THE SCHOOL named as the worst performing secondary in Coventry by Ofsted has been rated as ‘Inadequate’, its report shows today (March 3).
Inspectors say Whitley Academy ‘does not give pupils an acceptable education’.
The former Whitley Abbey school is criticised by Ofsted for poor attendance, high turnover of staff, and its lack of governors.
The board of governors resigned en masse late last year.
Whitley Academy’s inadequate rating is the worst a school can receive before the Department for Education puts it in special measures.
Six years ago, Ofsted rated the school as ‘outstanding’.
Its last rating in January last year was “requires improvement”.
In the ‘Progress 8′ national school league tables published last month, Ofsted’s scoring showed Whitley Academy to be the worst performing school in Coventry.
In a summary of inspectors’ findings, Ofsted highlighted the stressful conditions faced by teachers: “Recent months have been very difficult for the school and its senior leaders – several staff members have left the school and others have been absent.
“Most of the school’s governors resigned in December 2019. Senior leaders have taken on additional responsibilities and several now teach for a high proportion of the week. Senior leaders do not have the time they need to carry out their responsibilities adequately.
“The situation is not sustainable.”
Despite its challenging situation, the schools watchdog said many pupils felt safe and happy at the school, and there is no issue with bullying.
But badly behaved children and poor attendance were cause for concern, it said.
“The behaviour of some pupils is a serious concern. Too many lessons are affected by low-level or significant disruption.
“Lunchtimes and breaktimes are far from calm.
“Even when staff are present, some pupils do not behave well. Too many pupils are late to school and slow to move from one lesson to the next.”
The declining attendance rate among Year 11 pupils was highlighted as an urgent concern in the report.
Senior staff are aware of issues and are actively working with Coventry City Council to improve education.
In a statement to the Observer, acting principal Miss S. Bloom said: “Since the [January] inspection, the most experienced colleagues – in educational leadership and governance – have been deployed to support a dramatic improvement at Whitley Academy.
“A new Interim Executive Board has met twice; membership has retained some of the expertise that already existed but has built on this with experienced experts in governance – including the new chair, who is a National Leader of Governance.
“In terms of rapid improvement, through working with the council and Coventry Education Partnership, school leaders are being supported by a National Leader of Education, who is an experienced local Executive Headteacher. There is also an additional senior School Improvement Leader who will be based at the school for two days every week.”
Miss Bloom added the school had joined a new teaching trust and written a strategy for improvement.
She said: “Staff and students were involved in preparing the strategy and so it accurately reflects the areas where improvement is needed.
“This will be the focus of intense improvement activity – ensuring that every child’s education will, in time rival the best that Coventry and the West Midlands have to offer.
“We have a huge ambition to realise for our students here at Whitley Academy and hope to be able to reassure parents and the wider community that these actions will quickly address these issues.”
