Ofsted Report
We are absolutely delighted to be able to share with you the outcome of the school's Ofsted inspection last term. Please do take time to read and enjoy the report, which is succinct but clear: the inspectors considered Cleves to be 'outstanding' in every respect. The report can be viewed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this letter.
For those of you new to the school this month, this was Cleves' first full Ofsted inspection since 2007, and little has stayed the same since then. To start with, for a school to be graded outstanding is far harder than it used to be; and the majority of schools such as Cleves, with an historic outstanding classification, have been downgraded on re-inspection. As one of the Cleves' inspectors said, "Everything has to be perfect. And if I don't see something, it doesn't count." So to achieve an outstanding grade is indeed an outstanding achievement, all the more so since what inspectors are now looking at is not just data and academic results but children's whole experience.
I would, therefore, like to say a huge thank you to Mr Hodges, our Headteacher, for the leadership, vision and commitment he has shown for eight years; and to Mr Smith, our Deputy Headteacher, and Ms Turner, the School Business Manager, for their work with Mr Hodges over that period as our outstanding senior leadership team. Equally, I want to say an enormous thank you to every single member of staff, since it takes a whole school effort to make Cleves the fantastic school that it is.
Finally, a sincere thank you to all of you for supporting the school and working with school staff to help your children to learn, be happy and to flourish; and for the contributions you made to the inspection.
Looking ahead, I simply want to reassure you that we have no intention of resting on our laurels and are already thinking about who we can work with to become better still.
Thanks again to all of you.
With very best wishes,
Susan Foster
Chair, on behalf of the Board of Trustees.