Wolverhampton school which was ‘in need of improvement’ is meeting requirements
The headteacher of a secondary school in Wolverhampton that was deemed in need of improvement in 2016 and 2019, has said it is meeting all necessary requirements following a standard monitoring visit from Ofsted.
Smestow School in Windmill Crescent, in Castlecroft, converted to become an academy in 2014 and had initially struggled to handle a large turnover of staff, officials said after last year’s full Ofsted inspection.
Following the routine visit, executive headteacher Clive Jones said the visit was standard practice at all academies following the start of the new school year.
He said: “The purpose of these visits is to make reference to the fact that the school has opened effectively, which it has.
“We are meeting all the necessary requirements – and going above – following the school’s safe return. And we are taking every possible measure to ensure all our pupils and staff are kept safe, which is a good thing for everyone."
“This visit has no bearing on the last full inspection and the school is doing exactly what is required of it,” added Mr Jones, who was previously headteacher at Smestow’s sister school Wednesfield High.
A follow-up letter to the school from Ofsted inspector Bianka Zemke said: “Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements.
“We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work.
“During the visit we spoke to members of your senior leadership team and the senior leaders responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.”
The letter noted that the school had opened to all pupils on September 3 this year, with pupils attending on a full-time basis.
However, attendance rates were recorded as being below normal for the time of year, which Ms Zemke said the school put down to the Covid-19 situation, adding that it was working with families and outside agencies to improve on.
The letter went on: “Pupils in all year groups are studying their normal range of subjects, (although) you have changed the allocated teaching time for some subjects.
“For example, pupils in all year groups are now spending more time studying English than previously. (However) you plan to return to the normal timetable allocations for all subjects by the end of this academic year.”
The last full Ofsted inspection, conducted by Lead Inspector Deborah James in May 2019, noted that the school still “required improvement” at the time.
However, it added: “The school’s approach to safeguarding is very effective. A caring and dedicated team of staff work closely with parents, carers and pupils, who generally agree that they feel safe in school with most behaving well.”
