Improved Ofsted report for schools (From Bury Times)

Improved Ofsted report for schools

6:10am Friday 19th March 2010

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MORE than half of all Bury schools visited by the Government’s education watchdog were found to be either good or outstanding.

An overall improvement was recorded by Ofsted, despite inspectors using a controversial stricter framework. New figures for schools visited in the last term show that six out of 10 received the top two grades.

Two schools were given the lowest grade, indicating they were “inadequate”.

Ian Chambers, assistant director (learning) at Bury Council, said: “Despite the challenges of a new inspection framework which is a tougher test than previously, Bury schools overall have continued to improve.

“All our special schools are now judged to be outstanding and the percentage of secondary schools judged to be good or better has risen from 57 per cent in 2008/9 to 71 per cent as a result of last term’s inspections. In addition 79 per cent of our primary schools are good or outstanding.

“One primary school which previously had been judged inadequate was given a satisfactory outcome by Ofsted in December.”

The one school judged to be outstanding was Millwood Special School; good were a pupil referral unit, St Mary’s CE in Hawkshaw, Chesham Primary School, Elton High School in Walshaw, and Prestwich Arts College; satisfactory were Peel Brow in Ramsbottom, Springside Primary; inadequate labels were placed on Park View Primary in Whitefield and All Saints CE Stand.

Elton High School’s headteacher Neil Scruton said: “The staff, students and governors were delighted that the standards of student attainment, quality of teaching and learning and student care were given such high quality recognition.

“We are now focused on moving school practice to fully outstanding.”

Nationally more schools were judged as inadequate. Half of the 2,140 schools inspected were either satisfactory or inadequate.

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