Oldbury school bounces back from special measures

Rood End Primary School in Oldbury was given the lowest possible ranking of inadequate in 2014 after concerns were raised about teaching, pupil achievement and attendance.

But the school, in Rood End Road, has quickly bounced back from the blow, returning to the good status it previously held.

Headteacher Barbara Carter said the new report was a fairer reflection of daily life at the school.

It said teaching had improved 'considerably' since the last inspection and that the headteacher and senior leaders were 'determined and persistent in their drive to improve the school'.

She said: "We are delighted with the report. It really reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff.

"Every teacher, whatever their level, has played a huge part, they are really committed to doing their best for the children. There is a determination to ensure they are all successful and make progress.

"The report said we go above and beyond to meet children's needs and I would say that is absolutely true."

The mood is a far cry from 12 months earlier when Rood End entered special measures after inspectors found that children's standards in Key Stage 1 and 2 were 'consistently low' compared to the national average, while attendance was also below average.

Mrs Carter insisted the school had not altered its approach and was confident it was doing the right things.

She said the school is faced with challenges that many others are not, such as having children that speak 35 different languages and a high number of pupils with disabilities.

The school has also increased the pressure on parents who take children on holiday during term time in a bid to improve attendance.

Mrs Cater said the fact the school's rating fluctuated so wildly over a two-year period raised questions about the inspection process, but said leaders immediately focused on making the necessary improvements rather than complaining.

She said: "There was never a feeling of people giving up or feeling disheartened, we got on with the job at every level.

"There is a burning commitment to give our absolute best all of the time.

"It's so easy to say they are being nasty to us and are completely wrong, but we didn't. We haven't wallowed, we have put things in place to take the school forward."

The school has managed to tackle disappointing attendance figures which had previously been flagged up as an issue.

Controversial measures introduced last year that could see parents fined if they take their children on holiday during term time did not go down well with many families, but Mrs Carter said it has helped boost attendance at Rood End.

Mrs Carter said: "What is changed is that parents are beginning to change. They can't just take holidays at the drop of a hat any more, otherwise we will constantly be on the phone. But having the time to do that is absolutely crucial."

The headteacher said she was much more pleased with the assessment of her school this time around. She said: "The report was very thorough. I think the inspector took a very clear view. We are not making excuses but we have got 35 languages and last year in Year Five mobility was 27 per cent. She was very good at looking at the whole picture ans saw that we were not making excuses but see what we're doing to move forward."

The Ofsted report said: "The senior leaders have been effective in bringing about rapid improvements since the school was judged to require special measures.

"Their work is characterised by diligence and determination. Leaders have not been afraid to tackle weaknesses in teaching and they are persistent in the checks they make to ensure that improvements are being made. In addition, they have high expectations of staff. As a result, almost all teaching is now good and pupils' behaviour is good."