Education expert brought in after OFSTED places 'inadequate' Ridgeway School in Special Measures - The Redditch Standard

Education expert brought in after OFSTED places 'inadequate' Ridgeway School in Special Measures

Redditch Editorial 16th Dec, 2021 Updated: 16th Dec, 2021   0

A NATIONAL Leader of Education has been brought in to a Redditch school which OFSTED deemed to be inadequate in all areas and placed in special measures.

Lee Gray is helping Ridgeway Secondary School which was inspected on October 19 and 20.

In July the headteacher left and Matt Ball was installed as acting head.

The latest report highlights that whilst there is evidence of positive change in recent months, linked to new leadership and governance, there has not yet been the time to see the impact of those changes.




The report said in the past trustees had not held leaders to account for the performance of the school which led to issues such as a poor curriculum, poor behaviour and low attendance not being effectively challenged.

The report also highlights the need for further training for staff, further developments of the curriculum to enable sequences of learning to be evident and also further development of safeguarding systems and training.


The school said it had already taken action to address the points linked to safeguarding and a recent visit by the local authority praised the developments which had been made.

Mr Ball has refocused the wider school development plan to ensure rapid improvement to the quality of teaching and more consistency across the whole school.

The support from Mr Gray is part of a collaboration between Studley High School and Ridgeway to ensure the school can make rapid improvements.

Mr Ball said: “Ridgeway School needs to be better.

“We must embed high expectations for all.

“The OFSTED report distinguishes the past from the present and we are excited that with new leadership and collaboration we can now improve the offer for our students and families, so that Ridgeway returns to being the school of choice for local residents.

“We are all committed to ensuring rapid improvements, so that consistency and quality of educational experience is embedded fully within the school.”

Ridgeway’s chair of governors, Mrs Torrington, added: “Communities should be able to rely on their local schools to provide high quality education for all.

“With the new leadership structure and developing local collaborations, we are excited about the future at Ridgeway

Secondary School and remain committed to returning the school to a ‘Good’ or a better OFSTED rating as soon as possible.”

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