Weston Favell School: Could Do Better

9 June 2010, 07:22 | Updated: 10 June 2010, 09:37

Weston Favell was placed into Special Measures in December last year and in the first inspection report since then, Ofsted say inadequate progress has been made overall.

The school was inspected across two days in May this year and the report by Inspector Kevin Sheldrick published by Ofsted this week. 

He asserts that there has been "very little improvement in the progress students make particularly in the key subjects, English mathematics and science. It remains the case that in too many lessons students are not learning well enough and consequently do not make sufficient progress."

The report also recommends that newly qualified teachers are not appointed at Weston Favell.   You can download the full report by clicking on the link, above.

The school has had a turbulent history of late, with a failed plan to turn it into an Academy and a strike by teachers over the Academy issue.  Northamptonshire County Council is still considering how to move forward with Weston Favell.

However, the inspection report does point to good work in areas like art, drama and PE and a reduction in the number of exclusions.  It also says the new headteacher, Betty Hasler, has a clear improvement plan in place.

Betty Hasler giving her reaction to Heart:

In a statement on the school's website the headteacher says: "I am pleased to be able to say that we have made satisfactory progress on several of our key action points. We have improved attendance, and we have also ensured that all the statutory safeguarding requirements are in place. HMI was pleased with the progress made on governance, with the appointment of our new Interim Executive Board. However, we need to make bigger improvements in other areas, particularly in the area of teaching and learning. We know this and have a good plan to make the required improvements by the time of the next HMI visit, which will be in the Autumn Term. We will be holding a further Open Meeting on Thursday 1st July at 7 p.m. to discuss our progress."