School 'outstanding' after years of trying

Green Meadow Primary School receive an outstanding report after a two-day Ofsted inspection

A primary school has been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted inspectors, after being told it "requires improvement" for the last six years.

Green Meadow Primary School in Selly Oak offers a "supportive and friendly" atmosphere where staff go "above and beyond" for pupils, the inspectors' report said.

Their report comes after the last full inspection in 2019 concluded with the "requires improvement" rating.

"The atmosphere in school is supportive, friendly and welcoming of all. In the words of several parents and carers, ‘The staff go above and beyond to help the pupils here,’” Ofsted reported.

Lead inspector Gareth Morgan said: "The school... has put in place an ambitious, broad and successful curriculum".

Mr Morgan said teachers "encourage and intentionally teach all pupils to communicate effectively", ensuring students are well equipped for the future.

"Pupils develop an excellent knowledge of personal, social and health education," he said.

"They are learning to become active citizens who are tolerant, empathic and sensitive to differences and diversity. They are being very well prepared for life in modern Britain."

'Highly ambitious vision'

The school's 2019 inspection had concluded students "do not achieve as well as they could" citing a lack of confidence and lack of challenging work as factors.

But the latest inspection in September said the school now "extends well beyond the academic" with pupils getting a wide range of experiences.

"The school carefully selects opportunities that help widen pupils' personal development," it said.

Inspectors praised school leaders and the head teacher Janine Arrowsmith, saying they share a "highly ambitious vision for this school" and have put the previous feedback into action "enabling the school to go from strength to strength".