Head hopes to get '˜good' grading back for school

Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Primary School in Langley Green was assessed by Ofsted last month.

Inspectors said improvements were needed in the quality of teaching, the achievement of pupils and in leadership and management.

The report stated: “Teaching has not been consistently good enough across the school over time for pupils to make rapid enough progress. As a result their attainment, particularly in mathematics, is below average overall.

“Some teaching does not focus clearly enough on what pupils are to learn, but rather on keeping them occupied.”

Inspectors praised the ‘determined’ headteacher saying he had support from all the staff to improve standards. However, they had concerns about middle management.

The report stated: “Other leaders, particularly middle leaders, have not had the opportunity or developed the skills needed, to bring about improvements.”

Headteacher Tobias Melia, who started in September, said things were improving already.

“If we look at last summer, 69 per cent of our children got a Level 4 B+ where Level 4 is national average. This year 82 per cent will be achieving that. Children have done mocks tests this week.”

One area where the school performed well was in the behaviour and safety of pupils.

Inspectors also praised the school on its focus on equality, particularly considering there are pupils from 14 different ethnic groups.

Mr Melia said: “The behaviour of the children is fantastic. If you look at our inclusion groups - special needs children, children with English as a second language or have free school meals. They are doing really well.

“Forty-nine per cent of our children have English as a second language. Since September we have particularly invested time and resources into supporting these groups.

“We fully expect in two years we will get back our good grading.”