Struggling school put into special measures
A struggling church school in Northampton has been placed into special measures because of poor standards and inadequate progress.
Unity College, in Trinity Avenue, was placed into the failing schools category by OFSTED because students were not receiving an acceptable standard of education and senior managers were not showing the capacity to ensure the necessary improvements at the Church of England secondary.
The news comes a fortnight after former principal Sharron Goode stepped down from the role and a high-profile visit by the Archbishop of York who praised the college.
In a critical report Government inspectors said: "A prolonged period of disruption due to building work and difficulties in recruiting staff have been significant barriers to improvement.
"The college has made inadequate progress since the previous inspection one year ago, when it was given a Notice to Improve. Indeed, many of the weaknesses identified in the first inspection after it opened remain."
Inspectors said standards were exceptionally low and progress inadequate with students making satisfactory progress in key stage three, (11 to 14) but it was inadequate at key stage four (14 to 16)
The report pointed out in 2007 that the college was in the bottom three per cent of schools nationally for progress at this stage.
Despite some improvement to the quality of teaching, there were still inconsistencies, in particular the lack of focus on the impact on students' learning. It said some teaching was still inadequate.
And despite strengthening this area and creating systems to monitor the work of the college, the changes had not yet had time to have an impact on standards.
The report said: "Leaders have tackled weaknesses in teaching rigorously, but progress has been hindered by a large turnover of staff and difficulties in recruitment in key subject areas."
It also added the change of principal in the coming months would create an "inevitable period of uncertainty", but did recognise the college was beginning to make progress after difficult times while the sixth-form was judged to be satisfactory along with the care, guidance, support of pupils and personal development and well-being.
It concluded: "Although there are some signs that standards are starting to rise, issues from the previous two inspections have only partially been resolved and the college has not yet demonstrated the necessary capacity to improve."
Responding to the findings Stephen Partridge, director of education at the Peterborough Diocese, said: "The recent OFSTED inspection of Unity College has identified a number of areas where the provision for students has improved.
"However, the inspection team concluded that these improvements were not happening fast enough and as a result have indicated that the college is in need of "special measures".
"The college is determined to address these difficulties with additional help and support from the local authority and the diocese."
Governors want school to become academy
Governprs and education leaders are seeking permission to convert Unity College into a church academy to rescue the ailing secondary school.
Director of education at the Peterborough Diocese, Stephen Partridge, said the governors were applying to the Department for Children, Schools and Families for the change of status to transform standards.
Mr Partridge said the move would give it more control over the running of the school and stressed it was not a knee-jerk reaction to OFSTED placing Unity into special measures.
He said: "The governing body believes that, in the longer term, the students in their care can best be served if the college were to become an academy.
"The college has therefore asked the diocesan board of education to seek church academy status for the college as fast as possible.
"This application is being supported by the local authority and a number of local sponsors and is due to be considered by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) in the near future.
"In the meantime, the governing body is putting into place measures to address issues raised in the report."
He said: "The governing body has been working to serve a diverse community and that has been quite difficult because the needs of these youngsters do not fit the comprehensive school format.
"The major advantage that an academy has is the freedom to negotiate with the DCSF the style and shape of education. Many academies have been successful."
Academies were created by Labour to raise standards in deprived areas by freeing themselves from council control. They have been criticised because of the amount of control given to sponsors of academies.
Former principal Sharron Goode stepped down from the role at the former Trinity School earlier this month to work at the diocese's board of education.
In 2005 Mrs Goode successfully challenged a ruling by OFSTED to place Unity into special measures.
The college was given a Notice to Improve, a less serious status, because staff and governors had demonstrated capacity to improve.
Mrs Goode handed her resignation to the governors at the start of the academic year, before the OFSTED inspection.
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