Failing school still inadequate

A WARRINGTON primary school which has twice been placed in special measures is still making inadequate progress.
The first monitoring inspection carried out by Ofsted at Stockton Heath Primary School since it was placed in special measures for the second time last summer has concluded the school is still making inadequate progress.
It was in April 2008, that the school was first judged to require special measures.
Two Ofsted inspectors carried out the most recent inspection over two days in November.
They say although pupils in Key Stage 1 made good overall progress from a lower-than-average starting point, under achievement at Key Stage 2 was still evident.
Their report states: “While some pupils are learning effectively and making up lost ground in response to good teaching, too many are not building well enough on their earlier learning because weaknesses in teaching remain.”
The report notes that headteacher Lynda Carnes is still absent from the school and that Joe Lawless, headteacher from Lymm’s Ravenbank Primary School, is acting as head, spending four days a week at the school.
Although he and deputy head Jenny McAleney were working effectively together, improvements in leadership had been slow because two teachers, one a member of the leadership team, had resigned and two other members of the leadership team were absent.
Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage achieved well and thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of stimulating learning experiences provided.
The majority of pupils in Key Stage 1 were making appropriate progress.
But the report adds: “Overall, given children’s attainment on entry to the school and at the end of Key Stage 1, standards of attainment by the end of Year 6 are not high enough and pupils are still not achieving as well as they should.”
Work has started to make teachers accountable for the progress of pupils in their classes. But while there are some early indications of improvement for some pupils, such as those with special educational needs, there is no notable evidence of the accelerated progress required, particularly for the more-able pupils at Key Stage 2.
The report says quality of teaching remains inconsistent throughout the school, with some outstanding and some inadequate.
There is some good teaching at Key Stage 2, but over half of the teaching observed by inspectors at this stage was inadequate.
Despite the best efforts of the acting head and deputy, improvements had been hindered by the absence of senior leaders and the staff’s resistance to taking on responsibilities for leading and managing subjects.
The acting head, deputy and governors recognise the need for the senior leadership team to be restructured and plans are in place and the governing body is committed to the school, keen to see it improve and has set up a specific committee to monitor and evaluate progress.
However, governors have not received the training planned to support them.