Schools to be given support, says Walsall Council children's services boss

Interim director for children's services, Rose Collinson made the remarks after it emerged yesterday that another four schools in the borough have been placed in special measures.

Palfrey Junior School, Kings Hill School in Darlaston, Bloxwich CE Primary and Lodge Farm JMI in Willenhall, were the latest to be judged 'inadequate' by Ofsted inspectors.

It comes after Leamore Primary suffered the same fate in December, while Willenhall E-Act Academy and St Francis Catholic Primary School, in Shelfield, were both given the lowest rating in November.

Ms Collinson said the local authority had been working with Palfrey Junior School, Kings Hill School, Bloxwich CE Primary and Lodge Farm JMI to improve outcomes for children well before their recent Ofsted inspections.

She added: "Ofsted have confirmed that the local authority, in partnership with the schools, is aware of what they need to achieve to improve and to deliver a good quality education to Walsall children.

"I am confident that all four schools have the necessary support in place to carry out the actions in their improvement plans and to ensure that these improvements are swift and sustainable."

Follow-up inspections have taken place at Willenhall E-Act Academy and St Francis Catholic Primary School, with some improvements reported but inspectors say further work is required.

A new marking policy and regular teacher training are some of the measures that have been put in place at the Willenhall academy. But in a letter to principal Tom Ashley, inspector

Deborah James said: "Planned actions to eliminate inadequate teaching are appropriate but lack the urgency required to ensure that students do not experience poor teaching by the end of the year."

Following a monitoring inspection at St Francis Catholic Primary School, inspector Sandra Hayes said there was not enough momentum in bringing about change. In a letter to headteacher John Murray, she said some pupils still had work that was too easy or hard for them and some teachers were not following improvement plans.

Children's Services chief at Walsall Council, Councillor Rachel Andrew, portfolio holder for children's services, added: "There is still more work to be done and our role is to make sure that we have the right solutions in place to improve and set high standards for children and young people.

"The standard of education in all our schools is of the utmost importance and we will continue working hard to ensure all our children receive the best education possible."