistently apply new ideas feels like herding cats.If you’re one of those leaders, you’re not alone. The challenge is real—but are the most common solutions really the ones that work? You might already be trying things like: Create Clear, Small Steps Engage Through Ownership Celebrate Wins […]

Launch offer: How 7 Headteachers Built Outstanding Schools Despite the Barriers

In this new book, seven inspiring headteachers share how they transformed their schools - despite the odds. Their real-world insights offer practical, proven strategies that any school leader can learn from. And for today only (Monday 3rd March), you can get the Kindle edition for just 99p (RRP £16).

How 7 Headteachers Built Outstanding Schools Despite the Barriers

Being a school leader is truly work from the heart. You’re driven to create the best education for your children, but with ever-changing national and local challenges, it’s no easy task. Sometimes it feels like you’re running in circles, but there are guiding lights to show the way. Some leaders have managed to create exceptional […]

Do you know how much staff sickness is costing you?

Budgets are tight. And when they are, one of the ways to help combat this is to look at the costs we’re spending and not getting the most out of. Pay is your biggest cost. And it gets eroded from many angles. Perhaps sickness is eroding yours.

The first outstanding school in a region for over 10 years

As we head into half term, join me in celebrating and congratulating a school that is outstanding across the board against the odds, and utterly deserves recognition as such: Beth Dyer and the brilliant team at Nine Acres Primary School. The context High free schools meals eligibility (29.1% vs average 25.9%). Higher SEN […]

On the journey from good to great, most schools get stuck

Discover how close you are to being outstanding

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