School’s results don’t add up
SATS AT TROUBLED ST MATTHEWS ANNULLED DUE TO ‘MALADMINISTRATION’
PARENTS at a Yiewsley primary school say they have not heard from or seen the school’s head since September after a SATs scandal and a shocking Ofsted inspection.
Miss Colette Richardson has not been seen by parents for over a term, claims one disgruntled dad, after the school’s maths SAT results were annulled due to “maladministration”.
Students in Year 6 at St Matthews CofE Primary School in High Street, Yiewsley, had to leave the school without a Mathematics SAT after the ruling of maladministration came through against St Matthews.
Although Miss Richardson’s name and position are still on the website, a recent Ofsted inspection at the school found every factor assessed required improvement.
My London contacted the school for comment on the allegations but had not responded to our questions as of Thursday (February 21).
While the school’s current prospectus available on their website lists their “outstanding” Ofsted inspection in 2009, the most recent inspection was actually carried out in October.
And although the 2009 inspection was flattering, it was in fact for a different school, as the school legally closed in 2013 before converting to an academy with Frays Academy Trust.
“It is important to note that, as the academy converter is a new school, which may not yet have been inspected, the inspection judgements of the predecessor school are not those of the new academy,” said Michael Cladingbowl, director of schools in the school’s own academy conversion letter.
Initially given with a day’s notice for their new inspection and scheduled to last just a day, the inspection had to be converted to a fuller ‘section 5’ inspection on the afternoon of day one and ended up lasting two days.
During that time, the effectiveness of leadership, quality of teaching, personal development and behaviour, pupil outcomes and early years’ provision were all assessed and all found to “require improvement”, the second lowest possible grade after “inadequate”.
Backed by senior staff at the school, the inspectors observed lessons in all year groups at least four times, scrutinised pupils’ work in lessons, spoke to pupils and staff and used stats on attendance behaviour records to form the comprehensive assessment.
Dated on October 2 and three this year, the report notes that there has been a recent change of leadership, with Miss Lisa Barr stepping in as the new acting head of school, having previously been the assistant head.
“As a result of recent turbulence in leadership across the school, many leaders, including middle lead- ers, are new to their roles,” inspectors wrote.
“Their evaluations of the school are overgenerous. The recent appointment of the acting headteacher has stabilised the school. She has a clear vision and has raised staff morale.
“Typically, teaching does not help pupils to grasp new concepts quickly. Adults’ questioning does not check pupils’ understanding effectively.
“As a result, pupils’ misconceptions are not clarified, which hinders their progress,” the report reads, adding that “adults’ expectations of pupils’ behaviour are not high enough”.
The school was praised for some aspects of its performance, particularly the teaching of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas to Year 6 pupils.
“The progress of pupils in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6 has consistently been well above the national averages over the previous few years”, inspectors felt.
“The proportions of Year 6 pupils attaining the expected and higher standards in reading, writing and mathematics over the last few years have been significantly above the national averages. Pupils leave the school ready for the next stage of their education.”