'Inadequate' Nuneaton Academy put in special measures

[dutchman]

An academy school in Warwickshire has been branded "inadequate" and placed in special measures by Ofsted.



The report into Nuneaton Academy - formed in 2010 to replace Alderman Smith School and Manor Park School - is expected to be released this week.

William Branney, appointed principal in January, accepted the result was "deeply disappointing".

The Midland Academies Trust, which runs the school, said management had been, and would be further, bolstered.

The news comes after Grace Academy in Coventry was also branded inadequate, in March.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the latest report, Mr Branney said it "confirms that our current work is simply not good enough".

"Pupils and their parents deserve more," he said.

"It's my job to make sure that they get it. That will be my total focus, going forward."

Midland Academies Trust chief executive Marion Plant said it had appointed an executive principal temporarily to support Mr Branney and was looking to recruit three senior managers to "enhance leadership".

"I am confident that together we can accelerate the pace of change to benefit all students and the wider community," she said.

Previous principal Helen McEvoy left the school at the end of December to take up a headship at a school in Scarborough, the trust said.

[dutchman]

Coventry Grace Academy moved out of special measures



Coventry's first academy school has been taken out of special measures by Ofsted inspectors.

Grace Academy was rated "inadequate" in 2014 but the latest inspection found overall improvement and that it "no longer requires special measures".

Praising the school's new leadership team, Ofsted gave the academy a "requires improvement" rating following January's inspection.

Academy principal Colin Boxall said "this is a good first step".

The education watchdog said the academy required improvement in the five key inspection areas: leadership, teaching, achievement, behaviour and study programmes for 16 to 19 year olds.

Inspectors said: "Many staff in the academy care deeply for the well-being of the pupils and the spiritual, moral and social development of pupils is given a high profile."

They also said senior leaders had been effective in moving the academy out of special measure, leading to improvements in teaching and behaviour and higher achievement.

Mr Boxwell said: "We will continue to seek the highest standards for our students to ensure this continues."

[dutchman]

Inadequate Coventry school to transfer to academy trust



An inadequate school is transferring to a different academy trust.

Grace Academy has had a troubled past since it formed from Woodway Park School and Community College in 2008.

The school has never been rated above 'requires improvement' by Ofsted.

In 2016 it transitioned out of special measures and received a higher 'requires improvement' rating, but the latest inspection shows it has slipped back to 'inadequate' standards.

Just last month Ofsted inspectors carried out a monitoring visit after the school was graded inadequate in May 2018.

At the time, Ofsted said teaching at the Wigston Road site was “ineffective” and of “low standard”, which meant pupils were underachieving.