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Shields school taken off ‘failing’ list
TOP FORM ... pupils from St Wilfrids RC College with executive headteacher, Nick Hurn, left, and headmaster Brendan Tapping, right.
A HEADTEACHER has praised pupils and staff after his South Tyneside school was taken off the ‘failing’ list.
St Wilfrid’s RC College in Temple Park Road, South Shields, came out of special measures following a successful inspection last month.
Inspectors from education watchdog Ofsted said the school has improved significantly, and now provides a good quality of education.
Nick Hurn, executive headteacher at St Wilfrid’s, has described the school’s turnaround as “stunning”, and says it is down to first class teaching and learning.
Mr Hurn was appointed after a damning inspection report in October 2010, when the school was judged as ‘inadequate’ and told to improve.
At the time, he vowed to get St Wilfrid’s “out of special measures in record time”.
He said: “St Wilfrid’s stunning success in record time has been built on excellent standards of discipline, first class teaching and learning, high quality of leadership, and our Christian ethos, which has underpinned every aspect of the college.
“From the outset of this process I have had very high expectations, and also had a realistic sense of what is desirable and achievable at the college.
“The first class attitude and behaviour of the students, the very high levels of commitment and professionalism of the staff and governing body, and the tremendous levels of support and loyalty from the parents, primary partner heads, South Tyneside Council, and the community at large have been key ingredients in our success.”
Mr Hurn, who said the school maintains a “highly effective” partnership with the Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead, has vowed to keep driving up standards.
He added: “Now we are out of special measures, the staff, the governors and I will not be satisfied with anything less than excellence at St Wilfrid’s.”
The Gazette reported last Friday how Ofsted inspectors praised Mr Hurn and his teaching staff after their latest visit in December.
The inspectors’ report said: “The school has made exceptional progress in tackling the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection.
“Inspirational leadership, together with good support, has created a climate of collective responsibility for sustaining improvement.
“The exceptionally strong focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning has brought about very strong improvements in students’ outcomes, and the much-improved progress they now make.”
Pupils were also praised by inspectors for their behaviour and focus.
joseph.tulip@northeast-press.co.uk
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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Wavydavy
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 03:26 PMMaybe Coun Jim Foreman, South Tyneside Council’s lead member for children, young people and families should read this given his objection to giving schools ratings like "satisfactory". This school was given a bad inspection, given a poor rating which inspired them to do better and take pride in what they were there to do and offer the people who pay them..........and guess what, they did it. Lets hope they follow continuous improvement and become the best.
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