INSPECTORS have blamed 'complacency' and 'confused leadership' for dragging down standards at a once-leading school
Manchester's Parrs Wood High School was officially placed in special measures this week after Ofsted identified a catalogue of problems.
Last month, the M.E.N. revealed that the education watchdog was considering sanctions against the 2,000- pupil Didsbury school after a surprise inspection.
Now an official report confirms the decision to give the school the education equivalent of a yellow card.
Inspectors blame frequent `management restructuring', `involvement in too many initiatives' and `insufficient progress' in maths and English.
The school, listed in this year's Good Schools Guide, has long been regarded as one of the best in Manchester.
But the team of inspectors gave it an overall grade of `inadequate' - the lowest of four possible marks.
Their report said: "Parrs Wood has experienced a period of uncertainty and change in recent years and has made insufficient progress.
"Too much effort has been expended on initiatives or awards which have had limited impact on improving provision in the classroom."
Grave concern was also expressed about GCSE results, which slumped last year, and falling levels of attendance.
Pupils also received `little homework' which was `inconsistently marked'. In total, the school scored bottom marks in 10 out of 27 categories.
But the school's head David Ashley promised changes would happen and Parrs Wood would be `drastically improved' within 12 months.
He said: "We have put together a detailed plan to address each issue in the Ofsted report. We intend to be out of special measures in a year.
Information
"We are keeping parents informed of what is happening as we get more information. I am very confident we can address the issues identified about leadership and management."
Asked whether teachers at the school were now working together, Mr Ashley, who has been head since 2005, said: "We have very complicated structures in a very large school and the local authority is going to work with us to ensure the structures are clarified."
He said he had no reason to believe he or any other managers would be replaced. Staff have told the M.E.N. there was confusion over the roles of Mr Ashley and associate head Rachel Jones, who at the time of their appointment were described as `joint heads'. Insiders say some staff had divided loyalties between the pair.
The school has drawn up an action plan to address the problems identified in the report, including clarifying the role of managers and improving English and maths teaching.
But this has yet to be approved by the city council, which now has the power to run the school directly.
It has two weeks to adopt the plan or draw up its own.
Pauline Newman, the council's director of children's services, promised `whatever action is required' to improve the school.
As part of a pilot scheme, students took national tests a year early, but had poor results for English and maths. This has been dropped and pupils are taking tests at the normal age.
But there was some good news in the report, with the school's associated sixth form college receiving praise and its students making good progress in their A-levels.
The school was found to have a budget deficit, but Mr Ashley said the outstanding money had been paid and had been only a small portion of the larger-than-average school's budget.
Copies of the report have been sent to parents at the school and a series of open days will be held in the new year.
When it was last visited by Ofsted in 2001, Parrs Wood was described as `among the top five per cent in the country'.
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I think only a complete overhaul of the governors, and maybe a new single head can save the school, but it still has to save some face.
Perhaps Dr Ashley should stay on as Head provisionally, while the rest of the management and governors are replaced, alongside those staff who would not support him which led to this appalling and shocking chaos. What a travesty, and for shame on staff not to support their loyal Headteacher.
I'm sure such an action will grant a refreshing look to a once worthwhile school and turn things around for the better. This will make Parrs Wood High School a proud institution once again worthy of approval, even, from Sir Iain Hall - Knight.
I meant Mr Ashley, not Dr, I do apologise.
For what it's worth, and another idea may be: What does Sir Iain Hall think of all these events? And, can he be tempted back into his former role to put the school back on course? Perhaps even on a consultancy basis. He is an expert in the field, after all.
I think Sir Iain Hall coming back (even if it was just on a consultancy basis)would be one way of getting the school back on to the recovery road.
With Iain Hall and Rachel Jones working together, I believe the school could start the recovery process.
I also believe the Board of Governors should be replaced and in particular, The Chair of Governors.
I think the school needs a completely independent "Super Head".
For the record here's Parrs Wood's headline GCSE statistic (5 A* to C) for the last 13 years :-
1994 46%
1995 33%
1996 50%
1997 50%
1998 53%
1999 50%
2000 47%
2001 47%
2002 57%
2003 63%
2004 55%
2005 58%
2006 71%
2007 65%
Iain Hall was in charge from before 1990 until Dec 2003. So, I fail to see how he could improve things.
It's ironic that the very people who caused this mess in the first place (i.e. Manchester Education Authority) are the people who are now riding in on a white charger to get us out of this mess.
Articles from 2005 suggest that a large number of Governors were very unhappy about how the appointment of David Ashley was handled. A number of unspeciified allegations were made.
As a matter of correction, I was "in charge of the school" myself for some time during 1990. I followed Geoff Stone. I was also "in charge" frequently thereafter when Iain Hall couldn't be available.
I use my name openly because I was transparent then and firmly remain so.
Happy New Year to you!
Jim