Willenhall E-ACT Academy out of special measures in new report
A school which saw pupils pelt education inspectors with food has emerged from special measures.
Willenhall's E-ACT Academy, which has 1,350 pupils, was removed from the category by Ofsted after its latest inspection.
The education watchdog's latest report found the school was improving – a far-cry from a report in 2017, which rated the school as "inadequate" across the board. But it still rates the school as "requires improvement".
An Ofsted inspector said at the time the school was "failing" to provide an acceptable standard of education. Pupils at the school threw food at inspectors in the classroom and canteen and were rude to them, with a senior leader saying it was "the norm".
But the latest report has found bosses at the academy were starting to "reverse the decline" in standards.
Inspectors wrote: "Actions taken to reverse the decline in pupils’ outcomes following the last inspection in March 2017 had limited impact initially.
"In summer 2017, results declined further, but this decline was reversed in summer 2018.
"Improvements in progress and attainment continue for pupils currently at the school."
Pupils are making better progress because of improved teaching, education chiefs found.
Jenn Willmitt, headteacher at the academy, said: "I'm pleased that Ofsted has recognised the significant improvements that we have made at Willenhall E-ACT Academy.
"Whilst there is much more work to be done, the positive changes which have occurred following the inspection in March 2017 are testament to the efforts of both staff and students at the academy.
"I would like to thank academy and regional colleagues for their commitment, hard work and resilience.
"However, I am most proud of our students, whose determined efforts to meet their teachers’ expectations and demonstrate that they can succeed and achieve, make me hugely positive about the future."
The school is now rated as "requires improvement" by Ofsted.
