Bosses at special measures school taking 'effective action' to improve

Kingston Centre Primary PRU is in special measures following a damning Ofsted report that criticised 'dull and weak' staff that didn't have the knowledge to teach and assess basic maths and literacy.

Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit at the the school in Whitmore Reans on November 5 and noted a range of improvements which have taken place in recent months.

The centre, which helps prepare young people for a move back into mainstream education where appropriate, was placed into special measures following an inspection in February.

At the time, inspectors said staff at the school lacked the knowledge required to teach and assess basic maths and literacy. They also said marking was not good enough and tests and tasks were too simple.

They also said the level of disruptive behaviour was 'unacceptably high' and staff lacked the skills to cope.

But in their report published following last month's visit, inspectors said there was evidence of improving pupil outcomes in English and maths, with staff increasingly providing pupils with work that challenges them to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills in these key areas.

A report on the monitoring visit by inspector Phil Harrison, said: "Higher expectations of staff mean that they are providing pupils with work that challenges them to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills in these key areas. Senior staff analyse pupil performance information at an individual and group level

to ensure pupils are making the progress they should. Where pupils are not learning as quickly as the centre would like, senior leaders are challenging staff to find ways to better support the pupil.

"Current pupil performance information shows that pupils are making better progress in writing and mathematics. The majority of pupils eligible for pupil premium have made expected or above-expected progress in writing, reading and mathematics during the first part of the autumn 2015 term.

He added: "The current interim headteacher has re-energised the centre's work towards its aim of being an effective pupil referral unit. She has quickly gained the confidence of staff and pupils alike by listening to their views and then offering appropriate levels of support and challenge to them."

Wolverhampton council's education boss, Councillor Claire Darke, said: "This is an encouraging report which makes it clear that the Kingston Centre is moving in the right direction and on course to move out of special measures.

"I'd like to thank staff, led by Francesca Cannarella, for their efforts to rapidly improve outcomes for pupils and am confident that by maintaining this good progress the Kingston Centre will move out of special measures in due course."