A once struggling primary school where half the pupils speak English as a second language has used singing and sign language to help transform its fortunes.
Worple Primary School, in Queens Terrace, Isleworth, was this month rated 'good' by Ofsted just 18 months after inspectors had criticised the standard of teaching and said it 'requires improvement'.
Inspectors heaped praise upon teachers and the 'inspirational' leadership of headteacher Nadine O'Hara following their latest visit on September 17 and 18.
Their approbation backs up a staggering improvement in Key Stage 1 results over the last two years. In 2012, just 24 per cent of pupils sitting the exams achieved level 2B or better in writing. This year that figure was 84 per cent.
Ms O'Hara said innovative methods to improve literacy, including the use of singing and signing to reinforce language skills, had helped dramatically improve students' achievement.
The school has also adopted phonics, a system focusing on the links between sounds and spelling, to help pupils sharpen their reading and writing skills.
"Our teachers have been using Makaton, which is a bit like sign language. When you're talking you use your hands and if children don't understand words they get to understand the signals. It reinforces an awful lot and gives them more access to the curriculum (if their English skills are poor for their age)," said Ms O'Hara.
"Other than improving literacy, one of our biggest achievements has been narrowing the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. We've done this through focused intervention like additional lessons or targeted support within the classroom."
Other key factors behind the school's improvement include getting teachers to work together and share their skills, and organising workshops for parents to learn what phonics is and how they can use it at home.
Ofsted inspectors did identify some room for improvement. They said pupils should be given more opportunities to discover things themselves, and the school must address the poor punctuality of a minority of youngsters.
