School gets thumbs up from inspectors
POYNTON High School has been given the thumbs up by education watchdogs after a recent inspection.
The school was rocked in January 2014 when Ofsted downgraded it from ‘outstanding’ to ‘needs improvement’.
In a damning report, inspectors called the leadership and governors ‘weak and reactive’ and ‘distracted by issues in the community’.
It prompted the resignation of chair of governors Malcolm Adams and a review of the school’s governance.
Since then headteacher David Waugh, who joined the school in September 2013, has been praised for his efforts to get the school back on track.
In its recent monitoring visit, inspector David Selby found the headteacher and other senior leaders “had continued their drive to improve the school” and that “the already good achievement is increasing further”.
Ofsted also found “close partnerships with other professional organisations, including the local authority’s safeguarding service, the local child and adolescent mental health service and the police” which “make an important contribution to the safeguarding of students”.
However the school has been told to take further action to: fully implement the outcomes of the review of safeguarding conducted by the local authority officers; improve the safety and security of access to the school site; review and analyse complaints and concerns to build the confidence of parents and the wider community; and keep the website up to date.
Mr Waugh said: “Particularly pleasing was the recognition of our students being ‘friendly and courteous’ and acknowledgement of our robust processes for keeping our students safe and developing their emotional health and wellbeing.
“We are one of the highest achieving schools both in Cheshire East and nationally.”