Catholic school fails to make the grade

Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date online: 28 October 2008

‘Considerable progress has been made’ — head

A ROMAN Catholic secondary which will merge in a £230 million schools shake-up is providing an inadequate standard of education.

The education watchdog Ofsted says that St Augustine of Canterbury has a legacy of underachievement and requires significant improvement.

Its overall effectiveness is exceptionally low and it has been given official notice to improve.

The 700-pupil Werneth school will merge with Our Lady’s, Royton, as part of Oldham’s Building Schools for the Future overhaul of secondary education.

Pupils will move to a new £30 million school in Chadderton in 2012.

Inspectors found that standards at St Augustine’s were exceptionally low in 2007, with the number of pupils achieving the gold standard of five A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths, falling to 21 per cent this year.

Too many pupils do not achieve the results they are capable of, although those with learning difficulties/disabilities make satisfactory progress because of good support.

Teaching is satisfactory and improving but more needs to be good or better for pupils to reach their potential.

Positives include the care and guidance of pupils — described as a strength — the school’s contribution to community cohesion, a reduction in poor behaviour and the revised curriculum.

In a letter to pupils Ofsted writes: “The head teacher and the governors, with help from others, have begun to make improvements and these are slowly having an effect on improving your education.”

Inspectors will return to monitor progress in six to eight months.

Head teacher Mike McGhee said: “The report clearly acknowledges that we have accurately identified the areas needing improvement and have put in place effective systems and policies to address them. We are pleased that Ofsted has recognised that the curriculum is now broader, better balanced and more closely tailored to individual pupil needs, that our students enjoy and feel safe at school, and that our students are well cared for.

“The inspectors also found that parents are very supportive of our school and the recent positive changes that the governors and I have made. Pupils also say that they believe the school is improving and recognise that the changes we have introduced mean they have to work harder.

“The report reflects the considerable progress that has been made in a short space of time.”