Head hits back over poor mark for school
SHORESIDE Primary School, in Ainsdale, has been branded “inadequate” after Ofsted inspectors found that two governors did not have valid background checks.
Ofsted has now published the full report of its February inspection, finding the school inadequate for leadership and management; personal develop- ment, behaviour and welfare; and early years provision.
The school was also rated as needing improvement for quality of teaching and for its pupils’ results.
The Westminster Drive school has hit back at the findings of the report, arguing that it has been unfairly judged.
In relation to the two governors, it says that one had a background check (DBS) which had recently expired under newly inroduced local laws, while the other had an application pending.
The report also criticised the school’s teaching, saying that some students weren’t pushed enough, while others were allowed to become disinterested.
The report states: “The school’s main focus has been on ensuring that pupils reach the standards expected for their age.
“No targets have been set for the proportions expected to gain greater depth of understanding in subjects, and there are no targets for pupils of varying abilities.
“As a result, leaders are not able to tell whether the progress that pupils make is sufficient to ensure that they compare well with pupils across the country.”
The report also argues that pupils aren’t given enough input when working alone or in groups.
However, the school has again refuted this, arguing that lessons were only subject to brief visits and that the inspector did not listen to feedback from teachers.
Shoreside headteacher David Thomas wrote to parents in response to the report, saying the school was appealing against the findings.
He wrote: “As you can imagine, we are devastated that such a harsh judgement has been made of our school, which neither reflects the hard work of staff and pupils nor, it would seem, any of the extensive, well-documented school improvement work carried out over recent years.
“We are deeply dissatisfied, not only with the outcome but with the process that the team went through to reach their judgements.
“People who know our school well – parents, grandparents, volunteers and friends – will be able to vouch for the dedication, hard work and professionalism of our staff and the consistent good behaviour of our childrendisplayed over many years.
“At a very difficult time for staff, governor and friends of the school, we would ask that you continue to have faith in Shoreside and to give a positive view of our school to the wider community based on your experience and that of your child.”