Ofsted report swayed by GCSE results, says head

By Kelly Eve Education reporter

Last updated 12:10, Sunday, 25 May 2008

THE executive headteacher of a Cumbrian secondary school says its latest Ofsted inspection was “heavily influenced” by poor GCSE results last summer.

Work acknowledged: Andy Abernethy, head at Caldew School

Caldew School has been rated as satisfactory following a recent inspection.

The report, published this week, also states the Dalston school has many good features including standards of teaching, pupils’ personal development, support and care and its curriculum.

In some cases lessons were said to be “outstanding”.

But Andy Abernethy says the overall outcome is lower because it is likely inspectors put too much emphasis on the school’s GCSEs results last summer, which were not as good as in previous years.

In August 2007, 58 per cent of Caldew’s pupils got five A-C GCSEs compared to the national average of 60 per cent. Twelve months earlier Caldew’s figure was 64 per cent compared to 58 per cent nationally.

Mr Abernethy said: “I think this report says more about the current Ofsted framework than it does about Caldew.

“Everyone knows that Caldew is a good school. We have already agreed that our results last year were not up to our usual high standards and have worked very hard to ensure that next year’s are better.

“But last year’s results seem to have heavily influenced the inspectors’ overall judgement.”

He added: “Had Ofsted visited last year or next, I am sure their verdict would have been better, especially as so much of the detail praises so many aspects of our work.”

He said that the school would keep the judgement “in perspective”.

“If you go to a doctor to receive the result of tests and are told ‘everything is satisfactory’, you are usually delighted,” he said.

“Well, this inspection confirms that everything at Caldew is in working order. We are already determined to ensure that next time inspectors arrive we are in the peak of health so that our good work is fully acknowledged.”

Inspector Peter Cox, in his report, said: “Caldew School provides a satisfactory education.

“The executive headteacher and headteacher, with the support of a committed senior and middle leadership team, have brought about improvements in the quality and monitoring of teaching and learning, and the tracking of pupils’ performance.

“As a result, pupils’ achievement has improved this school year and there is convincing evidence that the decline in standards seen in the 2007 results has been reversed.”

Inspectors praised the support for and personal development of pupils.

Attendance has improved and is now above the national average.

The school’s business and enterprise specialism has boosted facilities but some students are not clear about what it means or how it can influence lessons and learning. The school’s recently introduced mixed-age registration groups are proving a success, allowing pupils to integrate across year groups and give advice to younger children.

Leadership and management at all levels are deemed to be satisfactory with inspectors acknowledging the school’s difficulty to recruit subject leaders and specialist teachers, particularly in maths.

Mr Abernethy also said a high proportion of the lessons observed by inspectors were judged to be of good or outstanding quality.

The report reads: “Most teachers prepare lessons that interest and motivate their pupils to reach challenging targets.

“Teachers often use a rich and varied range of activities that progress pupils’ learning well.”

Caldew School has been asked to ensure that there is sustained improvement in achievement and standards across the school, particularly in core subjects of English, maths and science. The school is also asked to improve its analysis and use of assessment data and stabilise leadership across all levels to help raise standards.