After two years under special measures, a once struggling Salford academy has turned things round according to Ofsted.
Oasis Academy at MediaCityUK was judged to be ‘inadequate’ in June 2014, the secondary school was then inspected five times over two years to keep track of its efforts to improve.
On June 8-9 Ofsted inspected Oasis once more, this time deciding that enough improvements had been made to push the academy out of special measures and rated the school as ‘good’.
The academy now only needs to improve a few areas to be rated ‘outstanding.’
Principal of Oasis, Fiona O’Sullivan told MM: “We are delighted with the result, we’ve spent two years working hard towards the removal of special measures and we achieved a grade which reflects the huge improvements that the academy has made.
“It’s a testament to the hard work and determination of all of the staff and the wonderful students that we’ve got.”
“We’ve actually skipped two grades, which is an extremely positive outcome.
“It’s a very unusual outcome, particularly for a secondary school to move from special measures to good in one go.”
The report written by lead inspector, David Selby, said: “The principal has created the conditions which have led to the rapid improvement in the school through a combination of clarity, determination and humanity.
“She exemplifies the school’s ethos which is committed to the success of every pupil.
“The improvement already achieved in the school indicates that the people needed are in place for such improvement to continue.”
The academy has had a large staff overhaul to achieve the improved rating, with nearly four out of every five teachers joining the school since the previous inspection in February.
Selby said in his report: “The gaps between the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and other pupils, and between those who speak English as an additional language and others are closing.
“The school is very clear that it accepts and fully includes people of all faiths or none, pupils are provided with many opportunities to broaden their horizons.
“The school’s positive work to help pupils understand what it means to be British was exemplified by well-balanced tutor-time lessons about the EU referendum seen by an inspector.”
Image courtesy of Johnstone’s Trade Paints, via YouTube, with thanks.
