5
Report to Scrutiny Panel
Name of Scrutiny Panel
Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel
Meeting Date
22 July 2008
Subject
OFSTED inspections of Calderdale maintained schools
Wards Affected
ALL
Report of
Group Director, Children and Young People’s Services
Type of Item
(please tick)
Review existing policy
Development of new policy
Performance management (including financial)
Briefing (including potential areas for scrutiny)
Statutory consultation
Council request
Cabinet request
Member request for scrutiny (CCFA)
Why is it coming here?
To enable the panel to scrutinise the impact of support from Council services, and in
particular the School Improvement Service, in the schools who are or have been in an
OFSTED category and to receive an overview of OFSTED judgements for schools
inspected since September 2006.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Elland CE (VA) Primary School (Notice to Improve)
Moorside Community Primary School (Notice to Improve)
Mount Pellon J & I School (Special Measures, December 2007)
St Catherine’s Catholic High School (Special Measures)
The Ridings School (Special Measures)
Summary of OFSTED inspections since September 2006
√
What are the key points?
This report provides an update as follows:
1. Elland CE (VA) Primary School – this school has now been judged as satisfactory
by OFSTED and is no longer in a category.
2. Moorside Community Primary School – this school has now been judged to be
good by OFSTED and is no longer in a category.
3. Mount Pellon J & I School – an update following the recent OFSTED review.
4. St Catherine’s Catholic High School - an update on the most recent HMI visit as
part of the ongoing monitoring under ‘Special Measures’ designation.
5. The Ridings School - an update on the most recent HMI visit as part of the ongoing
monitoring under ‘Special Measures’ designation.
6. Summary of OFSTED inspections since September 2006.
Possible course of action
To receive an annual update on the outcomes of OFSTED inspections of Calderdale
schools.
To receive a presentation later in the year from schools that have participated in the pilot
inspections for the proposed new OFSTED inspection framework to be introduced
nationally in September 2009.
Contact officer
Lawrence Killian, (items 1 to 3 and 6) and Mary Jackson, (items 4, 5 and 6)
Principal School Link Officer, Learning 3 -11 and Principal School Link Officer, Learning
11-19
01422 394103 and 01422 394104
[email protected] [email protected]
Should this report be exempt?
No
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Report to Scrutiny Panel
1.
Background
1.1. At some time during the 2007/8 school year there have been five schools in
OFSTED categories, three in Special measures and two in Notice to Improve.
At the current time there are no schools in Notice to Improve and three that
require Special Measures. This report highlights the progress made by all these
schools and the impact of the support provided by Council services.
1.2. In the current round of OFSTED inspections all but two Calderdale schools
have been inspected. This report gives an outline of the judgements made by
OFSTED on Calderdale’s primary and secondary schools.
2.
Main issues for Scrutiny
Schools in an OFSTED category 2007 - current
2.1. Elland CE (VA) Primary School – this school has now been judged as
satisfactory by OFSTED and is no longer in a category, having been inspected
in February 2008. Local Authority support was praised by inspectors.
2.2. Moorside Community Primary School – this school has now been judged to be
good by OFSTED and is no longer in a category, having been inspected in June
2008. Local Authority support was also praised in this school by Inspectors and
we have received formal thanks from the governing body for the good support
given to the school.
2.3. Mount Pellon J & I School – The following text is an extract from the last
OFSTED Review on 29/30 April 2008:
2.3.1.
The LA is now providing suitable support to the school. Their
intervention has encompassed all the improvement areas, with a
particular focus upon improving the quality of teaching and learning,
and accelerating pupil progress. There is ongoing support from a range
of the LA’s advisers and consultants, including the literacy coordinator,
behaviour and attendance consultants and the school improvement
adviser. The school is also working with a partner primary school to
improve the quality of teaching and learning and enhance curriculum
provision. The LA’s statement of action meets requirements. The
proposed actions are relevant, clear and specific. The LA judges that
there is no scope for closure of this school at this time and has not
exercised its powers to appoint additional governors.
2.4. St Catherine’s Catholic High School:
2.4.1.
The school was visited by HMI on 9 and 10 April 2008. The visit was the
fourth monitoring inspection since the school became subject to Special
Measures in September 2006.
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2.4.2.
The main judgements are: progress since being subject to Special
Measures – satisfactory. Progress since previous monitoring inspection
– satisfactory.
2.4.3.
The following is an extract from the inspection report indicating the
ongoing level of LA support: ‘The LA continues to give extensive
support to the school across a broad range of its work. Most significant
is the contribution of the seconded deputy headteacher whose support
in the development of: an effective assessment and tracking system; a
coherent monitoring and evaluation programme; a curriculum review for
the coming academic year and timetable to facilitate appropriate
changes; senior leadership roles, has been crucial to improvements to
date and planning for the school’s future. This term the LA has also
seconded an officer with expertise in inclusion to help the school both in
meeting statutory requirements for students with special educational
needs and in developing an integrated support and guidance structure.’
2.4.4.
The LA and school continue to work within the agreed LA/School action
plan’.
2.5. The Ridings School
2.5.1.
The school was visited by HMI on 4 and 5 March 2008. The visit was
the third monitoring inspection since the school became subject to
Special Measures in January 2007. The main judgements are:
Progress since being subject to Special Measures – good. Progress
since previous monitoring inspection – good
2.5.2.
The following are extracts from the inspection report indicating the
ongoing level of LA support: Regarding IAG and PA support for pupils
during transition: ‘Year 9 transition to other schools in the summer has
been very well managed by the deputy headteacher supported by a
colleague from the Connexions service. With only one exception, the
students have been accepted into their first choice of school and school
staff have undertaken the initial contacts with the receiving schools;
sharing targets and facilitating the choice of courses in Key Stage 4 for
these students. The school has negotiated the payment of transport
costs and basic uniform requirements for all students on transition.
These processes are planned to be replicated next year and current
Year 7 and 8 students report that they are motivated to stay at the
school until these processes can be facilitated for them.’
2.5.3.
The report continues: The LA continues to support the school. The
school link officer works closely with the deputy headteacher to ensure
LA support is appropriate and effective. A Human Resources
professional continues to support the school. The school improvement
officer attends all IEB meetings and has made a significant contribution
to the plans for a smooth transition for the current Year 9 students.
2.5.4.
The LA and school continue to work within the agreed LA/School action
plan’.
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Summary of OFSTED inspection gradings
2.6. The present summary position showing OFSTED gradings for all Calderdale
Schools since September 2006 is as follows:
PHASE
Good
Satisfactory Inadequate
(or better)
69%
29%
1%
61%
34%
5%
Primary
National1
Secondary
National
50%
51%
38%
39%
13%
10%
2.7. This is a good picture with the higher than national average percentage of
schools in Calderdale being judged as good or better by OFSTED.
2.8. Members are asked to note:
3.
2.8.1.
the mainly good progress being made by our schools in OFSTED
categories and the reduction in schools in categories over the course of
the school year; and
2.8.2.
the level of authority support provided to schools in OFSTED categories
and the positive referencing of such support within the OFSTED
reports.
Consultation
3.1. Local Authority action plans are produced for all schools in OFSTED categories.
These are produced in consultation with schools and are sent to OFSTED for
approval. They are also approved by Cabinet.
3.2. Offices and consultants work with governors and staff to implement and monitor
these action plans. In consultation with the appropriate schools, action plans are
revised following Local Authority or HMI reviews in the schools.
4.
Further action and timescales
4.1. Further actions to support these schools will be defined in accordance with our
Securing School improvement Policy and through targeted support and
intervention via the primary and secondary national strategies. Stewart Bradley
is responsible for this as Head of the School Improvement Service.
5.
Options appraisals
5.1. The options taken in supporting these schools and all schools in their
preparation for external scrutiny from OFSTED are defined in the Securing
School Improvement Policy. Scrutiny can contribute to this through further
requests for information and progress reports in the future.
1
National figures show results for 2006/2007
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6.
Conclusion
6.1. Good progress has been made in challenging and supporting schools in
OFSTED categories. This has led to two schools coming out of categories this
year and positive feedback has been received from OFSTED about progress in
the other schools.
6.2. We are now coming to the end of the current cycle of OFSTED inspections.
Two schools remain to be inspected before the next round of inspections which
will commence in September 2008.
6.3. OFSTED is currently consulting on a revised framework which will be
introduced nationally in September 2009. Calderdale has been asked to assist
in the pilot of the new framework and two schools, Woodhouse Primary and Ash
Green Primary, have been recently inspected as part of this pilot process.
7.
Appendices
7.1. None required.
8.
Background documents
8.1. OFSTED inspection reports for all of the schools.
8.2. OFSTED review findings and reports for all of the schools.
8.3. Local Authority review reports for all of the schools.
8.4. Securing School Improvement Policy – Revised January 2007.
9.
Documents available for inspection at
9.1. The Heath Training and Development Centre, Free School Lane, Halifax HX1
2PT.
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