We're not failing anymore! The future looks good

Greendown School's removal from serious weaknesses marks a turning point for education in Swindon.

It means that for the first time since Swindon Borough Council took over provision of education in 1997 all 11 of its secondary schools are doing well.

In the past eight years Headlands, Churchfields, Hreod Parkway and St Lukes schools have been in special measures and Greendown and Highworth Warneford Schools have been with serious weaknesses.

Greendown was identified as having serious weaknesses after an Ofsted inspection in February 2004.

It was removed from the serious weaknesses category after an inspection in May.

Greendown headteacher Steve O'Sullivan said: "I am delighted about this and I believe it's a real reflection of all the hard work that has taken place at the school.

"This proves how hard the staff work and what a positive attitude the pupils have."

In the Ofsted report an inspector wrote: "The overall effectiveness has improved and is now satisfactory.

"The personal development of pupils is good. They are well cared for and enjoy their time in school."

The report praises pupils' attitudes and says the curriculum and range of outside activities offered by the school is good.

It states that weaknesses identified in the last inspection have been tackled and there is a strong focus on teaching and learning.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "This inspection took us straight out of serious weaknesses and we were told we were a good school with lots of strengths.

"We now have a report that we can be proud of and we can go on to the achieve even greater things."

He believes that the school's greatest strength is good teamwork.

"I believe our greatest strength is the emphasis we put on good partnership.

"This partnership is made up of staff, pupils, parents and governors.

"We are all working together now for one aim."

Garry Perkins, lead member for education at Swindon Council, said: "Obviously this is a brilliant situation for us.

"Everyone has pulled together and worked really hard to create this situation.

"And it is the schools and the pupils that are the winners in this.

"What has happened is that the LEA now identifies weaknesses early. It's so easy to bury your head in the sand and only focus on the good things that are happening.

"Now we know we have to take into account the whole picture."

But he said there is still a long way to go.

"I will never be happy until every school in Swindon is excellent.

"We want to make sure that there is no longer a postcode lottery in our schools.

"We are also working on sorting out the problem of school buildings and on introducing more vocational subjects and qualifications in schools."

The first step

IN JANUARY 2001 Headlands school was placed into special measures.

It was closed in August 2004 and reopened as Headlands school with a clean slate under the Fresh Start Initiative in September 2004.

In a recent inspection by HMI inspectors, headteacher Jan Shadick was described as "inspirational".

The report said the school had made "tremendous improvements" and that the children's behaviour was good.

Richard Millard, school governor, said: "We are very pleased with the progress that Headlands has made but this is the first step on a very long path.

"Now when you walk around the school you get a very different feeling.

"It is a much quieter place to be now and much less rowdy.

"We are really hoping to change the reputation of the school but this will take a little time.

"We are on the right track though and there has been a big improvement in pupils' behaviour."

Teaching improved

CHURCHFIELDS School went into special measures in January 2000 and came out of this category in November 2004 when it was described as a good school by Ofsted inspectors.

Deputy headteacher Di Mashiter said: "All the staff have worked incredibly hard to make this a good school and the quality of the teaching has sky rocketed.

"All along the line there have been improvements.

"The students are now focussed in lessons and are now working in a more positive way.

"If you walk around the school it now has a more settled and organised atmosphere.

"We have a lot of systems in place to support each other and the students know what they must do to improve."

Standards rise

Hreod Parkway School went into special measures in February 2001 and came out in November 2002.

When it was put into special measures Hreod was given a target of two years to improve the school or face closure. At the time GCSE results were well below the national average.

But just 21 months later inspectors not only stated that Hreod was giving a satisfactory education to its pupils but also highlighted a number of areas of excellence.

It cited the forward looking leadership team and confirmed that the school is well led, innovative and has sound financial management.

At the time Andrew Fleet said: "I am proud of what we have achieved and I am determined to work with parents, pupils and teachers to ensure that standards will continue to rise."

Happy place

ST LUKES Special School was put into special measures in June 2000 and came out in November 2001.

The school was criticised for its management and discipline and the Ofsted report stated that a minority of pupils were hindering the progress of others.

Since then, last year the school achieved one of the best valued added scores in the country and is now thriving under new headteacher Jinna Male.

She said: "The school is doing very well now and we have increased the number of pupils we can take from 40 to 60.

"The school has had two changes of headteacher since it was put into special measures and now a significant amount of pupils are achieving good results.

"This is a happy, productive and hardworking school and there is good morale among staff."

Positive mood

Highworth Warneford School was put into the serious weaknesses category in November 2001 and came out of it in November 2003.

At the time when it was put into special measures inspectors found problems with leadership and management, monitoring of progress and consistency in the marking routine.

Headteacher John Saunders said: "One of the ironies is that we have always been one of the best schools in Swindon.

"We have always had good exam results and our pupils make excellent progress.

"We have high expectations of all our pupils are we are always looking to them to achieve their best.

"The aim is to provide a calm and structured environment for the students.

"Now we just want to carry on raising standards and improving the quality of our results.

"I think that the changes to the quality of education in Swindon are very positive and everyone has worked very hard for this."

Schools that have needed some extra help

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Special Measures:

The Headlands School went into special measures in Jan 2001 and then closed in August 2004. It reopened as Headlands with a clean slate under the Fresh Start initiative in September 2004.

Churchfields went in Jan 2000 and came out Nov 2002

Hreod Parkway went in Feb 2001 and came out in Nov 2002

St Lukes went in June 2000 and came out Nov 2001

Serious Weaknesses:

Greendown went in Feb 2004 and came out May 2005

Highworth Warneford went in Nov 2001 and came out Nov 2003

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Special Measures:

Penhill Primary in Oct 1998 and out September 1999

Freshbrook Primary in May 2003, out Dec 04

King William Street Primary in March 1998, out Nov 1999

Mountford Manor Primary in Nov 1996, out Nov 2001

Holy Family in Jan 2004, out April 2005

Serious Weaknesses

Holy Family in April 2002 and into special measures Jan 2004

Moredon Junior in Dec 2001 out June 2004

Nythe Primary in 1998, out 2003

Penhill Primary in Jan 2001, out March 2003

Rodbourne Cheney Primary in June 2000 out Nov 2002

Drove Primary in September 1999, out Jan 2001

Even Swindon Infants in Nov 1999 out Sep 2001

St Catherines Catholic Primary in Nov 1999, out Oct 2001

Schools remaining in serious weaknesses/special measures

Salt Way Primary in serious weaknesses Jan 2005

Seven Fields Primary in special measures Feb 2004

Diana Milne