Standards rising at Willenhall school in special measures

Lodge Farm Junior Mixed and Infant School, in Willenhall, was placed into special measures following an Ofsted inspection in 2013.

A recently published report, following the inspection last month, said some improvements had been made at the school in Furzebank Way, but more needed to be done.

It said academic standards remain low across the school, but are rising and are rising faster in key stage two than in key stage one.

Inspectors said writing was improving across almost all the school but progress in reading had stalled for the youngest pupils.

They said the quality of teaching remained 'variable'.

Inspector Angela Westington said: It is improving in key stage two, but has stalled in parts of key stage one and the early years foundation stage where much of the teaching is carried out by supply teachers.

"This is not a reflection on the individual teachers, because supply teachers in key stage two are doing a sterling job; but, the number and combination of supply teachers, staff absences and job shares in the lower school are making more difficult the task of embedding and building upon agreed routines and instilling higher expectations.

"Despite this, there has been a determined focus on raising the quality of teaching through professional development for all, and personalised support for individual, members of staff.

"Staff have undertaken a wide range of training and development, visited supporting schools and worked alongside colleagues on all aspects of their work."

Leadership was also praised.

Ms Westington said the headteacher, Stella Porter, continued to work extremely hard.

She said: "As well as overseeing building works and securing various grants, for example for kitchen refurbishments, she drives change at the strategic level.

"She has ensured the implementation of the new curriculum, provided new mathematics textbooks and resources and new non-fiction reading books linked directly to the new curriculum.

"She has ensured that staff undertake a raft of training and professional development and follows up all recommendations from external reviews. She works tirelessly for the school.

"She is not, though, checking up enough in classrooms and in lessons to see for herself whether actions have been carried out as agreed or directed."

The report said the interim executive board also continues to play a strong and active role in the school's development.

It added: "Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time the school is making reasonable progress towards the removal of special measures.

"The school may appoint one newly qualified teacher before the next monitoring inspection."