Head brings hope to the ‘forgotten school’
OFSTED PRAISES NEW LEADER AS BEGINS TURNAROUND OF ‘INADEQUATE’ HIGH
INSPECTORS say a school marred by poor leadership, unruly behaviour, low expectations and a bad curriculum ‘has been failed for far too long.’
In a scathing inspection report, Ofsted has deemed St Anne’s RC High School in Stockport to be inadequate in all areas – a drop since its last inspection, when it was deemed to require improvement.
The latest report will sadly come as no surprise to those involved with the school, which has never achieved higher than a ‘requires improvement’ grade during Ofsted’s existence. It has led to St Anne’s, which has had nine headteachers in 10 years, earning the unfortunate title ‘the forgotten school.’
The report levies damning criticism towards school leaders, governors, the Salford Diocese and Stockport council for not ‘acting with the required urgency’ to address the school’s ‘significant failings.’ As a result, it says, they have been ‘unable to create an environment in which pupils can thrive and achieve well.’ Crucially, however, the report touched on the recent appointment of new head, Dan Wright, and the implications his arrival could have for the school.
A senior Ofsted inspector went as far as to say that he is ‘bringing new hope to a dire situation.’
Dan said inspectors’ feedback has brought an added sense of validation that the robust action plan he has put in place to turn the school around is the right one.
Inspectors wrote: “Until this year, pupils have not had stability. This has changed with the arrival of the new head teacher. Pupils told us that they feel valued by him. They appreciate the genuine commitment that he has shown to the school.”
Married dad-ofthree Dan now wants to reassure the community that after uprooting his family and moving across the country, he isn’t going anywhere.
He has recruited more staff, is working closely with a national leader of education and has also appointed a new chair and vice chair to the governing body.
But he says that there has been a ‘lack of engagement’ from the local authority. He told the M.E.N. that
Stockport council was invited to a meeting with Ofsted to discuss its findings, but did not send a representative. The school has been subject to an academy order for some time, and Dan’s intention is for it to finally become an academy by this May. It would see it move away from control by the local authority and align with other Catholic schools, which Dan believes will bring greater support. Dan said: “With the best will in the world, it will take me time to turn this school around.
“It’s about appropriate planning, and not having a knee-jerk reaction to issues. It’s about having a leader in place who knows when not to panic, and can prioritise properly.”
His ambitious aim now is to gain a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted in the space of just seven school terms. He said: “It can’t not be an ambitious timeframe. We are aiming to go on an extremely rapid journey over the course of the next seven terms. “The major driving force within that is the new curriculum, which we are aiming to have in place for September 2020”.
The new curriculum, which is currently being devised, will see students learn around a central theme every half term, across all subjects.
Dan believes a sub-standard curriculum up to now has significantly contributed to the issues with behaviour.
He said: “I have great teachers but I don’t have a great curriculum. You can have the best people around you, but if what you are pushing isn’t good enough, it doesn’t matter how good the people are that are putting it across. The curriculum needs an overhaul.”
Dan also acknowledges that the systems in place to manage behaviour up to now have not been nearly good enough. His new assistant head, however, who had been in post for just 12 days when Ofsted visited, was praised for the work she has started to resolve a ‘legacy’ of poor practice in this area.
The M.E.N. asked Stockport council for comment. A spokesman from the Diocese of Salford said: “St Anne’s and the diocese are fully committed to continuing the improvements for the pupils at the school and recognise the improvements needed, which the latest Ofsted report has confirmed.”
With the best will in the world, it will take time to turn this school around
Head Dan Wright