IMPROVEMENTS are being made at a troubled Worcester school which was placed in special measures by Government inspectors last year.
Ofsted inspectors have welcomed the improvements made at Dines Green Primary School following a visit last month.
The report, published online yesterday, identifies many improvements with recognition of the work the staff and governors have done to improve academic standards and develop the culture and ethos of the school.
Staff are more ambitious in what they expect pupils to achieve, teachers understand they are accountable for their pupils’ progress and there is a sense of shared responsibility for improvement according to inspectors.
Governors are now much more challenging and ask relevant questions to hold leaders to account for the rate of improvement.
A shared understanding has been developed between governors and leaders of what is getting better and what needs to improve more quickly.
A more accurate picture of the quality of teaching has been drawn up allowing senior staff to provide appropriate training and support for teachers which in turn is leading to an improvement in teaching.
The school’s curriculum is improving well, with themed learning placing reading at the heart of the curriculum and regular attendance is now promoted strongly and is rewarded. As a result, absence rates have reduced.
Areas for improvement identified in the report includes the school needing to ensure that the quality of teaching is more consistent across the school so that more children, especially funding for disadvantaged children, make progress.
Acting headteacher Emma Grace said: “We are pleased with the findings of the first monitoring visit by Ofsted. The inspectors have recognised the improvements that we have worked so hard to make at the school.
“It’s promising to hear that Ofsted recognises leaders and managers at the school are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.
“There is clear direction for the next phase of school improvement and this will be helped greatly with our new headteacher starting after Easter.
“We recognise that there is still a way to go but I believe that we are moving in the right direction.”
