Setback for new school

Mike McGhee

OLDHAM’S new Catholic high school is inadequate and has serious weaknesses.

That’s the view of an independent watchdog which said Newman College, Chadderton, requires significant improvement because teaching is inadequate and students do not do well enough up to the age of 16.

Head teacher Mike McGhee has described the school’s first Ofsted report since it opened in September, 2011, as disappointing.

The school replaced St Augustine, Werneth, and Our Lady’s, Royton, and moved to the new £33.8 million building on Broadway on the same site which housed the former — and now demolished Radclyffe Lower School — last autumn.

Demands
Inspectors praised Mr McGhee, senior leaders and governors for working hard to bring together ethnically-diverse students, parents and communities in one school.

“They have overcome setbacks very well, to unite two different schools into one community with shared values and vision,” they said.

But they added that while governors had focussed on the many demands of opening the new school, they had been too trusting about the quality of teaching.

Last year, the proportion of students gaining five good GCSE passes (including English and maths) was much lower than the national average, although examination results had been boosted by vocational courses.

Inspectors found that the brightest students were not being stretched and too few had got A* and A grades in their GCSEs last year.

Pupils’ lack of confidence and skills in literacy held back their progress in other subjects and they were disruptive when lessons were poor.

However, there was praise for the sixth form which only teaches vocational subjects.

Inspectors said: “Students make good progress because they are taught well and courses suit their needs and interests.”

Others areas complimented included pupils’ behaviour, which was usually calm and the way the school works with other organisations to care for vulnerable young people.

Ofsted acknowledged that new systems were starting to improve standards and that leaders showed capacity to move the school forward.

The school said that Ofsted had not been able to take into account improving results at the predecessor schools.

Mr McGhee added: “This judgement has come as a blow, however we are sure we are on course to overcome this setback within the next 12 months.

“Our plan for accelerated improvement has been firmly rooted since the challenging transition into the new building.”