Ofsted tells Whitton School to improve (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)
Contact us: Got a photo? Text 'SLPICS' to 80360. Got a story? Call the newsdesk: 020 8744 4260
Ofsted tells Whitton School to improve
1:00pm Monday 8th March 2010 in
The quality of teaching at Whitton School has been described as “inadequate” by Government inspectors.
A team from Ofsted, the Government’s children’s inspectorate, visited the Percy Road school on November 30 and December 1 and published a report on Monday which gave a “notice to improve”.
Michael Pye, lead inspector, wrote in the report: “This school requires significant improvement because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform.
“The school is therefore given a notice to improve.
“Significant improvement is required in students’ attainment, progress and overall achievement.
“Students’ attainment is low and student achievement is inadequate.
“Inconsistencies remain in the quality of teaching with some teaching that is inadequate.
“Consequently, many students make inadequate progress over time and, currently, are not all on course to meet their academic targets.”
Mr Pye did report the acting headteacher – Phillip Davies – and the senior management team had “worked tirelessly” to bring about improvements and standards were rising.
He added: “However, the rate and scope of improvement has not been sufficient to ensure that students make enough progress to compensate for past underachievement.”
The school is set to close in August and be replaced with an academy run by Swedish education firm Kunskapsskolan. Nick Jones will leave his post at Cabot Learning Federation in Bristol to run the new academy.
Mr Davies said: “All the staff have been working hard to make the improvements recommended and we are confident that the inspectors will agree that we have made good progress on the key priorities when they return in the summer term.”
A Richmond Council spokesman added the effectiveness of care, guidance and support at the school were rated as “good” by inspectors and they felt pupils contributed well to the wider community.
Comments(3)
Papparelli
says...
6:50am Wed 10 Mar 10
Twickenham Bob
says...
9:35am Thu 11 Mar 10
Not having a six form means the pupils are cut off from the reality that they have to get excellent marks in all their GCSEs to get into a good university.
Over the past decade spending on schools has more than doubled nationally yet in too many schools standards have not gone up.
Its not the quality of the buildings or how old the light fittings are that determines the success of the school but grit and determination of the staff and its determination to get pupils from all walks of life into University.
It is clear that a large majority of the teachers at the school want an easy life of teaching to GCSE standard and not to the much more demanding A Level standard.
The new Academy will not solve the problem because of the decision not to have a Sixth Form.
This will condemn thousands more Children in Whitton to educational under achievement and reduced earnings in their lifetime.
More Richmond News stories
- Builders in at long-derelict Twickenham site
- 7/7 survivor hopes for flower show success
- Pope will receive hand delivered copy of RTT
- BAFTA-lauded filmstar still sprightly at the age of 91
- Supergran to skydive for BHF
- Sheen Mount show sporting spirit
- New police counter opens in Richmond
- Charlie Butler decision delayed
- Love cosies up to Church Street, Twickenham
- Packed meeting hears proposals for Teddington Memorial Hospital
Confident: Whitton School acting headteacher Phillip Davies sure school will progress
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Twickenham Bob says...
9:19am Tue 9 Mar 10
At the last local election they said improving schools was their number one priority. They produced lots of emotive leaflets saying children were being let down.
They have had there chance and its time for a change