New school shines after Ofsted study
Preston's newest secondary school, named after the city's most famous sporting legend, has received a gold star from Ofsted inspectors.
Officials visited Sir Tom Finney High in Moor Park just a year after it opened, after the merger of three special schools into two.
And they were delighted with what they found.
The new 11-19 school caters for 143 pupils, including nearly 40 sixth formers, and is described as good or outstanding in almost every category, with the only recorded average score going to pupils' attendance.
The main report said that the school has "rapidly established its own identity" and added: "There has been rapid improvement since the school was founded."
Pupils were doing well and "senior leaders and governors are crystal clear in their vision for the future of the school."
Pupils enjoyed learning, and the extent to which pupils felt safe there was described as "outstanding". Headteacher Shaun Jukes said the inspection "was somewhat unexpected".
He added: "The judgements in the report are a reflection of all the hard work and effort by everyone associated with the new school, working as a team to make it a success."
He was particularly proud of comments from the inspectors such as: "The way in which staff from three different schools have been melded to form a single team with shared ambition and pride in the school is exemplary."
And: "In a growing number of lessons, students are making outstanding progress." Mr Jukes added: "It is an early Christmas present for all staff and students who have worked at an extraordinary pace to get to this position so soon. We know there is still a way to go to achieve our vision."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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