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Gloucestershire Business News

Headteacher confident for future following Ofsted inspection

The recently appointed headteacher of SGS Forest High School says he is extremely confident following the school's Ofsted inspection.

The report, which comes following the pandemic and without the time needed for headteacher Alan Dane to embed his vision, provides a clear platform from which the school can give the young people of Cinderford the high school they deserve.

Whilst the report recognises some current inadequate issues, it importantly recognised that children felt safe at the school and that the new headteacher had the confidence of families to bring about the changes needed.

After his own appointment in January, Alan has overseen 12 new appointments in teaching and leadership positions, including a new deputy head, two new assistant heads and specialists in improving teaching and behaviour.

The school has committed a further £500k in new resources to support a new, broad and ambitious curriculum. Whilst Ofsted applauded and recognised these measures, they sadly needed more time to see the impact of the new developments.

Alan Dane said: "The school recognised that the curriculum had to be broadened and has to be more ambitious for our fantastic students. We will be adding a number of new subjects from September, including computing, drama, food, music and Spanish.

"As in many schools across the country, the unique and extensive disruption caused by the pandemic has required that we think again about how to help students learn everything from their academic subjects through to how they behave.

"This is no mean feat for any school at the moment, let alone one which has never been as good as it could be, but which will soon be a great school for Cinderford."

He continued: "An Ofsted inspection is an important snapshot of a school at a particular time, and all schools will be responding to national changes in curriculum policy, staffing challenges, new ways of approaching teaching and learning, behaviour and attendance.

"The timing of our inspection, in the early days of significant change, with a brand new leadership team in place post pandemic, was unfortunate. There was not enough time to evidence the significant impact that these changes will make.

"I am really confident and positive about the future. The significant progress made in the structure and personnel will provide the necessary route out of Special Measures and we will welcome working with the Regional Schools Commissioners and other local organisations to ensure that the school improves with pace and is stronger as it bounces back in the new academic year."

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