School’s Ofsted rating dropped
PUPILS at a Nuneaton school have not been making the progress they should, according to the school’s most recent Ofsted report.
Hartshill School has dropped down a rating from good to requires improvement after what it has called a ‘dip’ in performance.
Following an inspection of the school, the government regulator has handed it the second lowest rating in every category.
Findings in the report, which was published this month, included that children were not achieving as well as they should be and the quality of teaching was varied.
The report said: “In 2016, too many pupils did not make the progress they should from their starting points.
“Disadvantaged pupils underachieved by the time they left the school.
“The gaps between the attainment and progress of disadvantaged pupils and those of their peers in their examination results widened.”
In all categories, which are effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare and outcomes for pupils, the school was rated requires improvement.
The results of exams in 2016 were described in the report as “weak”.
It added: “The progress of the most able pupils requires improvement. Although these pupils make good progress in English, too few pupils attain the highest grades.
“These inconsistencies are also evident in the achievements of current pupils.
“The school is not yet providing these pupils with the teaching that deepens their knowledge in all the subjects they study.”
In order to be rated good next time, the school has been told it needs to improve teaching, improve attendance and improve behaviour around the school.
Despite being told that standards had dropped since the last Ofsted inspection, the school was found to have a number of strengths.
These included praise of the newly-appointed principal, good achievements in English, and good care for pupils’ personal development and wellbeing as a result of the staff knowing the children well.
Ofsted also noted that school leaders had accurately identified areas that needed to improve and were acting to tackle them,
Following the publication of the report, a statement was published on the school’s website updating parents.
The school said they all know there is room for improvement but was pleased the inspector noticed that work was ongoing to address weak areas.
In the school’s message to parents, Principal Michelle Oliphant added: “I am confident, as were inspectors that Hartshill School will receive a “Good” judgement within the next 18 months and I would like to thank you all for the pos- itive comments you submitted to inspectors and your ongoing support for raising standards of learning and behaviour at our school.”
Midland Academies Trust, which runs Hartshil School, said: “The judgement given by Ofsted Inspectors in Hartshill School’s inspection report is welcomed by the Trust. We feel it rightly identifies many of our strengths, particularly relating to the recent new leadership of the school, as well as highquality pupil and teacher relationships, and that our students feel safe.
“However, we do acknowledge that the judgement represents a dip in Ofsted measured performance, and the Trust is working hard on the areas that require improvement, and is providing the school with new, stable leadership to improve outcomes in teaching and learning for all Hartshill pupils.”