HEAD TEACHERS at two local schools named on an Ofsted list of persistent under performers say inspections alone do not paint a true picture of the progress they are making.
The Dearne ALC and West Melton primary are included on a list of 124 schools that have failed to record a ‘good’ or better inspection rating since 2005.
Attention was drawn to those schools in the Ofsted annual report for 2016/17, in which her majesty’s chief inspector referred to ‘a small group’ that had not made enough improvement over many years.
But head teachers at both local schools told the Chronicle how Ofsted judgements alone mask the improvements being made and fail to reflect the bigger picture.
Zowie Norris, head teacher at West Melton primary, said purely based on Ofsted inspections since 2005, the school’s grading had remained the same, giving the impression there had been no improvements for a long time.
“However, I am pleased to say this is definitely not the case,” said Ms Norris. “Frustratingly, the report by her majesty’s chief inspector Amanda Spielman does not reflect the bigger picture.
“The school has had many challenges to face over the past few years, being in an area of high deprivation, higher than average percentage of children with special needs, high proportion of vulnerable families with external agency involvement, and as Ofsted stated in their last inspection of the school, ‘there have been many changes of staff and leadership and this has restricted the pace of school improvement’.”
Ms Norris said since the last inspection, assessment information shows significant progress has been made since last year’s outcomes.
“The proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard at the year one phonics check is now in line with national figures. Our early years foundation stage grading is good and good level of development outcomes have been in line with national despite the majority of our children entering at significantly below age expectations.
“Our recent monitoring inspection in October 2017 stated that ‘overall leaders and teachers have had a positive influence on pupils’ attainment and progress in 2017.”
Dearne ALC principal Chris Robinson, said the school recognises it still holds an Ofsted ‘requires improvement’ judgement but that the latest Ofsted visit confirmed it is taking the actions needed to achieve ‘good’ in the next inspection.
She said: “The inspector described the ‘drive and determination’ of leaders, the ‘high expectations and ambition for pupils to achieve the best possible outcomes’ and the ‘well thought out strategies’ for delivering that success.
“Our students’ results continue to improve each year, and early data indicates higher levels of progress and attainment in summer 2018.
“For the last three years, results have exceeded the government’s minimum floor targets and compared to similar schools we have a Progress 8 score of ‘0’. Students leaving with good grades in both English and maths has increased from 30 per cent to more than 55 per cent over three years.
“More than 40 per cent of students leave with at least with one A/A*/distinction/grade 7 or above.
“In the last national measurements, the progress made by Dearne students in maths was significantly above the national average, with high ability maths students in the top five per cent nationally.
“We are proud to serve the families of Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton - 80 per cent of parents and carers on Ofsted’s parent view believe their children are making good progress, and we agree.
“Now oversubscribed, reflecting the school’s positive reputation and high standards, our ambition for our communities’ children, and the school itself, is resolute and unwavering.
“We will continue to build on our current achievements and so achieve even greater success.”
