11:06am Tuesday 19th January 2010
By Ben Barnett
A Bradford primary school has been rewarded by inspectors who have lifted it out of the failing special measures category.
Fearnville Primary School, in Tyersal, has been subject to close scrutiny since Ofsted judged the school’s performance inadequate in November 2007. But inspectors report the school is now performing satisfactorily under the guidance of headteacher Peter Gibbons.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit last month. In the subsequent report, inspector Christopher Keeler said: “Evidence gathered during the inspection, along with an analysis of the schools’ data, indicates that the pattern of improvement is set to continue.
“Senior leaders have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the school.”
Among its strengths is the quality of teaching which has improved significantly, good care, guidance and support of pupils and effective support for vulnerable pupils such as those with special educational needs or disabilities.
One of the school’s biggest challenges is to tackle the 8.6 per cent of pupils who were persistently absent from the school last year.
Mr Gibbons, who was appointed head in November 2008 and has more than 20 years’ teaching experience in Bradford, said: “Everyone has shown a real determination from the off. We have appointed about 12 new teachers since the school went into Special Measures and they have done really well, but I’m impressed with the other staff who have stuck at it all the way through.”
Darren Heald, chairman of the school’s board of governors, said: “The governing body is very proud of how everyone has responded.”
Two Bradford primary schools remain in Special Measures: St Francis Catholic Primary in Bolton and Farfield Primary School in Buttershaw.
e-mail: ben.barnett@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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