A QUARRY Bank school has been removed from Special Measures after Ofsted said it has improved.

Inspectors visited Thorns Collegiate Academy in March and have given the secondary school an overall rating of 'Requires Improvement'.

In 2016, prior to joining Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust in 2017, the site was placed into special measures when it was Thorns Community College.

It was then found to be 'Inadequate' in 2022, after inspectors said it was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education."

It has now been rated 'Requires Improvement' in the categories 'quality of education' and 'behaviour and attitudes' and 'Good' in the 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' categories.

The school said it had implemented swift changes since it was placed in special measures and the report highlights positive developments since Ofsted’s last visit in February 2022.

Stourbridge News: Acting Principal, Nikki Jones, and students at Thorns Collegiate Academy Acting Principal, Nikki Jones, and students at Thorns Collegiate Academy (Image: Handout)

Nikki Jones, Acting Principal at Thorns Collegiate Academy, said: “We are thrilled that all our hard work and efforts as a school community have been acknowledged by Ofsted.

"We are especially proud to have achieved a good rating in two key areas, which marks a significant milestone in the Academy’s journey towards achieving excellence. 

“This recognition reflects the tireless efforts of our staff to provide our students and the local community which we proudly serve with the very best, high-quality education they deserve.

"It’s a testament of our commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring every student gets the best possible start in life.” 

Sir Mark Grundy, CEO of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, said: “We are very pleased with the positive outcomes following Ofsted’s recent monitoring visit at Thorns Collegiate Academy, which is a valued member of our educational family.

“It’s a reflection of the significant progress and transformation the Academy has undergone in such a short space of time, and we eagerly await its next inspection with the expectation that it will continue to mirror the ongoing dedication and progress being made by Thorns’ leadership and staff.” 

School leadership was praised for its ‘unrelenting’ approach to improvement and progress, where they continue to take the ‘right steps, in the right order at the right time’, with its capacity to enact change and directly address areas of weakness going ‘beyond simply refining existing plans’. 

The report highlights weaknesses stating: "Some older pupils are still negative about their school and push against the school’s efforts.

"This is evident in the poor behaviour and language used by some pupils.

"The school does not tolerate this.

"Staff challenge appropriately and use the new system of ‘rule reminders’ consistently in lessons.

"However, the impact of the poor behaviour of some pupils is still too widespread."

It also states that: "The school has not ensured that the curriculum is implemented well in all aspects of pupils’ learning.

"In too many classrooms, teachers do not check that pupils understand and remember the important knowledge they need, or quickly address pupils’ misconceptions as they emerge."