Failing school has made 'inadequate progress'
A failing school in Northampton has made "inadequate progress" in improving results and tackling truancy since it was put into special measures, a new Ofsted report has shown.
Unity College in Trinity Avenue was given a notice to improve in February 2008 and has been subject to three monitoring inspections over the past 15 months to try to increase standards.
But in a report of their latest visit to the school on May 6 and 7, inspectors criticised the lack of progress in improving the quality of teaching and the continued decline in pupil attendance.
The report said: "Progress made in lessons is still not consistently good enough for all students, reflecting weaknesses in aspects of teaching.
"This is further compounded by declining attendance.
"Some teachers have good subject knowledge but this is not always the case and, at times, explanations lack clarity.
"Lesson objectives are sometimes too general or not sufficiently challenging to be helpful."
Inspectors highlighted the fact that attendance of students in the higher years of the school is particularly low, with nearly one in 20 pupils in year 10, and one in 12 pupils in year 11, persistent absentees.
The report said the proportion of good teaching had increased since the last monitoring inspection, but difficulties in the recruitment and retention of good teachers was hindering progress.
Unity is currently advertising for teachers specialising in English, maths, ICT and religious education and a teaching assistant in English, however this job is only available on a one-year contract.
In a statement, headteacher Margaret Gwynne said she was "delighted" with some praise the inspectors had given the school.
She said: "We are continuing to expand our vocational courses and we have made some excellent new appointments for the new academic year.
"Whilst we clearly must acknowledge the areas that need further attention, we were delighted that Her Majesty's inspectors recognised the hard work that staff and students have invested in the college."
The inspectors said "vigorous action" had been taken to reduce the size of the school's budget deficit, but it still remained at a "relatively large" 176,000 for the last financial year.
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