HEADTEACHER Maggie Moore was relieved when her school received a smashing OFSTED report - especially after she reversed her car into an inspector's brand-new Alfa Romeo.>

My school's a big hit with OFSTED

Picture shows Mrs Moore

HEADTEACHER Maggie Moore was relieved when her school received a smashing OFSTED report - especially after she reversed her car into an inspector's brand-new Alfa Romeo.

Mrs Moore, 47, of Hannah Ball First School, in Philip Road, High Wycombe, said the close encounter happened the day before the inspection was due to end, in early February.

But her worst fears of jeopardising the report from the Government's education watchdog were proved wrong, when the school was sent a glowing reference.

She said: "At the time I was so worried. It was 8pm and dark. I thanked the OFSTED inspectors for being so considerate during their inspection and left. The next day was going to be the last day of the inspection and I was very tired.

"I put my Jeep into reverse and backed out of my parking space in the school car park, and - bang - I had backed into the front headlight of one of the inspector's cars. I couldn't believe it. I got out of my Jeep and inspected both cars for damage. The front wing and the headlights on the inspector's brand-new Alfa Romeo, the most expensive car in the car park, were damaged."

Mrs Moore said she was then faced with the terrifying task of telling the inspectors.

She added: "The inspectors had heard the bang and asked which car it was. The inspector who owned the car was really sweet and only asked: 'Is it driveable?' He told me not to worry.

"Lucky for me, it wasn't the lead inspector's car, and he thought the whole incident was quite amusing. He said: 'Go home and have a large gin and don't worry - it won't affect your OFSTED report.' I didn't get much sleep that night.

"I needn't have worried, because we received an excellent OFSTED report. We were all thrilled to receive such a good report. We have worked hard for two years to raise standards and results show a huge improvement. It has all been worth it."

In the report, the school was said to offer value for money and was praised for its successful leadership and good pupil welfare and guidance.

The good overall provision for pupils' spiritual, moral and social development, and a broad, balanced curriculum, were also singled out. Inspectors commended the school for having levels on line with national figures in English, maths and science, and teachers were praised for having good relationships with pupils.

A spokesman for OFSTED Office For Standards in Education said: "Obviously an incident like this would not in any way reflect on a school's report."

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