School's joy at Ofsted improvement

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Tuesday 11th May 2004.

The hard work of children, parents and teachers has been hailed for pulling a school out of serious weaknesses.

Inspectors recently gave the all clear to Nab Wood School on Cottingley New Road, after an Ofsted inspection in 2001 said it lacked in some areas.

The 2001 report said: "In spite of satisfactory teaching overall, and good teaching in the sixth form, standards are too low in years nine and 11 and not all students achieve as well as they should. Standards of behaviour are unsatisfactory and the school is not, therefore, effective for all its students."

But the recent report noted that although standards were still below average, achievement was good at the large comprehensive. More than half the students are from ethnic minorities and students' attainment when they start the school is below average.

Head teacher Helen Lynch said: "There has been a huge amount of work and it has involved everybody - staff, students and parents and we are delighted with the news.

"One Ofsted report can damn you but having had a successful Ofsted, you are starting from a much more secure platform to improve again. I look at our improvement here as a journey. We have overcome the stony part and are onto smoother ground but we will carry on improving."

To respond to the last report, the school set up a number of initiatives. "One of the main things we did was sort out a code of conduct which has shown pupils and parents exactly what we expect from them. It has taken time to embed but behaviour has stabilised now," said Mrs Lynch.

The recent inspection concluded: "This is an effective school and one that provides a good quality of education for all students."

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