News

Monday, 17 January 2005

'Supercollege' storms to Ofsted success

A 'SUPERSCHOOL' has been placed into an education hall of fame as one of only 24 in Yorkshire deemed 'doubly excellent' by government watchdog Ofsted.

St. Thomas à Becket Comprehensive College, on Barnsley Road, Wakefield, was named in the Department for Education and Skills honours list after receiving top marks in both Ofsted inspections since the watchdog was set up 12 years ago. An internet list names 211 particularly successful colleges and 24 doubly outstanding ones.

St. Thomas à Becket is the only Wakefield College to have received two outstanding Ofsted inspections.

Headteacher Brian Donnellan said: "We are thrilled to hear that we have been included on Ofsted's honours list and even more delighted to find that we were one of the 234 consistent high-achievers across the country, of which 123 are secondary colleges."
The college was inspected in 1993 and 2003 and, in both cases, inspectors reported that students' behaviour and attitudes are excellent, their attitude to learning is good and they work hard and are well motivated.
Mr Donnellan said: "Both reports said that children here like college, which everyone at St. Thomas à Becket recognises as being vital if the students are to feel confident and able to give their best."

In its 1993 inspection, emphasis was laid on the quality of teaching, which inspectors described as 'well planned and conducted at a good pace'.

Inspectors said: "A substantial strength of teaching is the excellent knowledge and understanding of subjects which teachers combine with their high expectations of learning."

Mr Donnellan said: "For all of us at Becket's a significant factor was that Ofsted recognised we are in need of a new college. They concluded that the standards in college are well above average overall, and are improving despite the college's accommodation. It is a tribute to the commitment and professionalism of the staff and the attitudes of students that the potentially debilitating effects of the weaknessses in accommodation have been overcome while standards have improved. We know that Wakefield LEA and the Diocese of Leeds both recognise this need and are very supportive but until funding is available under the Building Colleges for the Future Programme, it is unlikely we shall have a new college."

A total of 23 out of 51 staff were at the college for both Ofsted inspections.

This article was taken with permission from the Wakefield Express.