A SCHOOL which was deemed 'inadequate' by Ofsted is making promising improvements after being placed in special measures.
A number of monitoring visits have been made to Ranikhet Academy, Spey Road, since it received the low rating in December 2018.
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At the latest visit, which took place last month (November 17), it was found that no 'bubbles' of students have had to be sent home, and a "very small" number of pupils have had to self isolate since the start of term.
In the initial inspection in 2018, a report stated that safeguarding had not been effective; support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was poor; the curriculum was inadequate; persistent absence rates were well above the national average figures and many parents and carers had lost faith in the school, causing the numbers to decline.
But last month's visit confirmed that the school had made improvements since, with teachers giving a special focus in helping pupils to understand the pandemic.
The recent report by Ofsted reads: "All pupils are studying their usual range of subjects.
"Teachers are prioritising developing pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural education, to support pupils’ understanding of what is happening in the world.
"For example, teachers chose new class reading books that highlighted the theme of belonging, to help pupils’ social development as they returned to school in September."
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It was also noted that teachers have acknowledged any gaps in the students' education following the initial lockdown, with plans to return to a normal curriculum by the summer term.
Inspectors also said that the school is supporting students who struggle in both maths and English, with extra support available.
This follows on from a visit in March, which found that the school was "progressing well with improvements it has made to the quality of education".
To view the full report of the most recent visit, click here.
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