Merton (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Merton becomes one of just five London boroughs to achieve 100% ‘Good’ or ‘better’ Ofsted ratings, cementing its reputation as a hub for education.
Inspectors have declared Hatfeild Primary School in Morden to be a “nurturing and joyful school,” and the school has received a “Good” rating in every category.
One-word judgments for schools were recently eliminated by Ofsted. According to Hatfield’s inspection, they scored “Good” in each of the evaluation’s five categories.
This accomplishment comes after Merton Council‘s children’s services were rated as “Outstanding” in 2022, and inspectors commended officials for putting families and children at the centre of their decision-making process.
A key component of Merton’s goal to make the borough a place where kids and teens feel safe, accepted, and able to flourish is having high-quality educational opportunities.
Councillor Sally Kenny, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education, said:
“We are delighted that all of our schools are delivering good or outstanding education to Merton’s young residents, setting them up with the skills and knowledge to thrive in life.
Today is a significant step forward in making Merton the best place for the next generation of Londoners to grow up.
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our educators, learners, parents and carers and the entire community of professionals that work with our schools.”
Inspectors thoroughly observe and evaluate the school during an Ofsted inspection, which typically lasts two days. In addition to behavior and attitude management, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision, their study addresses the general quality of education.
Bev Hendricks, Executive Director of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Merton Council, added:
“Our school teams are unrelenting in their commitment and passion to provide the best for Merton’s next generation.
This achievement comes in the context of significant challenges across the education system, and across London.
Having 100% ‘Good’ or better judgements puts Merton on the map as an excellent place to learn, but also highlights our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education.”
Anita Saville, Executive Head at Hatfeild School, said:
“We are thrilled with the outcome of our latest Ofsted report, which judges the school to be ‘Good’ in all areas.
This report reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire school community and is a testament to the commitment of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the strong support from parents.”
She added that they are proud of what has been achieved in the past two years and they will continue to build on our successes to provide the best possible education for our students.
What are the key factors behind Merton’s success?
A comprehensive school improvement strategy was put into place by Merton Council, which included special assistance for schools that might lose their “Good” ratings. Support and Challenge Groups were created to offer focused help.
To guarantee steady progress, the council collaborated closely with educational institutions, academies, and other interested parties.
This involved encouraging cooperation between educational institutions and exchanging best practices.
One of the main factors influencing school achievement was leadership. Schools were given advice on how to improve administration and leadership, which Ofsted emphasized as being essential to upholding high standards.
In reading and math at Key Stage, as well as important indicators like Progress 8 and Attainment 8 at the secondary level, Merton schools routinely outperformed the national norms.
Schools were actively supported by parents, caregivers, and local communities, which fostered a cooperative atmosphere that led to long-term progress.