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More on KentOnline
A school has celebrated its first Good Ofsted report with a flash dance.
The Tree Tops Primary Academy in Maidstone began life as two schools, Bellwoood Infant and Bellwood Juniors, established in 1974. In 2012, they merged to become Tree Tops Academy, and the school was taken over by the Leigh Academies Trust in 2016.
In all that time, the school had never received a Good Ofsted rating, in fact often it was the reverse.
At one stage they were placed among the five lowest performing schools in the country. However, all that has changed. With the school rated Outstanding in the effectiveness of its leadership and management, and Good in all other areas.
Head teacher Denise White, who has been in post for two years, said: "The school really didn't have a very good reputation. It was known locally as 'the naughty school' and people turned their noses up at us.
"We are all so pleased now that we have been able to turn that round. The children are as proud as punch. It's good news for us, and good news for the community."
Ofsted inspectors said: "The quality of teaching and learning is good and improving.
"Staff work hard to ensure that pupils’ social and emotional development is given a high priority.
"Pupils enjoy coming to Tree Tops. They show good attitudes to school because staff make learning fun.
"The very large majority of parents who spoke to inspectors were extremely positive about the school. All said it has improved significantly over the last two years."
For the school to improve still further, the inspectors said it had to reduce pupils' absence rates, which were still higher than average.
The school in Brishing Lane held a special picnic by way of a celebration and filmed a video of themselves doing a "flash mob" dance and posted it on You Tube.
