'Inadequate' school ordered to improve; Criticisms of Coquet from inspectors.

Byline: Nicola Juncar

A SCHOOL in Northumberland has been issued with a "notice to improve" following a poor Ofsted inspection.

Coquet High School, in Amble, near Morpeth, was visited by Ofsted last month and a report of their findings has just been published.

The report says the school is performing "significantly less well" than expected, and criticises its leadership and the students' achievement in core subjects.

Overall, the school has been rated as "inadequate" - the lowest grade Ofsted can give. A notice to improve is one step away from being placed in "special measures", the term Government inspectors give to a failing school.

The notice means the school has been given specific guidelines on areas to improve and will be revisited again in six months' time.

The key areas Coquet has been asked to improve are to raise standards in English and science, and to introduce a consistent way of recording and marking the students' work so they know when they are performing well.

The report states: "Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires significant improvement, because it is performing significantly less well than in all the circumstances it could reasonably be expected to perform.

"Significant improvement is required in relation to raising standards in English; in developing more rigorous monitoring, marking and written feedback to ensure that all students know how well they are doing and what they need to do to improve further; and developing more robust evaluation and monitoring of provision to ensure that all students achieve in line with their capabilities.

Overall, students' achievement is inadequate. Although standards have been improving at sixth form level since the previous inspection because of the greater numbers taking vocationally orientated courses, overall attainment at the highest level in A-level examinations declined from 2007, when it was below the national average.

"The overall quality of leadership and management is inadequate because key issues from the previous inspection, in particular, standards and progress in English, and the approaches to marking and monitoring students' work have not improved.

"The school's evaluation of its performance is over-optimistic, and its analysis of some students' performance data in English is flawed." Headteacher Paul Allen said: "Coquet High School is a school with many good features and although we do acknowledge there is work to be done to raise standards, we are confident that with the continued support of parents, effort from our pupils and commitment of our staff, we will be able to meet our new targets and will receive recognition of this in the next Ofsted report in February 2010."

Tony Mays, head of school improvement for Northumberland County Council, said "The local authority is committed to ensuring the highest quality of education and is working closely with the school to achieve this. We are confident parents will now see future improvements in the areas highlighted by the report."

David Hall, chair of governors for the Coquet Federation, added: "While this report represents fresh challenges for Coquet High School it also notes many good points, including that the students are happy and learn in a safe environment."

To see the report in full log on to www.ofsted.gov.uk