Rodmersham Primary School rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted after devastating fire

A village primary school which was forced to close temporarily due to a fire has received an “outstanding” Ofsted report.

Rodmersham Primary School, near Sittingbourne, was “left in ruins” after a fire in the roof on October 26.

The 132 children who attended the school were split between classroom units at Rodmersham, Bapchild and Tonge Primary School and Canterbury Road Primary School due to the major reconstruction of the main building.

The building, which sits on Rodmersham Green and dates back to the 1880s.

The fire service confirmed it had started accidentally as a result of repair work being carried out on the roof of the school due to a leak.

It reopened in May and inspectors visited the school on July 10 and July 11 and found it had continued to deliver “high-quality” education.

They rated the school as “outstanding” in all departments – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

The report said: “The school values of ‘family’, ‘fairness’ and ‘fearlessness’ shine through at this school.

“Nowhere is the concept of being ‘family’ more evident than in the school’s response to the recent fire.”

Head teacher Nicky McMullon says she is “incredibly proud” of the result during a “challenging” year.

She added: “The fire left our school in ruins and our community in shock but in the face of adversity, our staff and students showed remarkable resilience and determination.

“We worked tirelessly to ensure that our students continued to receive a high-quality education, despite the challenges we faced.

“Working across three different schools was not easy, but it brought our community closer together.

“Our students showed incredible maturity and flexibility, and our staff worked tirelessly to ensure that our curriculum remained engaging and challenging.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and parents. It is a reflection of our shared commitment to providing the best possible education for our students, no matter the obstacles we face.

“As we look to the future, I am confident that our school will continue to thrive and grow.

“We have proven that we can overcome challenges and emerge stronger than ever. I am excited to see what the future holds for Rodmersham, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead such a resilient and inspiring community.”

Mrs McMullon thanked Canterbury Road and Bapchild Schools for hosting the school’s children.