Another school gets 'satisfactory' rating (From Thurrock Gazette)

Another school gets 'satisfactory' rating

8:10am Saturday 11th August 2012 in News

ANOTHER of Thurrock’s primary schools has only managed a “satisfactory” grading following an Ofsted inspection.

Despite the rating, which is the second worse the Government watchdog can give, the report on Holy Cross Catholic Primary School has a lot of positive points.

Inspectors acknowledged the South Ockendon school has had staffing problems and is now making rapid improvements.

It said: “The school meets the current government floor standard, which sets the minimum expectations for pupils’ attainment and progress.

“The school has had a considerable turnover of staff since the previous inspection. It is now fully staffed.

“This is a satisfactory school where the welcoming ethos supports and encourages pupils’ all-round development. The standards of education in this school are improving rapidly as a result of concerted efforts made by the leadership team over the past three years to move the school forward.

“The school is not good because there is not yet enough good teaching to ensure that all groups of pupils make good progress.”

In order to improve further, Ofsted has recommended the school sets more difficult tasks for its pupils.

The report added: “Standards have risen from a significantly below average level in 2009 to an average level over the past two years in English and mathematics, owing to the successful teamwork of the headteacher and staff in implementing a more rigorous system for monitoring pupils’ achievement.

“Pupils’ reading and writing skills are now much improved through the development of extended writing skills and cross-curricular topic work.

“This has successfully narrowed the gaps in pupils’ performance compared with all pupils nationally.

“Attainment in reading is above average by the end of Year 2 and average when pupils leave the school in Year 6.”

The Gazette revealed at the end of June that Thurrock has the highest proportion of just ‘satisfactory’ primary schools in thecountry.

Under a new national shake-up planned by the Government, the ‘satisfactory’ grading will change to ‘requires improvement’ next month, and schools given the new grading will be expected to make rapid changes within three years or face being put in special measures.