THOMAS Clarkson Community College in Wisbech is making satisfactory progress in all the areas identified for improvement by Government inspectors last autumn. In a monitoring report, inspectors from OfSTED – the Office for Standards in Education – said pr

THOMAS Clarkson Community College in Wisbech is making satisfactory progress in all the areas identified for improvement by Government inspectors last autumn.

In a monitoring report, inspectors from OfSTED - the Office for Standards in Education - said progress overall was satisfactory.

They also praised the progress made in reducing poor and racist behaviour, improving teaching and learning and reviewing the value for money of the school's educational provision.

Earlier this week the school announced that Maureen Strudwick has been appointed head of the Thomas Clarkson Community School, Wisbech.

Ms Strudwick has been acting head of the school since last year, after the resignation of John Bennett.

OFSTED inspectors reported students saying that behaviour had improved. "Students demonstrate more self-control as they move around the corridors and outside. There are improved approaches within departments to manage challenging behaviour," said their report.

"The recording and analysis of racist incidents has improved. Although there is still some bullying, the number and severity of reported cases has been reduced," they added.

Inspectors also noted that attendance had improved to above 91per cent - close to the national average. They found that the attendance of Year 11 pupils (15 and 16-year-olds) exceeded the national average.

They said the quality of teaching and learning was also improving, and found more than half the lessons observed were good or better.

"This is significantly better than on the previous visit. In addition, for the first time some outstanding practice was observed.

"In the best lessons, teachers showed a passion for their subject and for learning so that lessons got off to a rapid start; the teaching was lively. Students' work was well marked, indicating the next steps in learning," inspectors added.

They also praised the continuing improvements in leadership and management, adding: "The monitoring and evaluation of the school's work, by its leaders, continues to improve. The oversight of the work of middle leaders by their line managers is now more robust.

"The school is well served by a senior leader, seconded from another school, who has responsibility for developing the quality of teaching and learning and the assessment of students' progress," added the inspectors' monitoring letter.

They particularly highlighted the 'valued' support from Cambridgeshire County Council, specifically in the development of teaching quality in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science.

Inspectors identified one priority area for improvement - to review the model of leadership to ensure that the school is able to carry out all the necessary functions with a high level of expertise.