Ofsted have made their fourth monitoring visit to Carisbrooke College since the secondary school went into special measures in April 2013.
As with previous reports, the College is making reasonable progress towards exiting special measures and now has permission to employ newly qualified teachers.
The report (embedded below for your convenience) sets out where improvements have been made.
Highlights include:
- Good systems are in place to collect information about students’ achievement throughout the year.
- Senior leaders are working closely with subject departments to ensure that teachers are able to assess students’ work correctly and accurately.
- Leaders are increasingly adept at analysing information about students’ achievement to highlight subjects and year groups where students are doing well and where they are not.
- Students across the school are making better progress than they were a year ago.
- The gap between the attainment of students eligible for free school meals and other students is narrowing.
- Disabled students and those with special educational needs are also achieving more than before.
- Students say that the quality of teaching is better than it was last term and they are enjoying lessons much more.
- The school now has more outstanding teaching. When teaching is outstanding, lesson activities are tailored very closely to students’ interests and abilities.
- The school now has more good teaching
- Following the last monitoring visit, there was a concerted focus on improving student behaviour. Higher expectations have now been established and behaviour has improved significantly over the past term.
- The number of students excluded temporarily from school did rise after the last monitoring visit, as higher expectations were reinforced. The exclusion rate is now declining sharply again.
- Students generally behave well in lessons and disruption is now rare
- There have been some notable improvements in leadership this term.
- There has been a significant fall in staff absence and effective action has been taken to reduce the budget deficit.
- The headteacher provides considerable drive and direction for the school. He is rightly respected by staff and students for what he has achieved, for his commitment to the school and for his positive approach.
- When groups of students were asked what the best thing about the school was, a number replied: ‘the headteacher’.
- Governors have a good understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses, and are highly committed to its success.
- They offer valuable challenge and support to the school’s leaders
Conservation ward councillor for Newport West, Cllr Chris Whitehouse told OnTheWight,
“Yet again the Senior Leadership Team at Carisbrooke College is driving forward improvement. I am delighted by the news that they are making reasonable progress, though like all concerned I am impatient for further change.
“Clearly the Headteacher, Peter Shaw, is highly regarded by the students and is giving strong leadership. Well done to him and to all who are so clearly putting their shoulder to the wheel!”
Full details can be found on the report below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Image: Carisbrooke college
