OFSTED (January 2006) - Grove's Response

 

OFSTED SINGLES OUT GROVE SCHOOL FOR ITS ‘OUTSTANDING CURRICULUM’

Parents of Grove students will shortly be reading with pride the latest Ofsted report on the school. This third round of national inspections is widely believed to be the toughest yet, but inspectors found nothing at all unsatisfactory on their long checklist. The Head and Governors are pleased with the findings which include:

• Key to the school's success is an "outstanding curriculum"

• Pupil welfare systems have "outstanding features" such as the opportunities for students

• The school provides an "excellent preparation" for working life

The Governors and Head have responded to the report:

Peter Ingham, Chairman of Governors :

 

“The development of the curriculum has been the top priority for the school over many years. The range of choice and qualifications now on offer is far ahead of schools in other parts of the country. The school has been featured in newspaper articles and a television programme.”

Barry Pitt, chairman of the Pupils and Personnel Committee:

“The Head and management team have shown everyone that personal development has to go hand in hand with academic achievement. The success of the house system, the guidance to students, the personal development opportunities, the Birks and the mentoring scheme have all brought the school’s reputation to a deserved new high.”

Richard Arrowsmith, Headteacher

 

 

“I have no doubt whatever about the quality of experience available in the school, he said, but everyone knows that this round of inspection is heavily influenced by the interpretation of academic data since it is very hard for the inspectors to get the feel of the school in just a day and a half. Up till now, many students have been gaining Key Skills and NVQ qualifications which do not yet register in the data and league tables and this leads to misinformation. Now that the government is pressing hard for this type of work in schools, we are seen to be ahead of the game but we have had to be brave and stick to what we believe was right. We were very grateful to the team of inspectors who went out of their way to find the many good things about Grove once they acknowledged  this key fact.”

Peter Ingham added:

“During his time as head, Richard Arrowsmith has made strenuous efforts to bring the school and the local community closer together and the school has been determined to bring new opportunities and a high level of care to all children and families in the town. He has never sought to recruit outside the catchment area, believing firmly in the value of the community school. Achievements have risen especially among the high fliers and the well motivated students of all abilities. Research shows that a minority of children still go out of town for their education thus reducing the school’s potential results by about 10% - 15%. If Grove really was the school for the whole community, Market Drayton would now be among the highest performing schools in the county.”