Duffryn High School comes off 'must improve' list (From South Wales Argus)

Duffryn High School comes off 'must improve' list

7:50am Friday 10th July 2009

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DUFFRYN High School has improved so much since its last inspection it has been removed from a list of schools requiring significant improvement.

The school was placed on the list after an inspection by education watchdog Estyn in February 2008.

But the follow-up inspection carried out in May this year said that new procedures put in place have raised expectations and are having a "clear impact on the school's work and the standards pupils achieve."

Welcoming the outcome of this latest inspection headteacher Jon Wilson said this was just the start and the aim was to "get better and better".

Inspectors graded 153 lessons with none being classified as unsatisfactory and three quarters of them being classed as good our outstanding.

Mr Wilson said the areas of concern highlighted in the previous inspection about the behaviour of some pupils had been monitored vigorously with virtually no bad behaviour now.

“If you teach good, interesting lessons, you get good results and less challenging behaviour.

“We have switched attention from dealing with behaviour as it occurs to conscious efforts to make lessons more lively and stimulating,” he added.

Reward systems have also been put in place for good performances and behaviour.

Last year inspectors set the school six recommendations They were to:

• satisfy requirement for a daily act of collective worship for students
• continue to raise standards in all subjects
• continue to raise standards of teaching and learning
• seek ways to reduce high levels of student absenteeism and motivating them when in school
• continue to find ways to improve behaviour
• improve key skill The report then stated that the school had a number of “disruptive” pupils who were affecting teaching standards.

Inspectors did find an improving school in terms of its ethos, most students’ attitudes to work and the environment.

But a minority of cases, pupils were said to be regularly missing lessons and school, leading to disaffection and lack of progress in the group.

An action plan was drawn up last October and the school is judged to have made good progress in all areas.

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