LEADERS have been told that they are making considerable progress to improve a Hereford secondary school. 

In its last full Ofsted inspection, Aylestone School received a 'requires improvement' rating. 

However, after visiting the Broadlands Lane based school last month, Ofsted inspectors found that it is making progress, as it looks to secure a 'good' grade. 

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In a report, leaders were told that 'decisive and well-chosen actions’ have been taken to address areas for improvement identified. Inspectors also recognised that there has been a ‘sense of urgency’ to the changes being implemented fully by staff and that pupils are ’responding well’ to them.

Ofsted has also acknowledge that the curriculum has been reviewed in detail and that it is planned and ‘builds key knowledge and skills’. More effective learning is also being delivered and further work is ongoing to ensure that learning is improved still further from Year 7 to the end of Year 11.

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The introduction of targeted teaching methods has also had an excellent impact and the inspection noted ‘many pupils who spoke positively about the strategies used in different subject areas’.

In addition, many staffing changes at the school were identified - including increasing the number of heads of year, providing greater strength to the leadership and pastoral areas at Aylestone.

Executive headteacher Simon Robertson said: “I’m very pleased with this report overall, as it clearly highlights the positive progress being made at Aylestone. We know that there is more work to do and everyone here is committed to making our school the very best it can be.

“Our previous inspection called for more effective adaptations of learning for pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) and I am delighted that the new monitoring report has concluded the support offered is now effective and helps close the gap between outcomes for pupils with SEND and pupils with no additional needs.

“In addition to the academic areas where improvements were noted, I was very pleased to read that safeguarding was found to be effective and that expert leaders were shown as having clear systems in place to identify pupils at risk of potential harm.

“The extra capacity in the senior leadership and pastoral team was also noted as having a positive impact and that our co-ordinated approach, using tracking and strong lines of communication, ensures that support is timely and appropriate.

“I was particularly pleased the inspector noted that ‘during the inspection there was no evidence of disruptive behaviour and that pupils were ‘focussed, willing to answer questions, engage with partners in paired work and work independently.’

“We owe it to all our pupils to strive for the very best educational opportunities possible and I can reassure our whole school community that that is exactly what everyone at Aylestone continues to do.”