Failing primary school put in special measures

A HOLLINWOOD primary is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education.

St Margaret’s, Hive Street, has been placed in special measures by inspectors.

A report by the education watchdog Ofsted says English standards have been significantly below average for five years, and dropped further in 2009.

The most able pupils were underachieving and teaching is not consistently strong enough to tackle a legacy of low attainment.

Ofsted found little evidence that shortcomings were being addressed with the necessary urgency and the capacity for sustained improvement is inadequate.

The school was overgenerous in assessing how well it was doing and governors were not challenging it enough. “The governing body cares about the school and its profile within the local community,” said Ofsted.

“Nevertheless, apart from one or two members, their involvement in the day-to-day life of the school is limited.”

St Margaret’s underwent a massive £3 million rebuild after much of it was destroyed in an arson attack in 2003.

It was described as improving by Ofsted in 2006 and a parallel Anglican report classed it as outstanding.

Around half of pupils are from ethnic minority families, most of whom do not speak English as their first language.

Kathryn Kieran became head teacher in 2008 and Ofsted said she had taken on a great deal of responsibility because of senior staffing instability.

Areas praised included improvements in science and maths, colourful classrooms, the emphasis on good diet and exercise, community cohesion and relationships with parents.

Pupils made satisfactory progress overall, behaved well, helped out in the community and were happy and confident because of the emphasis on their well-being.

St Margaret’s is the only Oldham school in special measures — the lowest Ofsted category. Mrs Keiran said it was inspected under new criteria which had posed a greater challenge for schools across the country.

She added: “The governors, local authority and diocese will work with the school to produce a clearly focussed action plan and will then fully support the school in addressing the key priorities.

“Ofsted has recognised the school’s many significant strengths, which include the extent to which pupils feel safe, pupils’ behaviour, the extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles and contribute to the wider community and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development — all of which were graded as good.”