Stuart Bathurst given 'good' Ofsted rating

Standards at a Black Country school have improved, according to inspectors from Ofsted.

Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School College of Performing Arts in Wednesbury was given an overall rating of 'good'.

That is one grade up from the 'satisfactory' rating it received in its previous report. Headteacher William Branney said: "This is something for us to shout from the rooftops about. It confirms our own opinions of the school and highlights a lot of hard work and dedication."

He praised the staff, parents, students and governors.

"It was a report that reflected where we are. It's a huge achievement," he added.

Inspectors, who wrote the report based on a visit to the school in November, praised the attainment of pupils as well as their behaviour. The school's partnerships were labelled 'outstanding'.

However, inspectors gave the overall effectiveness of the sixth form a 'satisfactory' rating. This was because of below average A-level and AS results.

A previous Ofsted report in 2007 gave the Wood Green Road-based school an overall rating of 'satisfactory', but Mr Branney, who became headteacher in 2006, said they had worked hard since then to raise standards.

He said they opened a Good Shepherd Centre in 2008 to provide extra support for pupils with special needs.

A pupil and staff-run school farm, featuring birds, fish and rabbits, was opened in 2009 to boost morale.

He said: "We have been able to achieve this through a clear model of leadership and clear values, including standards and expectations."

Reporting inspector Brian Cartwright said: "Stuart Bathurst school is now a good school, because teachers and staff throughout the organisation have demonstrated an exceptionally strong capacity, and willingness, to improve the quality of what they do.

"Leaders use the outcomes of monitoring of student progress very well in adapting and improving the quality of the school's provision, for example through swift adjustments to the curriculum."