Special measures school ‘in limbo’
Last updated at 13:26, Thursday, 03 May 2012
ST Benedict’s School is STILL waiting for official confirmation that is has been placed in special measures.
The Whitehaven school was visited by Ofsted inspectors on February 27 and 28, after which it was told that weaknesses had been identified and the indications were it would be placed under the special measures sanctions when it received its official report.
The timescale for a report to reach the school is normally 10 working days, and although being placed in special measures can extend the process, the school is still awaiting the report almost 50 working days later.
The school has been given no indication what has caused the delay and cannot comment publicly on Ofsted’s findings until it receives the official report.
When contacted by The Whitehaven News, an Ofsted spokesperson would only say that when a school goes into special measures there can “sometimes be a longer quality assurance process”.
She added: “So if it is the case that this school has gone into special measures, that could explain the delay in the publication of the report.”
Ian Williams, deputy head at St Benedict’s, said: “The school was inspected on February 27/28. Unfortunately the school has not received the final report.
“The school will distribute a copy of the report to all parents. The school will organise an open parents evening to discuss the report once it is published.
“The school has kept to the timescale set out by Ofsted. The school has been given no indication as to the reason why the publication of the report has been delayed.”
However, since the school received the informal feedback at the end of Ofsted’s visit, it has begun working to eliminate a number of the weaknesses identified, but it remains in somewhat of a limbo as a full improvement action plan cannot be drawn up until the detailed verdict is received.
First published at 11:10, Thursday, 03 May 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
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In my experience of the school is that so many petty rules have been instigated that the teachers times seem to be taken up trying to enforce them, rather than spending the time teaching the kids. There also seems to be a divide with the teachers and they don't seem to be working together. In my opinion the school has gone backwards with its old fashioned rules. The children I have spoken to have lost faith and respect in the rules enforced. Rules like, not being allowed to have a coat on top of their blazers, hair of a certain length to be tied up. Not wearing too much make up (what satisfies one teacher may not satisfy another, the child may spend the whole day wearing make up and get to their last lesson, and that teacher not being happy about the amount the child is wearing). We are living in the 21st Century! The kids and some parents seem to be very fed-up of the running of the school. There are some amazing teachers there and its such a shame the school is in this situation for their sake. I sincerely hope they get to sort out the problems they are having and move forward with the leadership they deserve.
Posted by Lesley Burns on 3 May 2012 at 19:06