Signs of improvement at 'inadequate' Tipton school
An academy that has been in special measures for more than two years is finally showing signs of improvement, Ofsted has said.
The Ace Academy in Tipton has been ranked as inadequate since 2015 and received damning criticism from the education watchdog.
However, there are now signs the school could be beginning to emerge from its crisis after Ofsted said it has seen positive changes during its latest monitoring inspection.
The praise has raised hopes the Alexandra Road academy, which is fun by the University of Wolverhampton's academy trust and has 1,400 pupils, could leave special measures at its next full inspection.
Acting headteacher Gary Hill, who took over in September, was praised in Ofsted’s latest report, which said a turnaround in performance had begun.
Ofsted’s report states: “The rate of progress in addressing the key areas for improvement has been accelerated since your appointment.
“There have been significant improvements in behaviour and arrangements for safeguarding. Teaching and learning are getting better.
“The school now meets all its statutory duties for safeguarding. Staff are well trained for their specialist roles and leaders have ensured that the culture of safety is much stronger.”
Training programmes have also being introduced, which has helped drive up poor teaching standards, the regulator said.
However, Ofsted warned a shortage of teachers, which had become such a problem in science that the number of lessons had been scaled back, and a change in leadership in the summer could threaten progress.
Low attendance also remained an issue, Ofsted revealed. The report added: “The trust and school has struggled to recruit staff.
“At the time of the inspection, some leadership and teaching posts remained unfilled including that of the substantive headteacher.
“A further change of leadership in the summer is presenting uncertainties over the school’s capacity to improve further.”
The academy came under fire from Ofsted at its last full inspection in January when it was accused of ‘failing too many of its pupils’. Concerns were flagged up about weak teaching, bullying and low attendance.
Sandwell Council’s leader Steve Eling said parents ‘would be right to be concerned’ about the academy, which is run independently of the local authority.
