Hogarth Primary School in Brentwood has been named Primary School of the Year in the Making a Difference category at the Essex Teaching Awards, just three years after being rated as Requires Improvement by Ofsted.
School's remarkable turnaround recognised
The school, which was previously at the lowest rank of Requires Improvement, has seen a dramatic transformation. Last year, Ofsted inspectors found all aspects of the school to be Outstanding or Good. The award cements these judgements and reflects the school's rapid journey of improvement.
More than 1,000 nominations were made across the categories at the Essex Teaching Awards, which recognise the work of teachers across the county. A team of ten staff members from Hogarth attended the ceremony at Hylands House in Chelmsford after being Highly Commended, and were announced as the category winner during the event.
Growing demand from families
The school is now receiving more applications than ever before. For its next Reception class of 30 places, it received 27 first-choice applications, with a total of 98 applications overall. This surge in demand reflects the growing trust and reputation of the school within the community.
Headteacher Rob Watson said: 'Three years ago, we took over a school at the lowest rank of Requires Improvement possible. Now, here we are, with an Essex-wide award. This cements the Ofsted judgements from last year. The school is going from strength to strength. Everything is just building and building. We are really confident we now have great teachers and a great curriculum in place. This is what we said we would achieve when we arrived at Hogarth. We wanted to build a school that is at the heart of the community. Everyone now wants to be a part of the school; they trust Hogarth again.'
Impact on the community
The award underscores the school's commitment to making a difference and its central role in the local community. With a strong curriculum and dedicated staff, Hogarth Primary School has rebuilt trust and is now seen as a school of choice for families in Brentwood.
