Friars Primary School and Nursery

Friars Primary School and Nursery is a larger than average school in the highest quintile for social deprivation.

In August 2012 I was approached by the local authority to lead the school following the sudden departure of the headteacher. The school was graded as RI and in the staff’s living memory this had always been the case. Numbers on role were declining, there was high pupil mobility and the local community’s perception was largely that Friars was failing its pupils. The staff were very vulnerable.

One of my deputies (with a special interest in learning and teaching) and I had worked previously to move a school out of special measures, so we recognised the importance of working sensitively with a fragile school community and of building strong professional relationships in a climate of trust.