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Westminster Academy |
Academy must do much, much better
Inspectors slam ‘inadequate’ school as head hits back
PUPILS at a Westminster secondary school have been ordered to shape up by teaching inspectors following a damning government report.
Ofsted inspectors said youngsters at Westminster Academy were not “committed to a healthy lifestyle” and described standards at the school as “inadequate”.
Smita Bora, the headteacher at the Harrow Road school has defended its record despite being slapped with a notice to improve following the academy’s first inspection since opening in 2006. In a damage limitation exercise, Ms Bora, who has held the post since September, insisted she was “pleased” with the inspection.
The report read: “Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires significant improvement, because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform. The school is therefore given a notice to improve.
“Significant improvement is required in relation to standards and achievement in English, mathematics and science. The students’ achievement has not improved as quickly as other aspects of the academy’s work and is inadequate.
“Despite relishing the healthy food available in the ‘sky dining’ area, some older students do not participate readily in physical activity, which shows that they are not fully committed to a healthy lifestyle.
“Standards of attainment are very low for all groups of pupils. GCSE results are set to rise this year, confirming an upward trend from an exceptionally low base.”
But Ms Bora hit back, saying: “I am extremely pleased that Ofsted has recognised significant strides forward have been taken and the pace of improvement continues to accelerate.
“The rest of the report is extremely positive about many aspects of the academy: a positive culture and climate for learning, good spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. On fitness, the academy has launched an Activities Passport to celebrate a new range of sporting opportunities available during school hours, activities after school and activities they do outside of school.”
While the overall rating was “grade 4 inadequate”, inspectors did find some room for praise including the quality of sixth-form provision, the work pupils do with the local community and the “sense of fairness” between year groups.
In a letter to pupils, inspector Linda McGill said: “The academy is well placed to bring about the necessary improvements. It already has the tools it needs to do the job in its leaders, its staff and you, the students. I am confident that, if you all pull together, next year’s inspection will find that things have moved on a good deal.” |
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