David Lee
27/01/2023
The principal of Grove Academy has revealed the work which has been taking place to improve the school since it was rated Inadequate by Ofsted.
The principal of Grove Academy has revealed the work which has been taking place to improve the school since it was rated Inadequate by Ofsted.
The education watchdog warned the Chalvey all-through school it must make rapid changes following a two-day inspection in February last year.
A report, published in May, said during break and lunch times a ‘small but significant’ group of pupils did not behave well.
Some pupils also reported feeling unsafe at school due to unkind behaviour which included derogatory comments made about pupils’ race, gender or sexual orientation.
Principal Natalie Wismayer told the Express the school has taken a number of steps to tackle the problems identified by Ofsted.
She said: “At the time we had the report, all schools were running with really high levels of absence as a result of COVID.
“Local schools had about 20 per cent of staff out on COVID which absolutely had an impact.”
She said high levels of staff are now being deployed at break and lunch times kitted out in hi-vis vests to help pupils if there are any issues.
The school’s pastoral team has also been restructured and increased with additional support provided for children in the form of learning mentors and engagement officers.
The senior leadership capacity at the school has also been increased, the principal added.
Grove Academy finally moved into its new home in Ladbrooke Road in January 2021 but the move was hampered by a return to remote learning at the beginning of the year. But the school’s principal said the building is now fully operational for its 990 pupils.
In October, the school had a two-day visit from Ralph Batten, an experienced auditor who trains new Ofsted inspectors.
He said the school had displayed a strong focus on its strategy of ‘Keeping Safe at Grove Academy’ and pupils feel safe and looked after as a result.
Principal Wismayer said: “We’re very proud of our children, we’re very proud of our community and we’re very proud of our staff.
“We won’t stop until we do have the very best provision for children.”
A monitoring visit by Ofsted to follow-up on last year’s Inadequate rating is yet to take place.