Newent Community School given six months to pull itself out of special measures after Ofsted report
STAFF at Newent Community School have been left 'disappointed' after it was placed in special measures following an Ofsted report.
The news emerged on Thursday night following an inspection on January 10.
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Newent Community School headteacher Jane Steele
Headteacher Jane Steele said a 'robust' action plan was being drawn up to address problems before inspectors returned in six months.
The full report has not yet been published on Ofsted's website but issues raised include pupils of lower ability and with special educational needs not doing well enough and the quality of marking and feedback being inconsistent.
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Parents and pupils have been quick to both criticise and defend the Watery Lane school, which became an academy in September.
One dad, who did not want to be named, said: "I have a child who is bullied severely at the school and the teachers have handled it in an atrocious fashion. Despite my child reporting the incidents, very little has been done and they live in fear of actually going to school."
But another parent had great things to say about Newent.
"I was shocked when I saw the report," they said. "Our son has a great time there."
The mum said the report had praised the excellent sixth form and departments such as history and art.
Being put in special measures means the school is failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education.
Mrs Steele is due to meet with parents on Monday to discuss the issues and said: "Clearly we are extremely disappointed that the school has been placed in special measures.
"It is a successful school and we feel very disappointed the report doesn't acknowledge a lot of our strengths."
Comments
by NCSParent
Sunday, February 24 2013, 9:49PM
“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.”