Willenhall school turnaround praised by Ofsted

St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School in Willenhall was praised by inspectors for transforming its leadership and renewing its focus.

Inspectors spent two days at the school in Darlaston Lane viewing lessons, talking with staff and students, and asking parents for feedback.

More than 50 lessons were observed to be good overall and outstanding in some areas, which saw the school rise from 'requiring improvement' in 2014 to 'good' in February.

Headteacher Dr Sarah Hatfield, who took up her post in February last year, said: "Our school community has worked extremely hard to raise standards at the school and we are delighted to have secured a good rating.

"The report focusses on the importance of trust and good relationships between staff, students and our community. This is very much the result of a team effort.

"It reflects our school and shows the school has made real progress and improved in many areas.

"Whilst we are extremely pleased with the result we aren't prepared to rest on our laurels.

"Ultimately, we aim to be outstanding by providing excellent teaching in a caring Christian environment."

A report by inspectors showed pupils were making good progress in all subjects and the school's curriculum was 'broad and balanced', developing pupils' 'social, moral, spiritual and cultural understanding'.

Teachers were praised for their good subject knowledge, knowledge of pupils, effective checking of work and ability to plan interesting lessons.

Ofsted recognised the leadership and management of the school had been 'transformed' and praised the governing body's considerable role in improving standards.

But the report also highlighted a few areas that needed improving if the school was to reach an 'outstanding' inspection in future years.

The report states: 'Outcomes require improvement because, in recent years, too many pupils have not made the progress expected in English, mathematics and science by Year 11.

'Improvements in science are not as rapid as in other subject areas.

'Historically, the most-able pupils, pupils who are disadvantaged and those who have special educational needs or disability have not made the progress they should have by Year 11.

"Attendance, although improving, is still too low.'

The report listed a few targets for the school, which included raising achievement for the most disadvantaged pupils, and pupils who with special educational needs or disability, in Years 7 to 11.

Improvement was also needed in teaching in science, including in the sixth form, and attendance to reach the national average.