School not rated good since 2013 told it still needs to improve by education watchdog

A school that was last rated ‘good’ nine years ago has been told by the education watchdog that it still needs to do better.

St Anne’s CE Academy, in Middleton, remains classed as ‘requires improvement’ following a recent Ofsted inspection, despite officials noting significant progress in many areas.

It was first downgraded in 2015 and has been unable to regain its former rating over the course of two full inspections interspersed by monitoring visits.

READ MORE : Once 'outstanding' infant school ordered to improve by watchdog following first inspection since 2010

The Hollin Lane secondary school, which transferred to the Cranmer Education Trust last year, accepts it is on a ‘journey of improvement’, but says this is ‘now well under way’.

A new report - based on a full inspection in late 2021 - praises leadership and management at the school as well as pupils’ behaviour, attitude and personal development.

All these areas are classed as ‘good’.

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But as the quality of education is still in need of improvement, the overall rating remains unchanged.

Ofsted notes that ‘in some subjects, teachers deliver the curriculum to a high standard, with children ‘achieving well’ as a result.

Elsewhere, however, some pupils are said to ‘remain stuck’.

“In these subjects, some teachers do not