Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre placed in special measures by Ofsted

“The report was narrow,negative, data driven and irresponsible. I have 2 children at Newent and it is a good school with many positive attributes that were not included in the report. Sarah232 - students need to know how to answer and interpret exam questions - this is a skill that needs to be taught - unfortunately league tables and performance related pay based on results (introduced by the government) have meant this becomes more of a focus. The government are only really interested in English and Maths results/data - a thirst for knowledge or a well rounded child don't feature at all in their agenda.”

“Being put into Special Measures means the school is failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education AND that it is judged by Ofsted that leaders, managers or governors have not demonstrated the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.

If Ofsted had judged that the leadership had the capacity to secure the necessary improvement it would have given it a 'serious weaknesses' classification and not a 'special measures' one.

This was not addressed in the Head's letter to parents or mention made of any plans to improve the leadership and management of the school.”

“Unfortunately Newent is a victim of the political football that education has now become. Sensible parents will realise that there probably are issues that need to be addressed at the school, but putting it into "special measures" is way over the top. This government should be ashamed of the negative impact they have had on teachers and pupils at all levels of education.”

“My eldest son is in his final year, and with amazing predicted results.

I love the school, he loves the school, and my youngest in year 7 is fully supported and achieving (well above his levels)”

“Sarah, sponsored academy is very different to being an academy off their own back. I suggest you look up the facts and differences before passing judgement on that you have no actual knowledge or understanding of.”

“The judgement is unjustified and totally unrepresentative of the school. Newent is a nice school.”

“Just been talking with a family member with two children at Newent school – one of whom, a 14-year-old boy, is very bright and is doing exceptionally well. Suffice to say the letter she received from the school horrified her and I would not want to be in the head's shoes when she attends that meeting on Monday!”

“The school is already an academy after transferring in September. I have children in the school in year 9 and 8 and another child due to go up in September. Strangely I had planned to remove them from the school before this result was published, but nowmy mind has been made up.

The school's leadership is non existant. There are some excellent teachers who are really trying, however there are too many who are simply there to get their pay check and the behaviour of some of the pupils is truly appalling! The inconsistency in getting any information about the progress of your child is alarming whether they are doing well or not and i am not sure at parents evening whether they even know who my child is.

The report was truly damning and I hope that this will mean main stream fundamental change in the leadership and running of the school. Not sure i read anything positive in the whole of the report. It went to show that schools are too often teaching pupils how to answer exam questions rather than teach them about a subject to bring about a thirst for knowledge.”

“This news does not surprise me one bit. Our child went there but we pulled him out in the first year and we were not the only parents to do so.”

“How about that?! another school failing ofstead, meaning another being forced into becoming a sponsored academy I bet?!”