Special measures school making improvements, say inspectors
A school at the centre of a damning Ofsted inspection - which found that pupils regularly fled the site to play truant - is making improvements under a new leadership, the education watchdog has said.
The report into New Park School in Wolverhampton found that pupils smoked on site and vandalised teachers' cars while staff 'manhandled' youngsters.
Fencing was even put in place around the school, in Whitmore Reans, after it emerged pupils were playing truant.
Following the original inspection in February, the school was put in special measures.
But a follow-up inspection has now been carried out.
Inspectors found that a new management team put in place there had worked 'swiftly and effectively to make the school a calmer, safer place'.
Following the inspection, the head and deputy head of Aldersley High School, Nicola Davis and Martin Farmer, were drafted in on an interim basis.
Inspector Sue Morris-King, who carried out a follow-up visit to the school in Cromer Gardens last month, found it had now started to establish a 'clear focus on teaching and learning'.
She found mock examination sessions had been taking place to help pupils and staff prepare better, while there had been improvements in the school surroundings.
"The staff I spoke to during the visit expressed positive views about the changes that had taken place," she said.
"They feel that the school is considerably safer, is a much more pleasant place to work, and that teaching and learning are now taking place. They appreciate being able to share concerns with the senior leaders and feel confident that they will be supported."
A further monitoring inspection will take place in the coming months.
But Wolverhampton City Council chiefs today praised the 'swift action' which had led to 'immediate and encouraging improvements'.
Education boss Councillor Phil Page said: "Our young people deserve nothing less than a high quality education and we will be continuing to work hard over the coming weeks and months as we seek to improve standards at New Park School."
Former headteacher Sharon Humphreyson stepped down from her role at New Park School following February's damning Ofsted report.
In that inspection, the school was given the worst possible rating of 'inadequate' in all four key inspection areas.
The school caters for 107 pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
