Inspectors acknowledge 'further improvement' at Waterhead Academy

Waterhead Academy in Oldham. Image courtesy of Google Maps

Staff and families at Waterhead Academy in Oldham have welcomed the findings of a recent Ofsted monitoring visit which shows the school is improving.

The school had been rated "inadequate" in an earlier Ofsted inspection in October 2022, and new principal James Wilson vowed to improve the school when he was appointed in January 2023 with a bold new strategy and renewed vision and values set out on the updated academy website.

During the latest on-site visit, Ofsted inspectors reported that: "Leaders at all levels have accepted the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection.

"This has led to urgent and effective actions to tackle the most pressing shortcomings at the school, especially pupils’ behaviour.

"The comprehensive action plan includes a range of appropriate strategies to bring about further improvement."

Principal Mr Wilson said: “We are pleased with the feedback we have received from the first monitoring visit, as well as having the opportunity to discuss the work we have put in over the past year to support the required improvements for our students, their families, our staff and the wider community.

“It was great to hear the feedback that leaders have made progress to improve the school, have taken effective actions and that they feel that our comprehensive action plan includes a range of appropriate strategies to bring about further improvement.

“We look forward to welcoming them back later this year to show them that we have progressed even further.”

Kash Rafiq, Executive Principal, added: "The academy has made rapid progress in a short period of time, and we will continue to have an unwavering commitment to deliver the very best for our school community under our leadership.

“I’d like to thank every member of our team who helped to show the inspectors how all of our hard work is helping to secure improvements to the quality of education for children at Waterhead Academy."

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