Terrington school hits back at Ofsted
A WEST Norfolk school is challenging Ofsted about aspects of a report which put the school on special measures.
Terrington St Clement Community School, backed by Norfolk County Council, has made a formal complaint to the inspection body.
Headteacher Liz Hackett said she hoped for a positive outcome although she doubted if the move would result in special measures being lifted. "We think they made the wrong decision but they don't often turn around their decision," she said.
The school and many supporters were shocked by the conclusion of the report, which Miss Hackett pointed out followed a one-and-a-half-day visit to the 377-pupil school.
Its publication was followed by expressions of support for the school from people who knew it well, she went on.
"We recognise there are things to be done. It's not that we weren't aware of the issues. We told Ofsted and they came up looking for them. But there were things in the process and the inspection report which weren't quite as they should have been," said Miss Hackett.
Although unable to discuss details of the complaint, because it was subject to investigation, she said: "There were statements made in the report which weren't backed by evidence. We had evidence to the contrary which they chose not to look at."
As a result of the challenge, she hoped that when inspectors returned, they would agree to take into consideration the evidence the school tried to present before.
She stressed the many strengths of the school highlighted in the report. It was not a time to get bedded down in argument but to focus on bringing about improvements, she added.
An Ofsted spokesman said: "As part of our process, the school has the opportunity to comment on the report. These comments would have been considered as part of the moderation process for a school being put into special measures."
The spokesman confirmed that a formal complaint had been received and said Ofsted's standard procedure for handling complaints would be followed.
He added that out of 8,333 schools inspected in 2006-2007, 355 complaints were received. After investigation, seven per cent were upheld, 35 per cent were partially upheld and 57 were rejected.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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