Watchdog praises work to improve Bruntcliffe School, Morley

Bruntcliffe School, in Morley, is now making progress towards coming out of that category according to an inspection report which praised the leadership of the school and the steps it has taken to improve.

Earlier this year the school was found to be delivering an inadequate standard of education.

However the critical report, in March, did praise the work of the new head teacher Heather Scott who joined the school at the end of 2012.

Ofsted said in its original report she had “quickly identified significant shortcomings” and put measures in place to improve the school.

Now Mrs Scott has welcome the results of a monitoring visit from the education watchdog.

A letter from inspector Heather Richardson, published yesterday, praises the school for setting up systems to deliver improvements. It also notes that the school enjoyed improved exam results this summer, with pupils making more progress.

Mrs Scott said she believed the school was now on a journey toward earning an outstanding rating. She said: “We are really pleased that Heather Richardson could see the improvements we have already put in place at Bruntcliffe School.

“We have all been working hard to create the best possible learning environment for our young people.

“Our strongest teachers work hard to share their good practice, by planning and delivering training sessions to all colleagues within school. “

She said that the school’s subject leaders were using data management systems to track student progress from the age of 11 to 18, so that staff could pinpoint quickly if any interventions were required.

She added: “I’m really looking forward to welcoming the Ofsted team back in a few months’ time, to show them the progress we’ve made towards becoming an outstanding school.”

The school was in the headlines last month after a 15-year-old 
girl suffered burns to her 
stomach, arms and legs when a firework was set off inside the school hall.