Bad report for primary school (From The Argus)
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Bad report for Teslcombe Cliffs primary school
4:30pm Friday 14th December 2012 in News By Peter Truman
A primary school which five years ago was in the top half of those in East Sussex, has been put in special measures.
Inspectors from Ofsted found standards at Telscombe Cliffs Primary School were inadequate and needed to make rapid improvement.
It marks the nadir in the school’s performance having been rated 59th in East Sussex’s league table of primary schools in 2007.
The school and East Sussex County Council have met to discuss the report and put plans in place to ensure standards improve.
Headteacher Gill Webb said: “I am very disappointed with this report and we know this presents us with significant challenges.
“However I do know we are well placed to address these weaknesses.”
A statement issued by the school governors said they believed the report provided a “great opportunity” to make Telscombe Cliffs better.
It added: “We would like to acknowledge our hard working, loyal and committed staff and we look forward to working with our staff, parents and most importantly our children, to secure positive future outcomes for Telscombe Cliffs.”
Some good news
The key issues raised by inspectors were standards in writing and maths, the overall quality of teaching, weaknesses in leadership and management across the school and the governors not having a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the school.
The report was not all negative, with Ofsted inspectors highlighting how pupils’ behaviour was reported as being good and that pupils particularly enjoy lessons where teachers made links between subjects.
They also said that pupils felt safe and that attendance was above average.
Ofsted also praised the good attention the school provided for pupils’ welfare.
The report raises the question of whether the school will be forced to become an academy.
Education Minister Michael Gove wrote to Sussex MPs last month criticising East Sussex County Council and saying primary schools were not improving enough.
He made clear his preference was for every failing primary school to become a sponsored academy.
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Comments(6)
john newman
says...
5:06pm Fri 14 Dec 12
mimseycal
says...
8:34am Sat 15 Dec 12
The fact that the children feel safe and secure at the school, the fact that attendance was above average and that the pupils welfare is provided for in conjuction with this being in a reasonably affluent area which is unlikely to seek Academy status for itself unless forced to sort of forces the question really.
seagullslover
says...
8:10pm Sun 16 Dec 12
matlock
says...
1:38am Tue 18 Dec 12
trystero
says...
11:01pm Tue 18 Dec 12
matlock wrote:I blame "The Greens". And the people who can't spell "governors".
Leadership problems start at the top. The school needs a change of govenors and a new head if it is to reverse its current trend.
The Gnome says...
4:57pm Fri 14 Dec 12