School fights off threat of closure

This was in complete contrast to recent reports which put xlington Community School among a long list of schools all over the country which the Government said needed to improve.

The threat to close schools, if they did not improve, also included Stockley Academy in Yiewsley and Mellow Lane in Hayes.

Harlington headteacher Neil Sherman stressed last week that the information, which concluded not enough pupils were getting five grade A-C GCSEs or more, was based on old data and that the school was actually now doing a lot better.

To his delight this was borne out by the school's latest Ofsted report, which praised the progress the
school in Pinkwell Lane, Hayes, has made.

Mr Sherman said: "The school had, like many others, been through a difficult time and we spent about two years improving behavioural policies, teaching and learning, and staffing.

"We want to raise the bar in education, but the Government doesn't help by making it more difficult. They choose arbitrary targets for all schools without taking into account where pupils start from. It has been a very heavy-handed approach.

"However, I am now obviously delighted that all the new initiatives, hard work, and passion for improvement shown by staff and students, has been rewarded by the Ofsted report."

Inspectors said Harlington is "an improving school that has made good progress since the previous inspection, particularly in improving the overall quality of teaching and learning and increasing the attendance of students."

Other improvements they highlighted were systems put in place to track students' progress and tackle underachievement.

The report also noted that behaviour and attendance had improved and the school was 'harmonious and inclusive' with a curriculum which responded well to local needs.

Inspectors said: "Because of this, and improvements in teaching and learning, students are making satisfactory progress and are on track to achieve the increasingly challenging targets being set for them."

They also praised xlington's post-16 success, saying: "The sixth form is well managed and, as a result, numbers are increasing and the great majority of students complete their courses."

School governor, Graham Tomlin, said: "The governors of Harlington Community School are overjoyed at the recognition given by Ofsted to the massive improvements the school has made over the last few months."