'Inadequate' Walsall school becomes academy
A school in Walsall placed into special measures following an Ofsted inspection nearly two years ago has become an academy.
Bloxwich C of E Primary School received an 'inadequate' rating by inspectors following the inspection in November 2013 and at its last monitoring inspection in March it was judged not to be making enough progress towards coming out of special measures, according to the education watchdog.
But the school in Bloxwich High Street, which has around 300 pupils on roll, has now been transformed into All Saints Academy.
It comes after a strike was staged last year against the plans to gain academy status.
The school was closed to pupils on July 16 last year after teachers voted to take strike action and members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers formed a picket line in High Street armed with signs and banners.
Staff feared that turning the school into an academy would lead to parents, children and teachers facing an uncertain future if a bad decision is made by a small selection of people.
The academy caters for children aged between five and 11.
