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ByAnonymous, Anonymous
Kantor King Solomon High School in Essex has received a significant boost to morale this week after inspectors restored its rank as a good school.
Matthew Slater, who joined as head teacher just over a year ago after a period of uncertainty at the school, said: "We're delighted at the outcome. It shows that the hard work, dedication and commitment of the teaching staff has paid off."
KKS was downgraded to a school requiring improvement in 2013.
But Ofsted said after its latest visit that changes introduced by the school's leadership had brought "marked improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment".
Pupils' expectations had been raised and their GCSE results demonstrated "strong progress".
Pupils show tolerance and respect, inspectors found
The children were also praised for their courteous behaviour and contribution to maintaining a "calm and well-respected school environment".
In a school where around two-thirds of the first year intake will be non-Jewish this September, inspectors reported that "pupils display tolerance and respect for people from different backgrounds and they consider that the diversity within the school strengthens their community".
They said that "following a period of significant turnover in staff, including at leadership level, the headteacher has stabilised the school by creating opportunities for staff development but refusing to accept less than his and governors' heightened standards".
But inspectors said that improvements were still needed in sixth-form provision.
Mr Slater commented that "this is a starting point in our continuing journey towards being an outstanding school.
"We needed to get recognition that the school is moving in the right direction. This is going to build confidence - for staff to know that they are doing a good job, for children to know they are in a good school and for parents to have the trust in sending their children to be educated at King Solomon."
An estimated 30 Jewish children a year have been travelling from Essex to Jewish schools in north-west London.
But Mr Slater believed the turnaround identified by inspectors will help to attract local Jewish families back to the school.
Dr Richard Burack, co-chairman of governors, said: "I hope it will have a positive impact. Our community has been supportive towards us. We've had a bit of a rollercoaster experience with our leadership but hopefully we have created some stability.
"We're thrilled that the hard work and striving towards improvement has paid dividends."
Among Jewish schools, there was "good, friendly but fierce competition. It is important parents have a choice and that we as governors do our best to have a school rated at least good, if not outstanding, by Ofsted".