Kirkby Sports College (KSC) is continuing its mission to drive improvements after officially appointing a new headteacher who has delivered a second positive Ofsted report for the school.
Bill Leyland has been named the permanent headteacher at the Knowsley college after an academy order was signed by Department for Education schools minister Lord John Nash.
The news comes within days of a second positive Ofsted report which deemed the college to be making progress towards the removal of special measures applied in November 2012.
The college is currently working alongside Wigan based Hawkley Hall High School – one of the best performing schools in the country – with a view to converting to an academy in September 2013, under the Rowan Learning Trust.
Mr Leyland has been the college’s acting headteacher since the start of the year. In that time KSC has received two Ofsted monitoring inspections.
The latest report, following an inspection on May 14 and 15, says effective steps are being taken to improve the quality of teaching, while student behaviour continues to improve.
Furthermore, expectations of students’ performance have been raised by the introduction of robust systems for setting targets in each subject. The report also acknowledges that under the new leadership the college is emerging as a place of learning which students are increasingly proud of.
“Kirkby Sports College is continuing to make great strides forward,” said Mr Leyland. “We have a clear and straight forward strategy to drive excellence in teaching standards as well as student behaviour and achievement. We are focussed on nurturing growth, unlocking talent and building a better future for our students and the wider community. I am delighted to have secured my role as the college’s permanent headteacher. Alongside the management team, teaching staff and students we are united in our mission to consistently drive improvements.”
Commenting on new headteacher Mr Leyland, the report says: “In a relatively short time as principal you have inspired your colleagues and brought them to a realisation of what is possible in terms of high outcomes for students. You have united them behind your vision, which is encapsulated in the college’s mission statement of ‘Inspire, Believe, Achieve’.”
Officials say the school’s overall development plan has been strengthened since the last monitoring visit in February. This is being overseen by an Interim Executive Board (IEB) which replaced the school’s governing body.
The report adds: “The inclusion of appropriate milestones enables members of the IEB to monitor the progress the college is making towards achieving each of its targets. They hold regular meetings with senior leaders and provide an appropriate balance of support and challenge, holding them to account for the standards achieved by students.
“Senior leaders, the IEB and the local authority have worked together, effectively, to ensure the smooth transition of the college to academy status. Leaders and managers are well-prepared to assume their new roles as the college moves towards greater independence.”