A HEADTEACHER is confident his school is well on the way to providing a ‘quality educational experience’ following a monitoring inspection by Government inspectors.

Shuttleworth College, Padiham, was again inspected by Ofsted officials to monitor its progress after it was placed in special measures last year.

The inspectors, led by Gillian Salter-Smith, reported the Burnley Road high school was making satisfactory progress since its last monitoring inspection in December and since it had been placed in special measures.

But they noted there had been inadequate progress to significantly increase the rate of students’ progress to raise standards and expressed concerns about attendance.

The report said: “Many students have still not overcome a legacy of underachievement and although tracking data shows that standards are beginning to rise slowly, predicted results for GCSE and Year 9 assessments are still well below challenging targets.”

However the inspectors commented the new building had helped staff supervise the site and behaviour in and out of the college had been satisfactory as a result.

The inspection report went on to say: “Where teaching has improved and is at least good there are signs of accelerating progress. In the best lessons students are fully engaged and keen to do well and they rise to the high expectations of teachers.

“Progress, however, is still hindered by instability in staffing and some inadequate teaching.”

Headteacher Martin Burgess said: “Shuttleworth is getting better all the time. We are well on our way to providing a quality educational experience for our youngsters.

“I have an excellent team around me and I am very proud of the progress they and the students have made since Ofsted were last here.”

The report also commended the work of staff. It said: “The headteacher continues to provide a strong lead and is determinedly driving through improvements.

“Senior and middle leaders share his determination and are confident in their ability to bring about improvements.

“Senior and middle leaders are made accountable for their areas of responsibility and the line management of middle leaders is particularly effective in ensuring exacting accountability.”