All Saints Junior School joins trust as improvements continue

All Saints CE Junior School has joined the multi-academy Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST) as it continues to work on the improvements required after last year’s disappointing Ofsted report.

The school, in Westborough Road, joined the trust on January 1.

The trust has 43 schools, including five within the Royal Borough.

In April 2022, the school was rated Inadequate by the education watchdog, although improvements are continuing at rapid progress according to updates presented at recent council meetings.

All Saints will be hoping to take inspiration from other Royal Borough schools which have also benefitted from the trust’s work.

St Luke’s CE Primary, in Cookham Road, is now rated Outstanding by Ofsted, following a rapid improvement from Special Measures when it first joined ODST.

Moreover, Holyport CE Primary, Datchet St Mary’s CE Primary, and St Peter’s CE Middle School in Old Windsor, are now rated Good by Ofsted, having all joined ODST while ‘requiring improvement’.

Burchetts Green CE Infant School continues to maintain an Outstanding rating.

All Saints and ODST held a ‘welcome assembly’ for pupils, staff and parents at the start of term.

ODST chief executive, Anne Dellar, said it was a ‘joy and a privilege to mark the beginning of a new chapter for All Saints’.

In a letter to parents, she added: “At ODST we are always delighted to welcome a school into our network, and each brings something unique.

“We really value the individual character of every school community and can already see that All Saints will be a really welcome addition to our family of schools.”

In a message to parents, the school’s interim executive headteacher, Navroop Mehat, and acting headteacher John McKrell, said: “Joining ODST will give us a great stepping stone to achieve the school's potential.

“It really is an exciting time to be attending All Saints and we are looking forward to working with our new colleagues to continue our school improvement journey.”