Sponsored by
Saved Leeds school told it needs to ‘do better’
A Leeds school saved from closure four times has been handed a Notice to Improve by Ofsted inspectors.
City of Leeds High was told it would have to shut four times in just five years because it failed to meet exam result targets set by the Government.
But inspectors from the education watchdog say the threats have led to a historical pattern of underachievement.
Since officials from Ofsted last visited the school in 2009 the number of students on the roll has halved.
A report published today said: “For several years students’ attainment in national examinations has been significantly below national average.
“Students have made inadequate progress even when set against their low individual starting points.
“This historical pattern of underachievement is partly due to staffing and leadership difficulties which the school has experienced as a result of the constant threat of closure.”
Education Leeds planned to close the school, primarily because it failed to meet Government GCSE targets but it was given a reprieve in 2010.
Ofsted inspectors recognised that rapid improvements had been made at City of Leeds since new headteacher Georgiana Sale took charge in September.
They report praised the school for being the only secondary school in the country to receive the School of Sanctuary accolade.
Headteacher Georgiana Sale, said: “We are so pleased that the inspection team recognised the huge improvements we are making at this terrific school.
“We are realistic.
“We know there is still a lot of work to do, and with our committed staff and wonderful students, the future for City of Leeds is very bright.”
Nigel Richardson, Leeds City Council director of children’s services, added: “It is great news that the school has been recognised for its standards of teaching and its respectful students.
“This is a great basis from which to build on, and move forward to ensure the school continues to improve and work on other areas that are not at such a high standard.
“There is definitely a place for the City of Leeds school in the future of education in the city.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 2 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
freddie fly
Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 07:52 PMLeeds city school takes in some of the most disaffected towards education pupils in the city.Staff are often working in the most challenging of learning environments, so who needs a qungo like OFsted to state the obvious teachers are well aware of the defiencies e ideas!!but why play politics with young peoples lives lets give them a different type of education that would engage them come you educationalists surely you have som
paul quigley
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 01:41 AMonce again here we have the education 'bigwigs' moaning and groaning about a dceent leeds school. they should be backing our teachers and helping our children 100% not looking for the slightest reason to close them down. after all is'nt every leeds kid worth fighting for!
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.