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Education News

Swindon’s education at centre of storm following Ofsted criticism

Education provision in Swindon only 44 per cent of 11-year-olds schools he said – about 10 per cent the national average for reading,
has been brought into sharp reaching the new expected standard compared with a national average mathematics and grammar –
focus following a highly critical in reading, writing and maths. Only of 7.5 per cent and 68 per cent including punctuation and spelling.
assessment by South West Ofsted 2 per cent of pupils received a in special schools compared to a It adds that lower writing results
director Bradley Simmons. higher standard compared with 5 national figure of 13.5 per cent. reflected the introduction of a new
But his criticisms have been met per cent nationally. Mr Simmons concludes his letter writing assessment with Swindon
with a robust defence from Swindon Children in Swindon’s secondary by urging all involved in leading and schools interpreting marking
Borough Council and teachers in schools raise similar concerns supporting these schools to take guidance very strictly whereas other
the town. with their results being below the ‘immediate action’ to bring about local authorities ‘appear to have
In an open letter Mr Simmons national expectation. rapid and sustained improvements been much more generous in their
claims that children in the town are Mr Simmons points out that across the authority. judgements.’
being failed at every key stage. recent inspections of five secondary He adds that all those involved Regarding secondary education,
He also accuses the council of schools in the town indicate ‘a must ‘act swiftly and in unison’ to the council statement reads: ‘We
being ‘defensive’ in their response trend of decline’. ensure that pupils in Swindon have share concerns about secondary
to concerns over education raised ‘While The Ridgeway School and better outcomes and the skills and education although we have some
with them on ‘at least three Sixth Form College maintained its qualifications to improve their life very good schools in the town
different occasions’. good rating, Kingsdown School chances and employment prospects. such as Ridgeway, Lydiard Park,
Turning to primary schools, he failed to improve from ‘requires Reacting to the criticisms, Warneford, Commonweal and St
singles out 2016 phonics outcomes improvement’, The Dorcan Academy Swindon Borough Council said the Joseph’s.’
as being some of the poorest in the and Isambard Community School the judgement was ‘unfair’ and It concludes: ‘On a daily basis we
country, with only 76 per cent of declined from requires improvement based on ‘selective’ data. see the good work that is going on
six-year-olds meeting the expected to inadequate.’ Addressing Mr Simmons’ in Swindon’s schools. By making
standard – placing Swindon in The proportion of pupils attending claims, the council points out his views so public in this way, Mr
the bottom of 10 local authorities a ‘good’ secondary school in that according to Ofsted’s own Simmons must have recognised the
nationally. Swindon has now reduced from the assessment, 98 per cent of early demotivating impact they would
He states that at Key Stage 1, previous 52 per cent in August 2015 years settings in the town and 92 have on teachers. In fact it has
the town’s seven-year-olds are the to just 47 per cent in September per cent of primary schools have really angered many headteachers
joint lowest performers in reading 2016. been rated good or outstanding – of good and outstanding schools
in the South West and at Key Stage The proportion of pupils receiving this being above national average. who are doing an excellent job
2, Swindon’s outcomes are amongst a fixed term exclusion is ‘alarmingly Defending primary education, the providing high class education for
the lowest in the country, with high’ in both secondary and special local authority says that pupils met children and young people.’

Westlea retains good Ofsted rating Isambard School is set to bounce back

Rose Carberry with school council members celebrating their good school
A visit by Ofsted inspectors on 19 with the vast majority saying they
October - the first in five years - would recommend the school.
found that Westlea Primary School Parents of pupils with From left, Gary Pearson, Clive Zimmerman and Jon Young
is good, despite being judged special educational needs and/
against much harder criteria. or disabilities particularly Isambard Community School has of Isambard and Gary Pearson
In a letter to headteacher Rose acknowledge the high level of huge potential and will bounce back who becomes the head teacher of
Carberry from lead inspector Jen guidance and support the school from its highly critical Ofsted report, Lydiard Park Academy.
Southall, she says the leadership provides which enables their according to new management. Mr Zimmerman explained: “This
team has maintained the good children to make strong progress The quality of teaching at the will allow us to share best practice
quality of education. The school has with their learning and social skills. school, as well as failings in between both schools.”
continued to develop and thrive Mrs Carberry said everyone is leadership and management, were Inspectors found that teaching
because of a tight focus on meeting delighted with the inspector’s highlighted in an inspection earlier was inconsistant at Isambard.
the needs of children, especially judgement. “Members of the school this year. “Individual teachers were tending
those with special educational council were brilliant, writing But a change of leadership - the to do their own thing rather than
needs and/or disabilities and the independently to the inspector and result of a partnership with Lydiard working to a common framework,”
disadvantaged. offering her refreshments when Park Academy - could turn around explained Mr Zimmerman adding
There is high expectation of they met.” the troubled school’s fortunes. that teaching, planning and
what pupils can achieve, both Year 6 pupil Abel said: “I think Leadership responsibility has assessment would benefit from a
academically and socially, given the our letter had an effect. We told now been taken on by the senior more structured approach.
additional challenges many pupils the inspector about our friendship management at Lydiard Park He added that Isambard has huge
experience. bench to make sure everybody Academy led by Clive Zimmerman, potential: “The reality is that 58 per
She says the quality of care, has somebody to play with in the Executive Head of both Isambard cent of pupils at Isambard gained
guidance and support provided playground and we also said how Community School and Lydiard Park A*-C grades in both English and
to pupils is a significant strength, much we enjoy coming to school. Academy – with both schools being Mathematics this summer, which
whilst parents are overwhelmingly A longer version of this story can run as a multi-academy trust. is exactly the same as the national
positive about the ‘all-round’ be found at Joining Mr Zimmerman is Jon average and higher than four other
education their children receive, www.bit.ly/westlea-ofsted-2016 Young as operational head teacher Swindon secondary schools.”
14 swindonlink.com n December 2016

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