Issue - items at meetings - Ofsted School Inspections

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

61.1         This item was taken after Agenda Item 57.

61.2    The Chairman changed the recommendations to say that the Chairman writes to congratulate the schools with a rating of outstanding and when the next Ofsted report comes to CYPOSC that Officers are to provide further information on the schools that were rated as “inadequate” or have a “notice to improve”.

61.3         Linda Ellis, Senior Secondary and Special Schools Adviser presented the report to members and answered questions.

61.4         In answer to a question as to what steps Portslade Community College (PCC) are taking to improve, after a “notice to improve” was served on the College at the last Ofsted Inspection, it was advised that the former Headteacher of Falmer High School had applied for the position of Headteacher at PCC and had been successful in this application. PCC had put together a pathway to improve and the College would achieve the necessary improvements required to rate themselves higher next time.

It was noted that there is also a statement of actions which the local authority has to put together e.g. additional management, leadership and financial support.

It was explained that the Inspectors would return in 6 months time, PCC is expected to get better as the results from last year have shown an improvement. If the College doesn’t improve it will go into “special measures”.

61.5         In response to a question what does the term “Executive Head” mean, it was explained that this was when a Headteacher is managing 2 schools and  that the existing Headteacher of PCC, Mark Whitby was also the Head of the Advisory Centre of Education (ACE).

61.6         RESOLVED-

(1)               The Chairman to write to and congratulate the schools that have been rated as “outstanding”.

(2)       When the next Ofsted report comes to CYPOSC, for Officers to provide further information on the schools that were rated as “inadequate” or have a “notice to improve”