Cecil Jones College put into special measures (From Echo)

Cecil Jones College put into special measures

6:00am Wednesday 2nd December 2009

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A SECONDARY school has been put into special measures following a damning Ofsted report.

Cecil Jones College, in Eastern Avenue, Southend is “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education,” according to the report.

The school was rated as inadequate for its overall effectiveness and its capacity to change for the better.

In the damning report, inspector David Jones wrote: “This school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.”

He goes on to say the standards and achievement in the main college have declined since 2007.

He wrote: “Teaching is unsatisfactory. Teaching in nearly one quarter of the lessons observed was judged inadequate.

“The pupils’ behaviour directly matches the quality of teaching. When engaged and challenged in lessons, they behave well and generally make appropriate or often good progress.

“However, where teaching is ineffective, teachers sometimes talk too much or require pupils to complete basic copying, which fail to engage the attention. Frustration and disengagement often precede poor behaviour.”

In a letter to pupils, Mr Jones wrote: “Attendance is a problem because more than ten per cent of you are absent on a regular basis.”

The report said the school promoted community cohesion, pupils adopt healthy lifestyles and praised pupils’ contribution to the school and wider community.

Headteacher, Doug Nichols, who has worked at the school for 23 years, will be retiring on December 18, following four years in the top job.

Governors have announced he will be replaced in January by Pauline Harris, a former deputy headteacher at Grays Convent School and schools’ adviser to Southend Council.

One parent, who asked only to be named as Ken, has a son who attends Cecil Jones College.

He said: “A lot of the things highlighted in the report were down to the quality of teaching and pupils’ behaviour – I think they go hand in hand.

“That is the biggest issue I have got. I wasn’t happy with the report at all.

“I am glad it has finally come to light. I find it slightly worrying that standards have been slipping since 2007.”

The school’s governing body, chaired by Jackie Raja, was judged a “real strength” by inspectors.

Ms Raja said: “Cecil Jones has a strong ethos of ensuring every pupils is able to fulfil their potential. With staff, pupils, parents and governors working together, we are confident we will continue to see success for all the young people in our care.”

Inspectors visited 70 lessons and looked at the quality of teaching and learning, standards and achievements, attendance and behaviour.

The school inspection was carried out on September 30 and the results were released yesterday.

While a school is in special measures, a monitoring and improvement group is set up comprising local education officers, the headteacher, governors, and special advisers, which works to improve the school.

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k.oshea, southend on sea says...
7:36am Wed 2 Dec 09

Regarding Cecil Jones going into special measures. I knew it was coming two years ago. My son entered the school as an A star student, he began to fall behind in English and was refused help when he asked for it. He started skipping his English lessons and realised the X box was more exiting than school. He has recently benn told by south East Essex College that he has Dyspraxia, Which is probably the reascil Jones dealt with my son.on he Struggled with lessons, If Cecil Jones had investigated further they may have realised this and helped him. I have since chosen to send my younger daughter to Futures College, as I was not happy with the way CE