Readers will remember that Medina College was earlier this month one of the first schools to receive a new style surprise Ofsted visit.
The inspection report has been published today (see below) and reveals the inspection had been triggered because the Chief Inspector was concerned about behaviour at the school.
It will be encouraging for teachers and parents to know the Inspector was found that behaviour in the school is improving and that the Head Teacher and staff are doing well in tackling the problem.
What the inspector found
Highlights from the report include:
- Behaviour still requires improvement, but it has improved in the past 12 months.
- Students acknowledge and appreciate the improvements, but also recognise the remaining variability in behaviour between lessons.
- Students say that they feel safe and happy in school.
- Bullying is not a major issue, that any incidents are followed up rigorously and that the school takes a strict line when necessary.
- Older students say that there are now fewer disagreements.
- The vast majority of students behave well as they move around the school and at break and lunchtime.
- Students told me that there used to be a lot of poor behaviour at break and lunchtime, with people running around corridors, ‘barging’ each other, throwing food around and breaking windows.
- The headteacher sets high standards for behaviour in the school. He challenges any inappropriate behaviour, for example students in incorrect uniform or moving slowly to lessons.
- Behaviour in classrooms has also improved in the past year, although there is still some variability between lessons.
- Serious misbehaviour is now rare, although some lessons are still disrupted by a few students.
- A minority of students lack enthusiasm and do not push themselves to achieve as much as they could. This is exacerbated when the work is too easy, as it is in some lessons.
- Attendance, which was low, has improved dramatically.
Managing misbehaviour
The report goes on to say,
“The current guidelines for managing misbehaviour in the classroom are too complicated. The system is not used well and teachers across the school do not, therefore, respond consistently to minor classroom incidents.
“Leaders have recognised this. They have already done much good work to develop new procedures which are to be introduced later this term.”
Improvements required
The report ends with a priority list of improvements needed to be made,
- Ensure that all students arrive punctually to school.
- Ensure that staff consistently and effectively challenge minor misbehaviour, slow movement to lessons and incorrect uniform.
- Ensure that all teachers have sufficiently high expectations of behaviour and attitudes in lessons.
- Complete and introduce the new guidelines for managing behaviour in the classroom and then check carefully to ensure that all staff follow them consistently.
Head teacher on the move
As OnTheWight reported earlier this month, Head Teacher Nathan Thomas is leaving the Island in September 2014, to take up a headship in Andover, Hampshire.
The Ofsted report is embedded below, click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Image: quietlyurban.com under CC BY 2.0
