Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Children being failed by weak teaching and a lack of leadership’
Damning verdict Exclusive deepLy diSappointed
Pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2 make inadequate progress. They leave the school with low standards in reading, writing and mathematics which are a long way behind other pupils nationally.
Pupils’ rates of progress are too slow because there is too much weak teaching. Many pupils underachieve, so too few pupils reach the levels of which they are capable.
Lower-attaining pupils do not apply knowledge of letters and their sounds well enough to develop their reading properly.
Teachers do not ensure lessons address the needs of pupils with different abilities.
Teachers have not been well supported or given enough help to improve their teaching.
The head teacher does not provide clear direction and the management systems are ineffective. Other leaders are held back because of the absence of support to help them develop and improve achievement and teaching.
Some pupils behave poorly in lessons and there is too much lowlevel disruption. Pupils are excluded excessively because the school does not manage their behaviour well enough.
The school lacks robust procedures to ensure good attendance. Consequently, pupils’ attendance is low and pupils are not punctual.
Governors do not hold leaders to account for pupils’ achievement and they have insufficient understanding of pupils’ progress. A troubled school dogged by questions about the curious absence of its head teacher has been placed into special measures following a damning Ofsted report, the Gazette can reveal.
Inspectors found children are being failed by weak teaching, a lack of effective leadership and high staff turnover at St John’s Primary School, which has been condemned as “inadequate” in all areas.
The scathing report, which was published yesterday (Wednesday), followed a visit on February 27 and 28 – just days after the sudden and as-yet unexplained departure of head Jo Warnock.
The three inspectors handed down the ruling – the worst a school can be given – because it is “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education” and leaders are seemingly incapable of making improvements.
They say weak teaching means pupils are achieving well below their capability and being excluded excessively because the school does not manage behaviour well enough.
Just a quarter of Year 6 children left the school last year with nationally expected levels of attainment.
Referring to the school’s governance, lead inspector Eileen Chadwick says the school “lacks a sense of direction” because the head teacher – who was granted “authorised leave” just before the visit – has not put systems in place to manage it.
She continues: “There is no deputy head teacher and senior leaders’ roles are unclear. Some senior leaders are inexperienced and not trained to lead the school when the head teacher is absent.”
Ms Chadwick says senior staff members are not held to account for pupils’ underachievement, and governors have failed to challenge the head teacher on issues including reasons for exclusions.
The document also refers to a “high teaching-staff turnover” which has forced leaders to juggle their own roles with supply teaching, causing upheaval and impacting their education.
Ms Chadwick uses the example of current Year 6 pupils, who she says had “a very turbulent” Year 5 when they were taught by “many different teachers”.
She also makes observations about the “extensive building work” going on at the school, which means classes are still being taken in temporary mobiles.
The only positive aspects identified in a long list of urgent improvements needed is the high quality of teaching in Nursery and Reception classes, and “worthwhile” playtimes.
The visit was the first full inspection since the Northgate school was formed by the merger of Kingsmead and the Diocesan and Payne Smith schools in September 2012.
In a statement responding to the report, the Canterbury Diocese said it
What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE. In a statement, the Canterbury Diocese said: “Developing the identity of St John’s Church of England Primary School as a single community has not been easy and we are grateful to the staff, governors, parents and pupils who have worked so hard to enable this to happen despite challenges around the site and building development.
“While we are deeply disappointed by the Ofsted report, we acknowledge and accept the findings.
“The diocese is committed to working closely and urgently with the local authority, the interim head and governing body to ensure that every child at St John’s Church of England Primary can flourish and reach their full potential.
“We will ensure that parents are involved and kept informed of the actions that will be taken to lift the school out of special measures and to ensure that this school becomes a place where every child will receive the very highest level of education and care.” was due to call a meeting last night, Wednesday, for parents in which the inspection outcomes were to be explained and the next steps for school improvement outlined.
A previous meeting earlier this month to discuss Ms Warnock’s absence left parents feeling even more anxious. Some threatened to pull their children out of the school after education chiefs refused to reveal why she had been put on “agreed leave” for 12 weeks – or even if she would be coming back.
Kent County Council director of education, quality and standards, Sue Rogers, said: “We are working closely with the staff, governors and the diocese to make the necessary improvements identified. Many actions have already been put in place to rapidly improve the quality of teaching.”
She added: “The county council has been providing significant support to the school and a full recovery plan will be submitted to Ofsted within the next two weeks.”