Snap inspections find more failing schools

Sep 29 2007 by Paul James, The Journal

NINE schools in the North-East are classed as failing – four more than this time last year.

Six schools have been added to the list under special measures, with two improving enough to leave the worst Ofsted category.

Another 12 schools have been given notice to improve by Ofsted inspectors and are deemed to require significant improvement.

Ofsted said the reason for the rise was that more schools were being inspected, and said the proportion of failing schools nationally had fallen.

But schools minister Lord Adonis said schools in special measures must improve within one year or face closure.

Education bosses in the region last night said they were confident progress was being made in the schools and they would fare better the next time they were inspected.

Across the country 8,300 schools were inspected last year, compared with 6,129 the previous year. The proportion of schools inspected that are now in special measures is 2.2%, compared with 2.7% in 2005-06.

Deemed failing since last January is West Sleekburn Middle School in Northumberland.

A county council spokeswoman said: “In the last two years, over 150 schools in Northumberland have been inspected by Ofsted. In that time only three schools have been placed on special measures or notice to improve. We are working closely with the schools to make improvements that benefit pupils.” Durham county head of achievement services David Ford said: “At Coundon, outcomes from this year’s statutory assessments show considerable improvements and the headteacher and staff are successfully implementing new approaches to teaching and learning and the new headteacher at Sherburn Hill has successfully initiated very positive changes which are addressing all of the issues of concern.

“The local authority is confident that each of the schools will emerge quickly from special measures and move forward to provide successfully for their pupil populations.” Gateshead director of learning and schools David Mitchell said: “Greenside was placed in special measures in September 2006 and is making good progress and receives regular monitoring from Ofsted and support from the local authority.”

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said Westgate School staff were working closely with education chiefs and a top-performing school to tackle Ofsted’s concerns.

“We feel that over the last term the school has made good progress and is on target to come out of special measures within the normal timescale.” Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said Ofsted’s new short-notice inspections were catching more failing schools.

“This is a welcome development as it will lead to higher standards in the long run.”

Click on the links below to see that school's inspection report in PDF format:

Alternative Centre for Education, Darlington

Alexandra First School, Ashington

Coundon Primary School, Co Durham

Greenside Primary School, Ryton

Montagu Community Full Service School, Newcastle

Sherburn Hill Primary School, Co Durham

St Marys CE  Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Shields

Westgate Hill Primary School, Newcastle

West Sleekburn Middle School, Bedlington