‘Inadequate’ school making progress, says Ofsted
A SOUTHPORT primary school rated “inadequate” by Ofsted inspectors is said to be making progress under its new head teacher.
St Teresa’s Catholic Infant and Nursery School, in Everton Road, was judged “outstanding” in July 2013.
But a report last month stated that while effectiveness of leadership and management, personal development and welfare and early years provision were judged to require improvement, its quality of teaching and the outcomes for pupils were inadequate.
The report said there has been a decline in standards, much of the teaching was weak, and, disadvantaged pupils were being failed.
However, the findings backed the school’s new headteacher and said she had given St Teresa’s a new lease of life.
It said: “Since she has joined the school, the head teacher, supported by the governing body, has taken decisive and effective action to address weaknesses in safeguarding, early years, pupil conduct around school and the teaching of phonics.”
Although the school has been judged inadequate, the report acknowledged that the head had been swift to act and as a result of her actions, supported by the local authority and archdiocese, a new curriculum was in place with daily mathematics, reading and writing lessons so that all pupils spent enough time securing basic skills.
Parents of early years children who spoke to the inspector have been pleased with how well their children have settled in.
Head teacher Eleanor Daniels said: ‘Obviously the whole school is disappointed with current outcomes but our priority is and always will be for all our pupils to get the best start in their education journey and I am intent on making this happen at what I class an amazing school.’
The school said farewell to its previous head, Anna Gavin, in July 2015.