West Berkshire school in special measures

Ofsted has adjudged that Theale Green Community School has not made enough progress since its last inspection, in 2011, and has therefore been placed in special measures.
The school confirmed that headteacher Sue Marshall, who has been head for 10 years, will leave her post this month, but it is unclear whether she will stay at the school in another capacity.
The school governors and West Berkshire Council have already begun a selection process, from a national field, to appoint an interim headteacher, before a permanent headteacher is selected before September.
The chairman of the governors, Hamish Stout, said: “The governing body will use all the powers it has, and the resources available to it, to secure rapid and sustainable improvements – including, where appropriate, calling on outside expertise with a proven record of success.
“The areas we will focus on will be those identified by inspectors. We will strengthen teaching in science, expand the choice of subjects in the sixth form, and help to ensure boys and girls and other student groupings progress equally.
“We are very clear that our first priority is to secure improvements in the achievements of all our students, with particular emphasis on those students who are taking external examinations.”
This year 47.25 per cent of the school’s pupils gained five GCSEs, including mathematics and English, compared to 56.50 two years ago. However, 76 per cent of candidates gained A* to Cs at A-level this year, up from 71 per cent in 2010.
Theale Green will now be allocated an inspector, who will support the school throughout its time in special measures and visit the school every six to eight weeks. It could remain in special measures for two years, unless the inspector believes enough progress has been made to warrant an early inspection.
District councillor for Theale, Alan Macro (Lib Dem), blasted West Berkshire Council after figures released by the Department for Education last month confirmed that 32 per cent of the district’s secondary schools are deemed either ‘satisfactory’ or ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.
“West Berkshire Council is failing its secondary school-age children,” said Mr Macro. “Theale Green has now also been put in special measures. That means that 40 per cent of our secondary schools have been put in special measures, or have failed to meet the national challenge GCSE target, since the Conservatives took control of the council.
“The problem has been made much worse by the council sacking schools advisers to save money. We proposed ways to keep advisers while not affecting other services, but the Conservative administration would not listen to us.”
In response, West Berkshire executive councillor for education, Irene Neill, said: “Councillor Macro is getting mixed up in terms of numbers and Ofsted categories. We only have one school, Theale Green, in special measures. We only have one school, Mrs Blands, with a notice to improve. Circa 76 per cent of West Berkshire schools are judged good or better by Ofsted.
“I am confident the school has a clear determination to address the issues raised by inspectors. I look forward to seeing real progress where it is needed, which will be to the benefit of all pupils at the school.”