A NEW headteacher drafted in at Windale Primary School in Greater Leys, Oxford, is ready to give the school a fresh start.

Matthew Wynne, 44, took up his post at the school in Windale Avenue – placed in special measures in March following an inadequate Ofsted report – on September 1.

The three schools he previously headed up in Birmingham all came out of special measures under his leadership.

He said: “Every day is a learning day, no matter how old or young you are. My first few weeks have been fantastic.

“Unfortunately in today’s education climate it’s all about paperwork but I’m always out at the school gates talking to parents and children.”

He said: “My first school was a ‘normal’ one but within two weeks it had an inspection and went into special measures.

“It was the best thing that could have happened because it was absolutely true.

“For me as a head, it gave me the room to do what needed to be done.”

Staff at Windale are now working closely with the Blackbird Academy Trust, which also runs Orchard Meadow and Pegasus primary schools in Blackbird Leys.

An action plan for the next year is being put together, focusing on English and maths.

Mr Wynne said: “It’s quite clear that the past is the past.

“Ofsted is a snapshot and what they find in two days is what they report on.

“We are now fully staffed, which is a major success.

“I am writing up a mentoring support timetable so everyone knows what is expected of them.”

He added: “Our key word is consistency – children should know what every single day is going to look like.”

The new headteacher is also keen to help children learn English in context.

This week, Year Six pupils took a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to boost their Shakespeare studies, and youngsters from Year Three are about to embark on a three-night stay at the Hill End Outdoor Education Centre near Farmoor which they will write up.

Other plans include an improved website and more extra-curricular activities.

Mr Wynne grew up as the eldest of five children in the north of England.

He said: “We grew up on an estate like this.

“As a kid I had free school meals all the way through.

“The reason I’m here is because my mother pushed education and I went to a school where they valued every child and pushed every child to their maximum potential.”

He added: “We can only help these children by doing the same.”

Blackbird Academy Trust executive head Jill Hudson said: “We are very excited to complete our team at Windale with the appointment of Matthew, an experienced head who has already made a great start taking the school on the next step of its journey.”

Along with the trust’s two other schools, Windale also has a new look, with new uniforms introduced at the start of term.

Year Five pupil Khadijah Yusuf, nine, said: “Mr Wynne is nice and the new uniforms are very nice.

“I’m lucky I’m in Year Five because I get to wear a tie.”