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Everyone at Polesworth International Language College is celebrating
a belated Christmas present with the publication of an Ofsted report
that gives the school the top grade of ‘outstanding.’ We now join a very
select band of just 400 or so secondary schools across the whole country
that have managed to achieve this. The school inspectors visited in
December and the report has just been released. Polesworth is the first
secondary school in Tamworth and North Warwickshire to receive this
accolade. Ofsted places all the schools it inspects in one of four
categories: outstanding, good, satisfactory or inadequate. Until now,
all other local secondary schools have been graded only satisfactory or
inadequate. Inspectors said that a unique characteristic of the school
is the strength of its relationships. They commented on its
single-minded focus on raising the achievement of all students, with a
particular focus on English and mathematics, and praised teaching staff
who regularly deliver inspirational lessons, with lots of learning
opportunities and exciting activities. They said that students enjoy
lessons and want to be at the school, going on to describe their
positive attitudes to learning, their excellent behaviour, their respect
for adults and their obvious pride in the school. Inspectors noted how
students had outstanding opportunities to apply for senior roles in
school and said the decisions made by these leaders had a real impact on
the school and community. They described the care, guidance and support
provided for all students as exceptional.
Inspectors also graded the Sixth Form outstanding. They referred to
the growing number of students who decide to continue their education
when they leave school, saying this was because they had received such a
positive and enjoyable learning experience at school. They described the
students as mature and quietly confident young people, eager to make a
positive contribution to the outside world. PILC will be holding an Open
Evening for prospective Sixth Formers and their parents on 7 February.
Ofsted identified three issues the school should focus on to become
even better: developing the use of questioning in lessons, improving the
use of targets in plans for the future and expanding the range of
vocational subjects on offer to 14-16 year old students.
Leadership and management in both main school and Sixth Form were
graded outstanding. Inspectors described Headteacher Andy Clarke as
charismatic and inspirational, saying he is held in high esteem by
parents and respected by all the students, because they know how much he
cares about the school and how much he wants them all to achieve their
potential.
Mr Clarke commented, ‘Everyone who has ever been associated with the
school should be intensely proud of this report. It recognises the work
that has been done over many years. Students, staff, parents, governors
and our partners in other schools and the wider community all made vital
contributions during the inspection and I would like to thank them all.
I was particularly pleased that the inspectors recognised how
successfully we have stuck to our guns about the importance of English
and maths for all students. Today’s young people come in for a fair bit
of criticism, but the students of PILC are a shining example of
ambition, hard work, good humour and great generosity of spirit. It has
been a privilege to be their Headteacher for the last twelve years.’
Read The Full Report Here |
