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Pledge to improve school
18th November 2009
Leaders at Burleigh Community College have pledged to bring the school out of special measures as a matter or urgency.
The college was one of the first schools in the County to be inspected under Ofsted’s new more stringent arrangements.
The school was judged to need ‘special measures’ – much to the disappointment of the leadership, governors and the Local Authority
Inspectors highlighted three main areas of concern. They were: safeguarding procedures; exam results and the capacity of the college to improve.
The school addressed the first issue within minutes and is already working on actions plans to address the second and third.
Safeguarding procedures
The issue of the school’s policies and procedures, for safeguarding and equalities, was the result of an administrative oversight.
The school had done all appropriate vetting checks of staff, but not transferred some recent details to the single central record – which took a few minutes to rectify. However, this wasn’t acceptable to the inspector. In the previous method of inspections this would not have led to an inadequate judgement.
Ofsted actually judged that students in the college feel safe. In addition, Ofsted found that 92% of parents felt the school keeps their children safe.
Exam results
Inspections now focus on pupils’ results in comparison with the national average and their progress during their time at a school.
Inspectors judged pupils’ progress as satisfactory overall but stated that the school was below the national averages for attainment in English and Maths at the end of Key Stage Four.
Progress made by students at Burleigh compares favourably with many other schools and colleges in the County and exam results have improved considerably over the last four years.
The college is already working on its action plan to ensure pupils’ attainment is improved. Areas already identified for work are to:
Provide more training and support for teachers
Improve tracking of students progress and provide additional classes for students falling behind
Ensure classroom teaching and learning is always a high quality
Provide more support to students when choosing their courses from the curriculum, which was judged as good by inspectors
Improve feedback to students on their work
Conduct more analysis of the effectiveness of new policies and practices
Work in partnership with local high schools to ensure pupils are fully prepared for their transition to Burleigh.
Improving its leadership and management approaches.
Capacity to improve
The senior leadership at the college and the governors all believe that, with help and support from the Local Authority, they will have the capacity to improve exam results at the school.
John Smith, Executive Principal at the school, said: "While we are obviously very disappointed with the outcome, we are already working hard within the school and with the help of the Local Authority, to ensure we make the necessary improvements.
"We believe that all the main partners for the school still think this is an effective school. However, we acknowledge the fact that improvements are needed in attainment, particularly in English and maths.
Andy Martin chair of governors, said: "The governors believe the College, including ourselves, have the capacity to improve the school, with the help of the LA."
Marie Davis, Parent Governor, said: "As a parent Governor I am very disappointed with the report but am confident that the staff and the leadership will work hard to improve standards in the specific areas highlighted by the report."
Tony Mulhearn, Assistant Director for the Local Authority’s Children and Young People’s Service, said: "We are actively working with the senior leadership team to provide as many resources as possible to help the school make improvements. We are supportive of the school and the leadership. We will do all we can to help improve attainment and management.
"The Local Authority has a proven track record of working with schools in order for them to be removed from Ofsted categories within specified times."
The college now has up to two years to make improvements and for these to be reflected in pupils’ exam results. Ofsted inspectors will visit the college every term to monitor progress.
