Why everyone should be happy when a school gets a good Ofsted report

A reason to feel very proud in Harringay this week as our local Infant school has a fantastic Ofsted report
"South Harringay Infant and Nursery School provides an outstanding education. Children make a very positive start to their schooling and teachers ensure that no one falls behind. The school is a beacon of good work and makes a substantial contribution to the cohesiveness of the local community."

Full report here

The entire community should feel pleasure when one of its institutions does well. The teachers and support staff work amazingly hard for the school and therefore for our community. It is not about what some parents believe about a school that counts, but about how much a whole community is behind a school.

Local schools are focal points in the community and it is clear from the report that it enjoys massive support from all sectors of the Harringay community. Indeed take a look at the photos of things organised by the PSA and you will see the very diverse face of Harringay reflected. Where parental involvement in a school is high, their children's education benefits. S Harringay I&N illustrates this beautifully.

Having worked in schools where the community holds a negative view which was often supprted by a sensationalist local press, I know how detrimental to the esteem of the community as a whole that attitude can be, "the school is sh*t, so the place must be sh*t".

You should have heard the applause and seen the delight on the faces of kids, parents and staff when the head made the announcement. It really mattered to everyone that their work is appreciated and so via my blog I'm asking for the wider community's appreciation as well.