Beddington Park Academy has jumped to the top-tier rating from Ofsted in just three years.

The primary school, on Mallison Road in Beddington, was inspected by Ofsted on October 10 and 11.

The primary school was given the highest rating possible after inspectors visited the school for the first time since it joined STEP Academy Trust in 2020.

When Beddington Park joined STEP Academy Trust, it was in special measures.

In the past three years, the school has transformed completely and now provides "excellent" education to all its students.

Together, STEP Academy Trust and Beddington Park said they prioritised the needs of the students and quality teaching.

The report reflects these changes, highlighting that “pupils are extremely proud of their school”.

Ofsted commended the school for its rich extra-curricular activities and the “high expectations” of every pupil.

Some highlights from the report are:

- Education quality, behaviour, personal development, leadership, and early years provision all rated 'Outstanding'.

- Teaching is excellent, with high expectations and a well-planned curriculum.

- Gaps in knowledge are effectively addressed, and support is provided for pupils with special educational needs.

- Reading is consistently taught, and pupils enjoy supporting each other.

- Healthy relationships and character development are emphasized.

- Behaviour is excellent, with respectful treatment of peers and good conduct in class.

- There is a wide range of popular extracurricular activities.

- The school has strong connections with families.

Maz Mukhtar, the Head Teacher at Beddington Park Academy, said: “This extraordinary Ofsted result is a testament to our incredible staff at Beddington Park, who go above and beyond for our pupils every day and have worked incredibly hard over the last three years to implement a rigorous and robust improvement programme.

“It is also a reflection of our wonderful school community; our pupils and their families have been with us all the way throughout this journey of improvement, and it is a privilege to work with, and for, them.”

John Halliwell, the Executive Head Teacher at Beddington Park Academy, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to the leaders across the academy and every member of staff at Beddington Park, who have all worked incredibly hard in the last three years to improve our school and deliver an excellent education for our children.

“Since joining us at STEP Academy Trust, Beddington Park has been on a significant journey to become one of the best-rated primary schools in the country, which is a remarkable achievement.”

Paul Glover, the CEO of STEP Academy Trust, said: “The entire team at Beddington Park should feel immensely proud of the incredible journey over the last three years. 

“The progress Beddington Park has made since the school joined the Trust, to be graded as ‘Outstanding’ in such a short amount of time, is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the staff and community, to whom I want to express my sincere gratitude.

“At STEP, we are committed to implementing a rigorous plan of improvement for schools when they join us, which is bespoke to the community’s individual needs, whilst being robust and rigorous, so that we see improvements quickly. Our top priority is to improve the life chances of all children, and this is underpinned by providing the very best education possible.”