I suspect the thing that schools most dread is ‘THE Call’. It comes without warning at about 9.30am on a Monday or Tuesday. No, it’s not one of the Four Riders of the Apocalypse popping in for a cuppa – something equally terrifying though – Ofsted. Last year, Wicor Primary School took the call on Monday 11th November 2024 at 9.25am and with the grim certainty of death and taxes the Inspector duly moved in for the following two days. Once the phone goes back on the hook after a phone call that lasts almost two hours, there is little time to do anything other than collate the information specifically requested by the inspector, collect everyone’s timetable and turf out staff from the only decent room we can house the Inspector in. Oh, and find the kettle and various decaffeinated options of teas and coffee. 

The only thing that troubled me was the Inspector telling us that she was packing her wellies. She had combed our website and was keen to see our vision in action. It was going to be Ofsted on steroids – the Ronseal Test. The Tuesday, is therefore a normal day – normal in the sense of this is what we would be doing anyway. As a Headteacher, I can only trust to all the things we have been working on over the past few years. Will the lunchtime supervisors remember what KCSIE means and that County Lines is not something on an OS map? Are all the DBS certificates in place? How will the children react? You know that feeling when you take your children to a formal family event and your child announces to everyone that his jumper came from a second-hand junk shop – the shame of it (I was that child by the way).

It just so happened that we had visitors in school that Tuesday; specifically, staff and volunteers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.  They were in to work with Year 5 and their focus was chalk grassland habitats.  The day would involve lots of working outdoors and preparing seed trays for the planting of cowslip seeds.  What could possibly go wrong?  Well, in short, nothing.  You see, this really was a normal day in our school.  With our strong focus on environmental issues, the children were well-accustomed to working with the Trust. Four years ago, we had brokered a relationship with the Trust which in essence entailed paying for the expertise of Trust staff and volunteers delivering the Otter package, one of the Wilder School packages. We have also supported the Trust by raising money for the Trust and trying to publicise the work they do and hopefully help to boost membership.  The Trust had not only delivered some outstanding sessions to the children but supported a number of our community events including our Ecofayre.  The school had promoted the Trust and its work at every opportunity and to date, raised £1500. 

To be honest, the two days were a blur; my mum had been rushed into hospital a few hours after The Call.  The Inspector was prepared to defer the inspection but I just couldn’t do that to the staff. So, I summoned the resilience of a tardigrade and trusted in the investments of the previous few years. It was only when I listened to the inspection feedback at the end of Day Two with my leadership colleagues, that I understood just how powerful our vision was (and is) and how the Trust directly contributed to our success.  The Inspector talked effusively about the high-quality expert teaching delivered by Trust staff in the morning.  She then talked even more effusively about the practical work undertaken in the afternoon and finally she looked through some of the children’s nature journals to see what they had learned that day and how they presented it.  Having endured 9 previous Ofsted inspections this was a first.  I wished the Trust staff could have witnessed the feedback.  It was a testament to their contribution to helping us deliver a top notch natural history curriculum over the past four years.  Not only that, but the Trust actually made it into print in our Inspection report and I wonder if that has ever happened before? This is what the inspector had to say:

“Pupils’ curiosity and joy of learning is inspired through expert guest speakers such as the Wildlife Trust. As a result, pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well.” 

Now, this might not seem a big deal – a fleeting mention.  But trust me, it’s hugely significant.  Every word is ruthlessly vetted by Ofsted moderators – extraneous chaff is tossed to the wind.  The fact that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust made it into our Ofsted report is a testament to the impact of the high-quality work of their staff and volunteers and to the work our teachers do in supporting their visits. It really is a case that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Now the inspection is over we can relax.  Not likely – we’ve got migration and moth trapping on the agenda. 

Mark Wildman

Headteacher