THE HEADTEACHER of a Malvern school has welcomed the publication of an Ofsted report despite it stating it needs to improve in several areas.
The report, which followed a two-day inspection at The Chase held last month, rated the school as ‘requires improvement’, a level below its ‘good’ inspection when inspectors last visited the school.
But Richard Jacobs, who took over the role as headteacher at the Geraldine Road school in September 2013, said the report was ‘welcome’ and he and his staff were confident new changes implemented would lead to students to fulfilling their potential and an ‘outstanding’ grade in years to come.
Inspectors in their report praised Mr Jacob’s efforts in creating a new era for the school, saying ‘the newly appointed headteacher has skillfully steered a new direction for the school and brought all staff together to work as a team’ and the ‘leaders’ drive to improve the quality of teaching is beginning to have an impact’.
But despite the praise Ofsted inspectors said there was still work to do.
“Recent changes in the school’s leadership activities have yet to have a full impact on improving students’ achievement,” the report adds.
Inspectors said the school could improve the effectiveness of the leadership to raise achievement by monitoring the quality of teaching and impact on students’ work more often.
But Mr Jacobs said the report was part of the process in terms of aiming for long-term success at the school.
“I am very pleased that the exceptional effort that has been made by everyone at The Chase to ensure we stay on the path to outstanding status has been recognised by Ofsted,” he said.
“The school has enjoyed incredible success in the past but we honestly feel that our full potential is now starting to be fully realised and that we have an even more illustrious future ahead of us.
“It is our intent to provide a quality of educational experience that exceeds that provided by our highly esteemed local private schools.
“Like all schools, The Chase has areas that require improvement. In the past students could have and should have achieved even higher grades than they did.
“Following this very welcome report we have every confidence that the reforms we have introduced will bring the necessary changes to ensure that every group of students fulfils their full potential.”
Visit www.ofsted.gov.uk to see the report in full.
