Headteacher lands commission role

LEAD role . . . Adrian Calvert

A HEADTEACHER has been appointed to lead an education commission partnership that council chiefs say is already making big improvements in Oldham's schools.

Adrian Calvert has been selected to develop the education partnership behind the implementation of the Oldham Education and Skills Commission (OESC).

He will be answerable to an expert board which will implement the recommendations and objectives of the OESC ­- published in January this year.

Mr Calvert, previously headteacher of The Elton High School in Bury, has taken up leadership roles in five different schools and academies during his 19-year career in education.

Invested in improving outcomes for pupils, Mr Calvert led The Elton High School to national recognition ­- for its exceptional 2015 performance ­- from the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT).

He said: "At the centre of everything I stand for is the belief that every child is entitled to an outstanding education. I know this to be a challenging philosophical viewpoint, but it is one by which I measure both my personal performance and the impact of my leadership.

Improve

"I believe that I have the skills, ambition and motivation to successfully improve the outcomes for the children and young people in Oldham schools and academies through the strategic implementation of the Oldham Education and Skills Commission recommendations and objectives.

"I am excited by the personal and professional opportunities this role will bring and I will ensure that the aims and objectives of the OESC are fully embedded over time within Oldham."

The OESC report focuses on achieving two key targets in Oldham by 2020: for all performance indicators to be at the national average or above and for all education providers to be judged "good" or better by Ofsted.

Oldham Council says big improvements have been made since the report's publication.

In Oldham, 63 per cent of secondary schools are now "good" or "outstanding" ­- the best Ofsted inspection records the borough has ever had at that level.

The percentage of secondary school pupils attending a "good" or "outstanding" school is more than 70 per cent and likely to be at the national average of 74 per cent. This time last year it was 39 per cent. Additionally, 90 per cent of Oldham primary schools continue to be judged "good" or "outstanding".

This year also saw 55 per cent of pupils in Oldham achieve grades A*-C at GCSE ­- a five per cent increase from last year.

At A-level 76 per cent of students achieved grades A*-C ­- this has increased since last year by three per cent.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, cabinet member for education and early years, said: "In Adrian we have someone who believes in what we're trying to achieve in Oldham.

"We have already made huge strides forward since the publication of the OESC report in terms of Ofsted inspections and exam results.

"Now with Adrian on-board we can continue to work towards delivering the education system our young people deserve."