Grays School in special measures

Inspectors spent two days in June at the 1,000 pupil school in their first inspection in three years.

Their report pointed to 14 areas where the school was inadequate, 11 which were satisfactory and just one where it was good. The school had no outstanding features and the inspectors' report made several severe criticisms of the leadership of the school.

Despite that, Thurrock Council are standing by head teacher Graham Winter and the governing body of the Hathaway Road school.

Its spokesman Luke Walsh said: "The Council will be working closely with Graham Winter and the governing body of the school to address the concerns raised by Ofsted.

"In recent years the school has made significant progress and achieved some of the best exam results in its history. Thurrock Council will now be focusing extra resources on the school to bring it out of special measures as soon as possible."

Cabinet Member for Children's Services, councillor Mike Revell said: "It is always disappointing when a school goes into special measures but I am confident that, with additional help, this will be of a temporary nature."

Mr Winter said: "At the end of last term, a team of Ofsted inspectors inspected The Grays School Media Arts College. The inspection team's judgement was that the school was making insufficient progress, and as a result requires special measures in order to remedy this situation.

"In particular, the inspectors felt that the very good progress being made in Key Stage 3 is not currently being translated into Key Stage 4.

"The reaction of all members of the school community has been to redouble our efforts and ensure that, when the inspectors return later this year, considerable progress will have been made in all the priority areas. In order to support the school in achieving these ends, we will be working closely with Thurrock Council, and with our partner schools in the area."

The report made the following criticisms:-

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Commenting on the overall effectiveness of the school, the Inspectors said:

"The persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school."

The Inspectors conceded that the management had shown commitment to improve but said:

"The management have been unsuccessful in translating commitment to improve with actual improvement."

GOVERNORS

The report also pointed to the failings of the School Governors.

They said: "Governors do not meet their statutory duties in relation to the monitoring of school policies and do not provide sufficient challenges to the leaders."

TEACHING

Some of the most serious criticisms are reserved for the actual learning and teaching.

The report states: "Unacceptably high proportion of lessons where teaching and learning are inadequate."

It detailed why: "Lessons not planned to meet individual learning needs and expectations of what they can achieve are too low

Perhaps the most damning revelation is that: "Marking is cursory. In the worst examples, books had not been marked for several months."

Two particular departments were singled out for severe criticism.

"The school fails to meet statutory requirements for the provision of RE and ICT. It is satisfactory in all the others.

The Inspectors reflected back on the lessons they saw in 2004 and remarked:

"The quality of teaching, which was a strength is now weak and has declined since the last inspection in 2004.

The Inspectorate pin-pointed why teaching was so inadequate at the school.

They said: "The school continues to struggle to attract sufficient well-qualified and experienced teachers."

PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT

The report focussed on the educational progression of students in the school. It was most concerned at the lack of attainment for boys at Key Stage 4 level.

It said: "The progress of lower ability boys falls well short of expectations. Progress in maths is poor."

Lower ability boys, who do not have disabilities, underachieve and include a number of them who are leaving school with few GCSE qualifications."

The number of students who gained 5 or more higher grade GCSE's in 2006 increased it is well below the national average.

PUPILS

The pupils are the ones who have come out of this report, relatively unscathed. Their behaviour is described as satisfactory.

The Inspectors report that the pupils feel safe and enjoy coming to school. They have a caring attitude to each other. Attendance has improved.

The pupils indeed attained the only "2" or "Good" rating for the school because of the positive contribution they make to the community.

The Inspectors also note that many participate in sport beyond PE and are eating very healthily.

GOOD POINTS

The report is not without its good points.

The Inspectors point out that the leaders are highly committed to improving the school.

They reported that the school met its overall targets for specialist status in 2006 and GCSE results in Art,Media and Drama improved significantly.

The report also highlighted that:

1. The transition from primary school is handled well so that students settle in quickly

2. Students spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is satisfactory

3. Schools deals effectively with bullying

4. Students with learning difficulties make satisfactory progress.

5. A vertical tutoring system is helping students of different ages mix

The Inspectors also stressed the quality of many of the lessons taught.

They said: "The majority of lessons are good. These lessons are well prepared, have clear learning objectives which are shared with the students and proceed at a brisk pace.

"Students have a clear idea of how well they are doing and how they can make further progress. Emphasis on literacy skills has underpinned good progress made in KS3

The Inspectors finished the report with a recommendation of five priorities that the school should do in order to improve:

1. Raise achievement in Key Stage 4 so that all students make at least satisfactory progress.

2. Improve achievement and standards in mathematics.

3. Improve the quality of teaching and assessment by ensuring that all lessons meet students' learning needs and provide them with sufficient challenge.

4. Improve the leadership and management at all levels in the school so that actions are more effective and lead to improvement.

5. Ensure that governors meet all of their statutory duties in relation to the curriculum and the monitoring of school policies.

The full report can be read by clicking here

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