THE country's top

education troubleshooter is helping to turn around troubled East Brighton College of Media and Arts. Peter Clark, left, is

best-known as the

'superhead' called in to the failing Ridings School in Halifax, dubbed the worst school in Britain. GARY SPINKS reports

FOUR years ago a secondary school in Yorkshire became the most notorious in Britain.

The Ridings School in Halifax hit the headlines because it was spiralling out of control.

The main problems were disruptive children, plummeting exam results and teachers apparently unable to cope.

Riotous behaviour by some pupils was judged so dangerous by inspectors that the school was temporarily shut down.

The problems caused the head to quit and staff to threaten strike action.

Incidents involving pupils included a firework thrown at a teacher which narrowly missed, a stone hurled at another and a teacher being punched.

The mother of two teenage pupils permanently excluded from the school claimed the 13-year-old had been falsely accused of starting a fire and the 15-year old had been expelled for allegedly slashing tyres and smashing windows.

Unteachable

One teaching union collected a list from staff of 61 pupils - one in ten of the total number there - who were considered "unteachable".

There were more than 120 temporary exclusions involving 44 pupils in less than a year.

The head, Karen Stansfield, quit after the school's decision to permanently exclude a 13-year-old girl for fighting with another pupil and assaulting a teacher was overturned on appeal.

An emergency inspection of the Ridings School highlighted massive failings.

Standards of achievement were "unsatisfactory", with poor exam results.

The quality of teaching was satisfactory or better in less than 60 per cent of lessons.

Some teachers "could not control the class and ensure pupils learn effectively"

Most damning of all, inspectors said: "A number of staff, some in senior positions, have lost the will to bring about improvement."

Inspectors issued a list of action required to bring the school up to standard.

This included restoring order, improving pupil discipline and attendance, raising exam performance, and strengthening leadership and management at every level.

Peter Clark, a head teacher at neighbouring Rastrick High School, was brought in to turn the school around.

He spent a year there and for part of the time was supported by Anna White, who later became head of the Ridings School.

Their first task was to boost the image of the school.

Mr Clark declared neither the children or staff were uniquely dreadful and started the process of restoring a normal atmosphere. This included new carpets, security doors and hands-on management.

The issues of pupil attendance and discipline were tackled with firm policies, including use of the cane.

Measures were taken to improve learning in the classroom and raise staff morale and effectiveness.

Within six months there were already signs for the better.

Now, under the leadership of Anna White, the school continues to make progress but problems still remain.

A spokesman for Calderdale Metropolitan Council, the local education authority for the school, said: "The school is turning it around but there is still a long way to go."

Mr Clark wrote a book about his time at the Ridings and criticised local councillors and the council, and an early lack of decision-making by governors.

His recommendations to the Government included stopping failing schools from being forced to accept pupils excluded from other schools for at least two years, and replacing the policy of "naming and shaming" schools with the term "naming and supporting."

Efforts

Following the award of a CBE in 1998, he said: "The Ridings' recovery was down to a lot of other people's efforts. The Ridings was just one short episode in my career."

He said teaching was one of the toughest jobs. "People who criticise teachers do not have to work to the same standards of

performance all day every day in their own working lives."

Mr Clark, now back as head of Rastrick High, is shortly to take up a role as a Government adviser.

His most immediate task is to help transform the fortunes of East Brighton College of Media and Arts.

The school does not have the severity of problems faced by the Ridings four years ago but is being forced to make improvements.

It opened in September last year following the closure of Marina High School under the Government's Fresh Start initiative.

In December Brighton and Hove's education chief David Hawker wrote to the governing body with concerns about pupil behaviour, attendance, high exclusion rates and staff morale. Despite some improvements he says those concerns remain.

The college has been rocked by the decision of principal Tony Garwood to quit in the summer.

He claimed a new head teacher, with "different skills", was needed to complete the college's task.

The search for his replacement is under way.

Mr Clark has already spent two days at the school and is expected to set out recommendations for change within a week.

Mr Hawker said: "Mr Clark has a very good reputation as a solid, competent head teacher.

"I called him in because I know what he can do."

Chairman of governors Derek Bown said East Brighton College of Media and Arts had already begun making improvements and new staff were starting after Easter.

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