Bad mark for buildings but praise for school achievements
Nov 7 2007 by Dave Black, The Journal
CLASSROOM watchdogs have highlighted growing parental concerns about the condition of buildings at an ageing Northumberland school which were recently branded “appalling” by a local MP.
In a new report, Ofsted inspectors have praised the 1,155-student Duchess’s High in Alnwick as a good and improving school with outstanding features.
They say the curriculum is excellent, the school knows its strengths and weaknesses very well and is working effectively to make further improvements.
Inspectors, who examined the school last month, also noted improving and above average results, excellent personal development and well-being of students and the care, guidance and support provided by staff.
But their report also flags up that parents, staff and students are “highly concerned” about the accommodation at the split-site school, and say many aspects are no longer fit for purpose.
It says: “Many parents feel the accommodation is inadequate and are concerned about the impact of provision which they consider is no longer fit for purpose.”
The Ofsted comments come less than a month after the state of the school’s building was raised in the House of Commons by Berwick MP Alan Beith.
At the time, Mr Beith said: “The students and staff at the Duchess’s High School work together to produce excellent results in what can only be described as appalling conditions. Alnwick needs new school buildings and cannot wait another 10 years for funding.”
Yesterday, school headteacher, Maurice Hall, said: “This is an excellent Ofsted report that really emphasises how much we have improved over the last few years.
“It is also interesting to note that the inspection team identifies the strength of feeling in the community about our accommodation and facilities. What has been achieved by everyone in the present circumstances is immense.
“The question is how much more we could achieve for the good of our young people with the right buildings and resources.”
Northumberland County Council plans to build a new high school in Alnwick as part of the reorganisation to a two-tier education system. The county has not been included in the Government’s Building Schools for the Future investment programme until 2014, but the council says the Duchess’s High is one of its next priorities.
To read the Duchess High School's Ofsted report in full, click here
