We’re heading in the right direction

Schools inspectors have swooped on a popular city secondary – giving a clean bill of health in stark contrast to its previous write-up.

Canterbury Academy was formally given “requires improvement” status when Ofsted officials paid a visit last October.

But the watchdog’s latest interim report describes a school that is “hard to identify as being the same as that described five months ago”, says head teacher Phil Karnavas.

According to the Ofsted inspectors, who dropped in on May 17: “Pupils like the school because it really meets their needs and emerging aspirations.

“For example, pupils with high academic ability and also interests in sport or the arts are very well catered for through the options available.”

While not actually changing the “Ri”status, the report is a strong indication that the Knight Avenue school is heading for a “good” or “outstanding” rating in the future.

Mr Karnavas has been publicly sceptical of the Ofsted inspection system, and says that while welcoming the report, his attitude remains unchanged.

“I still maintain that the inspection report that any school gets depends in no small way upon the lead inspector the school gets,” he says in a letter to parents.

Canterbury Academy had been rated “good” until Ofsted’s full inspection last October.

A “good” or “outstanding” rating remains unchanged for three years until the next full inspection – known as a ‘Sec- tion 5’ inspection. In October, the school saw its status reduced to “RI” following a Section 5 visit – a conclusion based largely on last summer’s disappointing exam results.

“RI” ratings bring closer oversight from the watchdog, including interim ‘Section 8’ inspections by Ofsted to check that its earlier recommendations are being carried out.

Canterbury Academy’s most recent inspection, a Section 8, concludes: “The academy sustains its clear sense of moral purpose, namely to meet closely the very diverse needs and aspi- rations of a large pupil body.

“Its vision to be a ‘school for all talents’ is formidable and complex. The passionate and inclusive attitude from the senior leadership is well understood and applied across the academy.

“The academy’s curriculum is remarkable in including a huge variety of subjects and route.”

Mr Karnavas says the report “can be seen as a recognition of the work that people have done to further improve the school since the last one”.

The Academy’s next Section 5 full inspection is not expected until later this year or even 2017.

Academy head teacher Phil Karnavas says the report “can be seen as a recognition of the work that people have done to further improve the school”