Kirton school Thomas Middlecott Academy makes progress from 'inadequate' status, Ofsted says

Thomas Middlecott Academy, Kirton, has moved from being "inadequate" to "requires improvement", according to a new report by Ofsted.

Students at the school, previously known as Kirton Middlecott School, were found to be "making better progress than in the recent past", after a two-day inspection in June.

The Ofsted report, published two days before the end of the school year, also praised current principal Joanne Myhill-Johnson for leading Thomas Middlecott Academy "with unwavering determination".

Despite this, teachers at the school was criticised for being "sometimes uninspiring" and not having "high enough expectations of what pupils are capable of achieving".

Responding to the report, Mrs Myhill-Johnson said: "We are delighted that our hard work and determination has been recognised as we have made some fantastic changes and I look forward to Thomas Middlecott Academy developing further as a school.

"We have made improvements in a short period of time so I feel positive that our school is only going to progress from this point forward."

The school is part of the David Ross Education Trust (DRET) whose officers were told, after a one-day monitoring inspection by Ofsted on December 2018, that its improvement plan was "fit for purpose" in removing “serious weaknesses” that emerged during a full inspection in September 2017.

Since then, Mrs Myhill-Johnson has led the school from October 2018 and Ofsted paid tribute to her being "ambitious for the future".

The latest Ofsted report said: "The new leadership team has accurately identified the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

"Leaders are realistic about the rapid improvements that are necessary and they have constructed an action plan.

"Governance of the school is strengthening, however, governors do not yet have a sharp enough understanding of its work to improve some aspects of its provision, such as the use of additional government funding for disadvantaged pupils.

"Following a challenging period, the leadership team is ambitious and committed to securing rapid improvement at the school.

"Attendance has improved rapidly and is above average, however, a small number of pupils do not always follow the school's expectations about behaviour and punctuality."

Kirton school judged ‘inadequate’ after Ofsted inspection