QE cheers as it boxes clever
Pupils and staff at Queen Elizabeth School in Atherstone are celebrating after Government inspectors took it out of special measures.
The school was judged to be failing by Ofsted two years ago and a number of changes were implemented to help turn the school around.
Following a recent full Ofsted inspection, inspectors judged that the school’s performance had improved significantly and that it no longer needed to be in a category of concern. They praised the good progress made since the last inspection and said that the school was in a good position to continue to improve.
Inspectors said that teaching and learning were good, and that teaching had improved considerably. Teachers were found to have a good knowledge of their subjects and used a variety of teaching methods to create a good working environment.
Also impressive were the comments made about the care, guidance and support given to the students. Pupils were said to have good relationships with the staff and to feel well supported and cared for. Child protection procedures, induction of new students and the way the school looks after vulnerable children were all singled out for particular praise.
Other aspects that were praised included the promotion of healthy eating, the provision of extra-curricular activities popular with pupils, such as kick-boxing and cheerleading, and plans to forge links with a school in Kenya.
The leadership and management of the school were also found to be good. Governors were praised for being actively involved in the running of the school and parents were found to be positive, while good links have been developed with the local community. Warwickshire County Council was also praised for the guidance given to the school to help with its recovery.
Headteacher Tony Wilmot said: “This is great news for everyone connected with Queen Elizabeth. Through a real team effort the school has made significant improvements and is now moving forward with some pace. I want QE to be at the heart of the community of Atherstone and for all those in the town to feel proud of their local secondary school. Everyone at the school is looking forward to maintaining this momentum and building on the successes mentioned in this latest Ofsted report.”
Helen Whiter, Head of School Performance at Warwickshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that Queen Elizabeth School has been removed from the category of special measures. I am particularly pleased to see that key areas of the school have now been judged to be good. This judgement from Ofsted is an acknowledgement of the very hard work and commitment from staff, pupils and the local community to bring about such a marked improvement.”