Challenge Partners Visit

Four colleagues from Challenge Partners joined us this week and spent three days quality assuring our work, observing lessons and discussing school improvement with the Strand team. They were very complimentary about both the staff and children, describing the children as ‘delightful’ and commenting on the wide and varied curriculum we offer here at Strand. The lead inspector had a wealth of experience in schools, working for Challenge Partners reviewing schools all over the country, carrying out inspections for OFSTED as well as supporting school improvement in Brent, while the other three members of the team were assistant and deputy heads from Croydon, Lincolnshire and Brent. Special mentions to the children who met with the visitors and shared their fantastic learning. We are very proud of them. We were pleased that the team were able to see the impact of our school improvement work developing a ‘first class’ curriculum – in fact the children were able to demonstrate how much they remembered, drawing on their great subject knowledge to answer questions - they are always the people to ask if you want an honest answer! Ms Woods, Miss Coulton and Mrs Ristic will all be away from school this term reviewing other schools in the Challenge Partners network in Croydon and Dunstable, learning lots from the experience but also appreciating what a fantastic place Strand is (adults and children!).