A pair of Birmingham schools have done the double by achieving top ratings from Ofsted.
Wilkes Green Junior School in Handsworth and Shenley Academy in Northfield have both joined an elite band of city schools to be judged outstanding by the Government watchdog.
Just 14 per cent of schools in England are rated outstanding by the inspectorate, with Wilkes Green Junior School earning praise for staff who act as “role models” to the pupils, and an “inspirational” head teacher.
The school recorded above national average results in the Key Stage 2 SATs tables earlier this month, with 90 per cent of pupils earning a level four or above in English and 92 per cent level four or above in maths.
Head teacher Avtar Singh Mangat MBE said: “The school has had three previous very successful Ofsted inspections and continues to improve on its previous best. For the school now to be judged as ‘outstanding’ is excellent news for us all at the school and the community we serve.”
Shenley Academy was subject to a two-day inspection, where an inspection report praised the school’s “remarkable progress” in raising standards, increasing attendance and “securing good behaviour”.
Shenley Academy, formerly known as Shenley Court Specialist Arts College, became one of Birmingham’s first academies when it opened in September 2009.
It is sponsored by education organisation E-Act, and building work is under way on a new school building, which will open in next September.
Principal Ruth Harker said: “This is a real tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff and students and to the support of our parents.
“Everyone rightly, is very proud to have received such a report. There is a great team spirit here, and what this has done is to encourage us to carry on with the excellent work.”
Wilkes Green Junior School and Shenley Academy’s successes come as the new head of Ofsted backed a local network to spot problems, dismiss incompetent teachers and drive up standards in schools.
Sir Michael Wilshaw, the incoming head of Ofsted, said the job of identifying failing schools should not fall on his shoulders alone as more schools become independent academies under the Government’s education reforms.
‘‘It is no good just relying on Ofsted to give the judgment. By that time it is too late. We need intermediary bodies which can detect when things aren’t going well, look at the data and have their ear very close to the ground to determine when there is a certain issue.”
