High school under fire again
A ONCE outstanding secondary school has come under fire from Ofsted again for failing to take ‘effective action’ to pull it out of special measures.
St Monica’s RC High School in Prestwich was slammed by the education watchdog after being inspected at the beginning of 2018. The school now faces further criticism after inspectors went back in October.
Ofsted, publishing the findings of its monitoring visit, said leaders and managers at St Monica’s were ‘not taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.’ “The school’s improvement plan is not fit for purpose,” a letter to the school said.
St Monica’s will be allowed to appoint newly qualified teachers (NQTs) before the next monitoring inspection.
The local authority’s improvement plan, in place alongside the school’s, was described as ‘fit for purpose.’
The full report in February slated standards at St Monica’s, which was rated ‘outstanding’ at its three previous inspections. Pupils studying maths at the once highly-regarded school made some of the ‘worst progress in the country,’ the report revealed – while disabled youngsters and children with special educational needs were also ‘illegally excluded.’
The report said it was ‘failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education’ and boys ‘underachieved dramatically right across the school.’
St Monica’s was told it has two years to turn things around.
Bury council said a new board of governors – an interim executive board – had taken ‘immediate action’ to address the shortcomings in leadership and management at the school since February. The board is working on better outcomes for Year 11 pupils, while seeking support from another school to improve teaching and leadership at St Monica’s.
John Costello, chair of the interim executive board, said: “Bury council, the diocese, the interim executive board and the staff at St Monica’s are committed to continue working together and with parents and the community, to ensure that the quality of education experience for pupils is rapidly improved, in order to provide them with the high quality of education they deserve. Although there is clearly still much to, we were encouraged that inspectors have reported that the school is now in a better position to move forward, recognising the leaders’ commitment and passion for improvement, with early signs evident in the positive overall uplift of examination results in summer 2018.’’