High school puts others in shade

Hardial Hayer

OLDHAM has the sixth worst record in the country for failing to make sure that the brightest pupils are pushed enough at secondary school.

But Ofsted bosses praised Radclyffe School for bucking the trend and making sure that students from all backgrounds reach their potential.

The education watchdog names Oldham as one of the worst 20 areas in England - seven of which are in the North-West - where pupils who perform well at primary school do not reach the same standard at secondary.

Ofsted defines the "most able" pupils as those who reach level five in English and maths at the end of primary school. It says these pupils should be able to achieve at least a B grade at GCSE in those same subjects.

But just 60 per cent of the brightest Oldham pupils did so - ranking it 146th out of 151 local authorities.

Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw, said that the latest statistics "paint a bleak picture of under-achievement and unfulfilled potential" and called for the government to consider re-introducing SATs for 14-year-olds.

He warned that well-performing pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds were the most likely not to reach their potential after the age of 11 and added: "I have consistently lamented the failure of too many secondary schools to stretch our most able children, particularly the poorest. If our nation is serious about improving social mobility then our secondary schools have got to start delivering for these children."

But Radclyffe School in Chadderton - rated as Outstanding by Ofsted - was one of two North-West schools praised for their work.

Chris Russell, Ofsted's director for the North West, said: "In 2015 there were nearly 11,000 most able young people in the North West. The fact that over a quarter of them didn't get the grades they were capable of at GCSE is unforgivable.

"Despite the challenges our schools face, we have seen examples of North-West schools doing well by their students. Places like The Radclyffe School in Oldham, where pupils from all backgrounds make excellent progress, or Wright Robinson College in Manchester, where high expectations and strong teaching help students to succeed. These schools are role models for others to learn from."

Radclyffe head teacher Hardial Hayer said the school's success was down to raising expectations and aspirations and excellent teachers.

He added: We have a very positive can-do culture where we are always telling students that we are aiming for success in everything they do right from the first day they enter the school.

"We mentor students one-to-one, we get them to visit universities, they go to Oxford and Cambridge and we have ex-students returning to inspire them so they know it's not just someone from down south, it's pupils from Oldham and our school who are excelling in all walks of life.

"It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; success breeds success."

"We are doing well in all subjects because students, staff and parents do not accept anything other than the very best," he added.