'Everything is moving in the right direction' - Boston-area secondary schools defends itself following criticism from Ofsted and warning notice to its trust
A secondary school near Boston has defended itself following criticism from Ofsted and a warning notice to its trust, saying ‘everything is moving in the right direction’.
In May, Ofsted published its latest inspection report on William Lovell CofE Academy, in Stickney, part of Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust (LAAT).
Then, in June, as a result of this judgment, the Department for Education wrote to LAAT asking for reassurance that it had capacity to deliver ‘rapid and sustainable improvement’. It warned that if it was not satisfied this could be achieved it would consider whether to transfer the academy to an alternative trust.
In the wake of the press coverage that followed, William Lovell invitedthe Standardto visit the school and learn more about its vision, the work being done to realise that vision, and the challenges in faces along the way.
“The things that have been written about us, they just don’t ring true,” said headteacher Emma Bennett. “There is a very, very, very different story here.”
When asked about the school’s vision, Mrs Bennett took the Standard to a corridor near the entrance where a list of ‘key drivers’ are emblazoned on the wall.
These read: ‘excellence is a habit’, ‘everyone is valued’, ‘invest to achieve’, ‘cultivate your character’ and ‘never give up’.
“Every decision we make, every policy we write, is underpinned by our key drivers,” Mrs Bennett said.
Alongside them is the ‘William Lovell Legacy’, which reads ‘The light in our community helps us to grow, responsibility is the compass that guides us, and excellence is the path we walk to reach a brighter future’, plus a passage from the Gospel of Matthew about growth and community.
One comment made by Mrs Bennett during our visit was that ‘everything in moving in the right direction’.
During our time there, we were able to see an initiative introduced in November to help pupils in their learning.
William Lovell is one of only two schools in LAAT to be piloting the trust’s Digital Strategy. This involves every pupil having their own iPad to use in school, but also at home.
Other steps have included investment in expert staff and a focus on developing members of the team already in place.
“We have got the right people in the building to move standards forward at pace,” Mrs Bennett said.
Pupils also had praise for staff during the Standard’s visit.
Henley, aged 14, said: “The teachers listen to you, will help you out. If you need help, they will talk you through it.”
Lucas, also 14, said: “There are some very nice teachers that are helpful.”
Mrs Bennett proudly described William Lovell as ‘inclusive’, saying ‘our doors open inwards not outwards’.
However, as a result of this, she said, the school can face challenges in meeting Ofsted’s expectations on achievement.
“It feels like the framework has let us down as an inclusive school,” she said.
She backed the school’s approach, though, saying ‘morally, it is the right thing to do’.
“It is about serving all of the children in this area,” she said. “It is not about cherry picking.”
She said the school values ‘the whole person’, with it working to develop children not just academically, but also ‘spiritually’ and ‘culturally’.
Mrs Bennett’s passion for her work was clear during the visit.
She told the Standard that her drive came from her background in elite sport, specifically hockey.
“It comes from wanting to be the very best version of me every day,” she said, an ethos she hoped would be passed on to the children.
“I want William Lovell to be home to the hardest working pupils in Lincolnshire,” she said. “Regardless of your ability, you get on and try and try and better yourself.”
The Standard also approached LAAT for a comment. Its deadline to respond to the DfE was July 8.
Jackie Waters-Dewhurst, chief executive, said: “The DfE has a legal duty to send these standard letters to schools that, in some areas, have not met the required judgement. These letters are to give the body responsible for the school a chance to provide evidence of the work that is going on and the improvements that are happening as a result.
“We have put together a robust evidence pack for the DFf, including reports from external educational bodies, all of which highlight the rapid improvements that continue at the school.
“These are a continuation of the work that the Ofsted team praised. We look forward to Ofsted’s monitoring visit so that they can see for themselves the impact of the work that is being done.”