Academy chief sets Barnsley school the target of going from special measures to outstanding as it joins chain

THE HEAD OF an academy trust which helped a South Yorkshire school to come out of special measures and secure a good Ofsted report has now set the target of it becoming rated as outstanding.
Sir Michael Wilkins, Outwood Academies prinicipal and chief executive.Sir Michael Wilkins, Outwood Academies prinicipal and chief executive.
Sir Michael Wilkins, Outwood Academies prinicipal and chief executive.

Carlton Community College in Barnsley had previously been rated as inadequate for several years.

However in its most recent inspection Ofsted has taken the school out of special measures and praised it as being good overall and in all key inspection areas.

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The report also highlights the work of Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) which has been supporting the school. Carlton Community College is set to join OGAT next month.

Sir Michael Wilkins, the academy principal and OGAT chief executive said:​ “Outwood Grange Academies Trust is immensely proud of the successful Ofsted outcome achieved at Carlton Community College. OGAT specialises in working with schools in special measures and is now recognised as the highest preforming academy group in the north of England.” He said the school’s model of school improvement was “very effective in turning around even the most difficult schools in a relatively short space of time.”

Sir Michael added: “After working with the school for 14 months it was no surprise to us that it came out of special measures and we expect that the school will be formally sponsored by OGAT from February 1 2016.

“We are now determined that the school becomes outstanding at its next Ofsted inspection.”

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The Ofsted report said that both the school’s GCSE results and progress were much higher in 2015 than the previous year.

According to the inspection report senior leaders have been highly effective in driving improvement. As a result, the quality of teaching and pupils’ outcomes have improved significantly.

Ofsted also say “robust challenge from the interim executive board has contributed very well to school improvement.”

And the report says the behaviour of pupils has improved considerably.

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It adds: “The school is calm and orderly. There is an ethos of care and respect. As a result, pupils feel very safe.

“The curriculum and the wide range of opportunities offered after the school day provide well for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.”