AN INSPIRATIONAL leader has transformed Talbot Primary School.

Three years ago it was put in special measures by Ofsted – pupil’s behaviour was bad, results were poor and some parents were so concerned they moved their children away from the school altogether.

Walking through the brightly decorated corridors and peering through the doors of happy and energetic classrooms today, it is hard to believe this was a school that was ever in such trouble.

Head teacher Kate Curtis, who joined in September 2011 shortly after the school had received another damning report, is humble about her own contribution to a school which received a glowing Ofsted report in the summer.

However, when you ask the parents and teachers the story is of an assertive yet friendly force restoring a sparkle which had long been missing.

Kate beams with pride when she talks about the progress made and it is clear when she joined a plan of direct action was implemented quickly and decisively. “The first thing that needed to be sorted out was the behaviour and the teaching,” she says.

“A lot of new high quality teachers joined the school which turned around the curriculum and has brought us to the standard we are at now.

“There has been a cultural change. The message to children and staff now is: you are valued, respected, worthy and have a lot to contribute. Everybody has responded really well. It is about feeling loved.

“You will never see behavioural problems now. The children are always polite, beautifully presented and care about the school. We don’t have vandalism and nobody is disrespectful to property. The atmosphere is all positive.

“Discipline is important but we are not shouters. We have had no exclusions whatsoever in the three years since I joined. Children need to learn how to be included.”

With its luscious playing fields and a large indoor swimming pool recently restored to its former glory, the school has put sport and activity at the heart of its rejuvenation and resulted in the uptake of extra-curricular activities sharply increasing.

There is a focus on academics too and preparing the youngsters for what comes next.

“We feed into 15 different secondary schools and we encourage our year five and six pupils to go and spend days in them,” Kate adds. “As they go through the school we encourage them to become much more independent learners so they are ‘secondary ready’

“We are so pleased. Our standards are rising, which is excellent, but our progress has just been through the roof.”