Exeter’s newest primary school opens today

The first children started at Exeter’s newest primary school today (Tuesday 8th January).

During the holidays, Walter Daw has had a complete makeover and a change of character and will reopen as the Woodwater Academy.

It will be part of the Children First Federation under executive headteacher Gary Chown.

And it will also be a member of the Devon Primary Academies Trust which is the biggest primary academy trust in the country.

The Trust educates 2,300 pupils across Devon with 120 teaching staff and 280 support staff.

“This is an exciting new start for the school with a strong new staff team under our newly-appointed Head of School Ashley Leeson,” said Mr Chown.

“The children have got smart new uniforms with our fresh logo which also appears on our new signs.

“And we are all very pleased that Ofsted inspectors have told us we’re well on the way to becoming a good school.”

Last term the old Walter Daw primary school was removed from special measures after a thorough overhaul of the leadership, under the Children First Federation, helped to raise standards and improve the quality of teaching.

“Senior leaders have set the school on a journey to becoming a good school,” said the inspectors.

Mr Chown had already overseen improvements at Wilcombe, Sidbury, Sampford Peverell and Hemyock primaries, which are all part of the Children First Federation.

He said: “The school is on a strong journey of recovery. Just before Christmas, Ofsted told us we were well on the way to becoming a good school.

“Our ultimate ambition is to be judged as an outstanding school.”