‘Failing’ school gets the thumbs-up from Ofsted
12:00pm Saturday 18th July 2009 in News
IT’S onwards and upwards for a group of primary school pupils who have had a rocky 12 months.
For SS Simon and Jude CE in Newport Road, Bolton, has been given a good report by Ofsted inspectors and is on track to turn its fortunes around.
The school is currently in special measures after the Government’s education watchdog deemed it as “failing” in May last year because it was not giving its pupils an acceptable standard of education.
But on their latest visit, inspectors marked the school as making good progress. Headteacher Simon Bramwell said: “We are extremely pleased with the report as it reflects the fantastic progress made by the school since the first visit in October.
“Satisfactory progress towards the removal of special measures, within the next year, is the judgement we expected and is appropriate for this stage in the process.
“The quality of teaching, improved behaviour and leadership at all levels give us great confidence that the future for the school is bright.”
He added the school was also celebrating good SATs results which were “well ahead of expectations”.
Inspectors reported: “In the present Year Six, standards are improving, particularly in science.
“Pupils have made good gains to fill in the gaps in their knowledge, understanding and skills that were a legacy of the previous provision.”
Attendance and behaviour of pupils was said to have improved as had the quality of teaching and learning.
Chairman of governors, Ned Solanki, said: “The school now gives the children a completely different experience.
“It is a calm, purposeful place where children are put first.”
l Pupils have a new outdoor classroom and play area to enjoy.
The facilities were officially opened by Bolton Council’s director of children’s services, Margaret Asquith.
