Former failing school is praised by Ofsted inspectors (From Gazette Series)

Former failing school in Yate is praised by Ofsted inspectors

8:30am Monday 25th July 2011 in News

A FORMER failing secondary school has been told it is making good progress since reopening as Yate’s first academy.

Ofsted inspectors praised Yate International Academy, which was threatened with closure as King Edmund Community School, for raising standards since it joined The Ridings’ Federation of Academies in partnership with Winterbourne International Academy in September 2009.

In a preliminary two-day inspection earlier this month, lead inspector Christopher Russell said: "The academy is developing well and has a strong capacity to continue its improvement.

"Students’ attainment is rising. Leaders have focused in particular on improving provision and achievement in the core subjects of English and mathematics. This work takes a number of forms and has had a positive impact."

He said students are well behaved, attendance has improved and the number of short-term exclusions had reduced significantly.

Mr Russell said teaching was improving and although it was still ‘inadequate’ in a small number of lessons, intensive support was provided.

"Good work is being done to develop the quality of teaching," he said. "The main weakness in less-effective lessons is that the work does not challenge all students fully."

He told the academy to eliminate any inadequate teaching and ensure lessons challenged all pupils.

The international dimension of the academy, which is being rebuilt this year in a £16million development, was given credit and principal Roger Gilbert was praised for showing a ‘strong drive for improvement’.

Mr Gilbert said: "We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this inspection and take it as validation of the quality of outcomes we strive to achieve for all of our students.

"There are elements of our work that we will strive to improve further, but the confirmation of good progress being made from Ofsted, along with a rising trend achievement and the new academy build, puts Yate International Academy in a strong position for further development."

Chief executive principal Rob Gibson said: "This is a superb achievement and fully deserved by students and staff. On a range of indicators, Ofsted has recognised the very solid basis upon which students are taught, achieve and cared for."