ROSE Hill Primary School is on a mission to improve after a disappointing Ofsted report.

The 384-pupil school, in The Oval, was placed into special measures after a November inspection – but headteacher Sue Vermes has pledged to turn things around.

She said despite the concerns raised by Ofsted there was a lot of good work going on and that, as well as striving to improve the basics, pupils were given lots of other opportunities.

She said: “Our focus is on getting teaching and learning as good as it possibly can be.

“We have been asking the pupils what they like about the school and what they think about it.

“The kids in the school are amazing, even though some do struggle.

“We did a course called Philosophy for Children, which long-term studies show can improve maths and English when schools do it properly in disadvantaged areas.

“They are given questions and they are taught how to debate.

“One of the children asked the question ‘does a good school create a good child?’ “I thought that was very mature.

“Teaching the children how to debate is important, it makes them feel they have a voice.”

The children have received praise from a number of people who have worked with them.

Becca McVean, primary school education officer at the Pitt Rivers Museum, wrote to the school following a visit and said: “All the museum staff were very impressed by how engaged the pupils were with the sessions and what strong relationships they had with the teachers.”

There was also praise from teacher Jessica Ainsworth, who taught at the school as a supply teacher.

In a letter to Ms Vermes she said: “The year five class I taught were delightful – super polite and helpful.

“An interest in books at such a young age is a precious gift that is clearly being fostered at Rose Hill Primary School.

“Many thanks also to all the polite pupils who passed by in the corridors and held doors open. They seem well on their way to becoming successful young people in their school and the wider community.”

Earlier this year the school launched its forest school, which gives youngsters the chance to learn in an outdoor environment Ms Vermes said it was important to give pupils lots of opportunities outside the classroom.

She said: “It really extends their world view and their ability to think and debate and anaylse things.

“But of course the core teaching of English and maths is something we really focus on.

“We have really upped that since the inspection report, the amount of home school reading, and reading in general – we have given it a much higher priority.

“At the moment we have to be focused on getting our children where they need to be.

“The kids are really proud of the school.”