Her Majesty’s Inspectors for schools have said Moulsecoomb Primary School is taking effective action to improve performance
This is despite the government’s academisation plans for the school, which have at times diverted the headteacher ‘away from the core business of improving the quality of education’, according to the inspectors.
Both the school’s improvement plan and the support the school is getting from the council are described as ‘fit for purpose’.
Ofsted rated the school as ‘inadequate’ last year. The recent HMI monitoring visit does not change that rating, but the inspectors have confirmed the school is heading in the right direction.
Councillor Kate Knight is vice chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s children, young people and skills committee, and also represents Moulsecoomb as a ward councillor. She said:
“I’m delighted that the HMI inspectors have acknowledged the progress the school has made, and said the school is going in the right direction.
‘I’m very proud of the work that leaders at the school, children, parents, the community and the council are doing to support the school.
“We’ve said time and time again that the school is making good progress under its current leadership.
“We’ve also said all along that converting the school to an academy is unnecessary and would be highly disruptive to pupils at the school.
“It would seem that even the inspectors are now recognising the disruption the academisation process is causing.
“I’m really angry about this. Surely the government must now acknowledge that it’s time for them to do the decent thing and call off their academy plans.
“This administration will continue oppose any attempt to force local schools to become academies.”