From inadequate to good – how head teacher led transformation of Hastings primary school

When she first started, the school was in the bottom 10 per cent for results nationally, and received an Ofsted report status of ‘inadequate with serious weaknesses’.

Under her guidance, the school has seen a steady and significant improvement in SATs results, as well as a recent Ofsted report of ‘good’ – only the second time the school has achieved that status in 23 years.

Ms Welch said: “I’m Hastings born and bred and had a really positive time at school first at St Mary’s Star of the Sea and then Helenswood.

“I actually kind of fell into teaching. Initially I was dead set on becoming an RAF pilot, but my asthma held me back, so I decided to study psychology at university with the intention of working with young offenders. Then I worked as a teaching assistant at Robsack Wood and it changed everything.

“I realised that not everyone had such a positive experience of school as I did, and that teachers can really change a child’s life for the better, which is so powerful.

“As soon as I finished uni in Nottingham I came back to Hastings to give something back to the local community. I rejoined Robsack Wood, initially as a teaching assistant, before then completing my training as a teacher, where I was lucky to rise quite quickly to deputy head, and then joined The Baird three years ago as head.”

RELATED STORIES:

Hastings school recognised for its efforts to protect the environment

Hastings teacher explains new maths curriculum and how it affects town’s schoolchildren

What is the Hastings Opportunity Area and how is it helping our schoolchildren

When asked what The Baird was like when she first arrived, she said: “It was a very different school to now and had been through a very tricky time.