John O'Gaunt School is improving - Ofsted

The full report - the result of an inspection in September - is due to be published this week.
Headteacher Sarah Brinkley, who took up the post in 2012, is singled out for praise in the document for her “strong and effective leadership.”
And although Ofsted concludes the school still requires improving, other positives include the fact that the curriculum is well designed, pupils feel safe at school and most enjoy learning, and achievement in a range of subjects has improved in the last year.
This acknowledgement follows an inspection in 2013 that originally identified the need for improvements.
Mrs Brinkley acknowledged a dip in maths performance, noted in the latest report and said: “It was a surprise, but it’s not only our school - 50 per cent nationally had a dip in maths scores.
“We’re putting in measures to ensure maths progresses in the same was that English has done in the last 12 months.”
Other areas identified for improvement include the need to for governors to hold leaders to account more rigorously, for good leadership and teaching to be more consistent, the need for more students to make good progress by the end of year 11, and more sixth formers to achieve the exam results they are capable of.
Mrs Brinkley, said: “We welcome the inspection’s recognition of where we have done well and acknowledge what still needs to be done. I am confident the team we now have in place has the ability to make that happen.
“I’m two years into this job and there’s no quick fix in education. But we’re on a journey. We welcome the inspection’s recognition of where we have done well and acknowledge what still needs to be done. There are green shoots and this is going to be a springboard to sustainable improvement. I’m confident the team we now have in place has the ability to make that happen.”
The school has undergone a number of recent changes including a new chair of governors, Clive Rothwell, and the appointment of two new assistant head teachers, Ellie Bunston and Mat Davies.
The website has been redesigned, the school has a new logo (pictured) designed by computer and business studies teacher Ben Harrison, and £0.6 million of the £1.25 million allocated for school improvements, will be spent on the new library, which will triple its current foot print and be set behind a sweeping new driveway.
Planning permission permitting, work is expected to start in January 2015 and be complete by next August.
Mrs Brinkley said: “Our science labs are being gutted and refurbished, top to bottom, with flexible, pod-style furniture; the servery is to become an internet cafe; we’ve got two new outdoor classrooms and an outside canopy area - the school is evolving.”
She added: “All too often people judge us on what the school was like 30 years ago. I say, ‘come and step over the threshold’ - they’ve no idea of the change in learning environment and the calm atmosphere.”