TYNEDALE‘S flagship academy school is now on a “surer footing” towards turning around its fortunes, education watchdog Ofsted has concluded.

But inspectors have warned senior teachers and governors at Haltwhistle Community Campus’ upper school that the “hard work now begins”.

The campus‘ upper school, which caters for pupils aged 9-13, was placed in special measures in July last year, after a damning inspection, in which it was judged ’inadequate’.

In February, it emerged that the Government had lined-up the Cheshire-based multi-academy trust Bright Tribe to take over the reins at the campus – a proposal strongly opposed by governors, who would prefer a local solution.

Now in a newly-published report following a monitoring inspection in March, Ofsted has acknowledged that progress is being made under the stewardship of acting headteacher Sandra Graham.

Inspectors concluded: “The effectiveness of leadership and management leaders have secured the necessary external support to put the school on a surer footing towards the removal of special measures.

“The fundamental systems, processes and policies to underpin a quicker rate of improvement are now in place.

“There is a clear framework to bring about the changes in practice that are much needed.

“Senior leaders have the foundations in place to support more rapid and effective improvement.

“The hard work now begins. Leaders need to ensure that their planned actions are making as much of a difference to teaching and pupils’ progress as they anticipate.“

The report said an external consultant has been supporting Mrs Graham to devise a suitable improvement plan, a document which has become a “useful driver for improvement.”

It added: “Clear priorities and a series of measurable targets, which build on their ambition for what pupils should be achieving each half term, ensure that all stakeholders, including governors, are aware of what is expected and when.

“Leaders are acutely aware that they need to monitor this plan more carefully to ensure that the actions they have devised lift the overall quality of teaching and enable pupils to reach their full potential.

“Staff are now clear about what is expected of them to bring about a better quality of teaching. Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is improving due to a clearer, more accurate and streamlined approach to assessment.”

Meanwhile, Ofsted has now published its report following an inspection of the campus’ lower school in March.

It says the lower school, which caters for pupils aged 4-9, requires improvement, was reported in the Courant at the end of March.

Inspectors criticised a lack of monitoring of the quality of teaching, and said that the expectations of teachers are often not high enough, resulting in pupils not reaching the standards of which they are capable.

The report praised the lower school‘s safegaurding procedures, and acknowledged various strengths on which to build.

It added: “Senior leaders and governors are honest and accurate in their evaluation of the school’s position.

“Action plans are now focused on the correct priorities and are beginning to drive improvement.

“Pupils are polite, friendly and lively. They feel safe and are safe. Attendance is good.”

Inspectors said that the lower school must seek improvement through the development and training of all staff, effective monitoring of teaching, and holding teachers to account for the progress of pupils.