The head of Telford’s £70 million super school insisted this week that rapid improvements would shortly emerge over its exam results after it was named among six in the borough facing action over their GCSE performance.
The head of Telford’s £70 million super school insisted this week that rapid improvements would shortly emerge over its exam results after it was named among six in the borough facing action over their GCSE performance.
Hadley Learning Community and five others are among hundreds nationwide given an ultimatum by the Government to improve results or face being closed or turned into academies.
They are listed among 638 UK schools being targeted because 30 per cent or less of their pupils achieved at least five good GCSE grades, including English and maths.
Joining Hadley Learning Community on the list are the The Lord Silkin, Abraham Darby Specialist School for Performing Arts, The Phoenix, Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College and Wrockwardine Wood Arts College.
Education authorities have until the start of the summer holidays to produce an action plan to turn their performances around or risk the threat of intervention or closure.
Hadley Learning Community principal, Gill Eatough said: “Hadley Learning Community was opened as a major PFI project in January 2007 and was inspected in January 2008.
“At this inspection, the results at Key Stage 4 met the Government’s floor targets, which meant 30 per cent of pupils achieved 5 GSCEs at grades A*-C, including English and maths.
“The local authority shared Ofsted’s assessment that a rapid improvement trend will be evident over the next few years.
“The pupils secured these grades, only a year after starting at HLC, and we look forward to building upon this success.”
Stephen Burrell, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for children and young people, said the authority already had “strong action plans” in place at each of the schools pinpointed this week.
He said: “Improving performance in all of our borough schools is our top priority.
“We hope that the Government’s commitment to these schools will mean increased resources and targeted assistance.
“This support will help the council deliver the strong action plans that it already has in place in these schools.”
