OFSTED inspectors have said Highbridge’s King Alfred School is improving and making good progress in a brand new report.
It followed a two-day inspection at the school last month when they found that leaders and managers at the Highbridge school are taking “effective action” towards the removal of Special Measures.
OFSTED says that clear routines have been established, enabling lessons to start in a calm and purposeful manner, with good student conduct in school and classes.
They say that students show very positive attitudes to their learning while teachers engage them fully and challenge them sufficiently, with most taking pride in their work and presentation.
In addition they wrote that “leaders have taken determined action to tackle underperforming teachers,” alongside a long list of improvements across the school.
The report adds that students feel safe in school and speak positively about the school’s approach to helping them understand how to maintain good mental health.
During the visit, four inspectors visited more than 50 lessons to monitor the quality of learning and the expectations put on students in their lessons.
Since October, King Alfred School has been assisted by The Priory Learning Trust (TPLT), who are fully supporting the school to put in place measures to improve its outcomes and the school is now on course for strong GCSE results this year.
Executive Principal of TPLT, Neville Coles, and Headteacher Denise Hurr issued a joint statement to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are very pleased that OFSTED found improvement but we are not complacent.”
“We look forward to welcoming the OFSTED team back towards the end of the summer term to see further improvements. King Alfred School has the potential to become one of the very best schools in the region and we will be relentless towards achieving that aim.”
The Priory Learning Trust leads the nearby Priory Community School Academy and Worle Community School Academy, and have a good track record in school improvement.
During the OFSTED visit. inspectors observed the school’s work, scrutinised documents and met with the Executive Principal of TPLT, the Headteacher, senior and middle leaders, groups of pupils and representatives of the Interim Executive Board.
Inspectors conducted visits to lessons to observe learning, scrutinise the quality of work in pupils’ books and to look at pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to their learning.
The report found that very clear processes and procedures have been put in place to provide swift support for teachers whose teaching is deemed to be poor.
Inspectors said that where teachers fail to improve, leaders take decisive action which has raised expectations for teachers’ classroom practice and the impact it has on pupils’ outcomes.
The OFSTED team also met with members of the Interim Executive Board (IEB) who have taken over the Governance role at the school.
OFSTED stated: “The school and the Trust have quickly gained an accurate view of the school’s weaknesses and understand their responsibility, and the need, to bring about rapid improvement.”
