Head pledges to keep up extra effort at school
Published 16 Jun 2012 08:00
A LEADING secondary school is making "satisfactory progress" after being ordered to improve by inspectors eight months ago.
Theale Green Community School had a monitoring visit last month by an Ofsted team after it was given a notice to improve during an unannounced inspection last October.
Lead inspector Christine Raeside said: "Since the last inspection, assessment information has increased in quantity, quality and reliability.
"There is a greater awareness of the progress of individuals and groups.
"Senior leaders now monitor the quality of teaching more closely. There is a more robust intolerance of poor practice and more effective matching of training to identified weaknesses."
The school was criticised in October for the "inadequate" progress of students and poor teaching standards, but headteacher Sue Marshall, who has held the post for nine years, said the assistance of new deputy head Karl Jackson had provided a boost.
A temporary, associate headteacher, Grenville Earney, was also appointed in January and will leave his post at the end of this term.
Mrs Marshall said: "They have worked with us and allowed us to change roles around, so there is a real focus on the things that need to improve.
"There is a focus on teachers engaging with pupils and we are clear with students about what we expect from their behaviour.
"We need to make sure all students in the school are reaching their full potential, and we are trying to improve teaching all the time, regardless of the standard an individual has already reached.
"We will continue to deal with a small minority of students that are disruptive and focus on these key things to further drive up standards.
"It is a work in progress, but we are really encouraged that our progress has accelerated so quickly."
Chairman of governors Jon Chishick added: "The Inspector has recognised the tremendous effort that has gone in.
"The report has also identified what we already knew about the further support and development needed in science, the ongoing drive to improve literacy and continuing the significant progress in eradicating all inadequate teaching."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 15 Jun 12
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