Once failing academy’s rapid revival

Principal of Waterhead Academy, James Haseldine.

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A FAILING school says it is back on track after praise for rapid improvements from Ofsted inspectors.

Waterhead Academy has been visited by inspectors four times since it was given the lowest, “inadequate” grade and placed in special measures in November 2014.

Inspectors now say the Huddersfield Road school, which is sponsored by Oldham College, is taking effective action to improve its quality of education.

Areas praised include stringent arrangements to improve teaching — including withholding salary progression when teachers fail to meet targets for pupil progress; higher expectations for pupil behaviour and significantly-reducing pupil absence.

The Dean Trust, which specialises in school improvement, is working with the school.

Executive principal James Haseldine was appointed three months before the inspection and has “lost no time” in making changes already beginning to make a “very positive difference” to the school, says Ofsted.

Oldham College principal Alun Francis said: “We were concerned a few months ago that progress to move out of special measures had faltered. We are very pleased that with the support of the Dean Trust and the appointment of a new executive principal, the academy is now back on track.”

Mr Haseldine added: “We will continue to drive standards higher. Ofsted will be returning in the summer term and I am confident that they will see further, good progress.”