Ashton Middle School – Nick Sharpe
When I came across this story my first reaction was to think that this is one of those – ‘I’m not surprised‘ reactions, on the face of it you have a school with a large number of pupils with learning difficulties and you make the unfair assumption that there will be behavioural problems, respect problems, attendance problems all the usual stereotypical assumptions and therefore what would you expect.
When you read the response of headmaster Nick Sharpe in the local paper to what is a fairly damming report you initially draw the same conclusion, the undercurrent is that in the face of adversity Nick Sharpe somehow comes out with credit for instilling good attributes into the pupils and that he should get the credit for good attendance and good behaviour.
This intrigued me, how does a school come out with such terrible Ofsted report results and yet those responsible for this including Nick Sharpe somehow get the good PR for the characteristics of the pupils? In a single statement Nick Sharpe removes any credit the children attained in this sorry mess and pulls that around himself like a protective blanket.
Well for somebody like myself it just doesn’t work and nor should it for those associated with Ashton Middle School, what it really says to me is that the abject failure of the schools management is taken to an all time high and thus the shame of this failure to equal heights.
What we have is a group of children who attend regularly, who apply themselves, who act with respect and good behaviour but who despite recognised learning issues and despite large scale funding for the Ashton Middle School establishment are not able to achieve their true potential. This is almost a crime and those responsible have been issued with a quite damming report and their first reaction is to strip any credit attributed to their pupils and use it to dilute their awful failings.
Nick Sharpe took a number of positives from the inspection – really?
- We pride ourselves on the support and encouragement that we offer students within the school and this has led to the continuation of their spiritual, moral, social and culture development - How does this sit with a score of 4 attributed to the effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination
- Nick Sharpe goes on to state - This is something that is greatly appreciated by parents – How does that have credibility when the report offers a score of 3 for – The effectiveness of the school’s engagement with parents and carers
In fact look at the following score overview below taken directly from the report -
| The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement Taking into account: The leadership and management of teaching and learning |
3 |
| 4 | |
| The effectiveness of the governing body in challenging and supporting the school so that weaknesses are tackled decisively and statutory responsibilities met |
3 |
| The effectiveness of the school’s engagement with parents and carers | 3 |
| The effectiveness of partnerships in promoting learning and well-being | 3 |
| The effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination | 4 |
| The effectiveness of safeguarding procedures | 3 |
| The effectiveness with which the school promotes community cohesion | 3 |
| The effectiveness with which the school deploys resources to achieve value for money | 3 |
It makes for shocking reading, here is a school that is specifically funded to provide the above criteria to a good standard, this is not a case of not so good in some areas but excelling in others, its just abject failure across the spectrum.
For me this is underpinned with the public statement from head teacher Nick Sharpe where he takes credit from others to prop up his reputation, a closer look at the section above will show a score of 4 for the all important – Leadership and management of teaching and learning – This is Nick Sharpe’s very own sector and in my eyes the score of 4 is his score.
What we should be seeing as a public statement is an apology to his pupils, we should see him publicly praise them for their achievement in the face of an establishment that is bereft of credible leadership, they should be recognised for their own attributes as in this sorry mess they are the only shining lights.
What they should not get is the Ashton Middle School management closing ranks to save face, where is the accountability, in fact where is the leadership – even now the priority is to smokescreen with positive PR at the expense of the children, have they not already paid enough?
I think they have.
- Three years of leadership
- Compounding lack of performance year on year
- Substantial special needs funding
- Disregard for the basic requirement of ECM (Every Child Matters) which is tackling equality and discrimination.
- This damming report was just a two day Ofsted inspection so what is the real picture like under the surface?
- Remembering that a score of 4 is the lowest grade and there are key areas where this score is given.
I still do not understand how a school funded for special needs can fail so spectacularly with that specific mandate and for the headmaster to claim some sort of success because his pupils offer exactly what is needed for a school to succeed and yet they cannot succeed themselves due to the abysmal performance of the management and staff.
I had a child at Ashton Middle School who was not special needs – we pulled her from this school for many reasons – the ofsted being one of many reasons.
His regime has been flawed for several years. Does he really have the full support of the governors and staff? For a fact – he cowers in a corner when faced with incontrovertible proof of his lack of control.
His weak leadership has been exploited over time and fixing this sorry mess will require more than ofsted’s idle threats. IMHO there are some very good deputies at the school – move over Sharpe and let them through for the kids’ sakes.
It would be interesting to see how the school accounts have been massaged to hide the spin doctors(consultants) fees to save his neck yet again.
A very interesting read. My child currently attends the school and what is clear is that children’s experience at the school is inconsistent. My opinion is that there are serious issues with leadership and management, feedback from pupils is that they have little respect for the Head teacher and indeed, I am aware some teaching staff making pupils aware of their lack of respect for the Head. The initial denial of the seriousness of the Ofsted report and statement made by the Head in a letter to parents that this would be challenged spoke volumes to me.
I would suggest that the Head is prone to believing his own PR and things need to change. He needs to wake up and realise the biggest impact of the schools failure is felt by our children and whilst I am in no doubt that the whole Ofsted thing is embarrassing for him, he would gain our respect if he was genuine and honest with us. He needs to step up, admit his shortcomings and demonstrate a genuine commitment to our children and spend less time protecting his own interests.
Some time ago there were specialist schools with the knowledge and understanding to help the kids that needed it. but then again every child matters, so they shut them all.
I have had 5 different maths teachers this year…Which is terrible I have also learnt basicly nothing.. While are teacher of some other subject are telling us how important this year is at are core subjects Eg.Maths English Science…
Mr. Coker unfortunately some schools are just not the right place for our children.
A Parent, I am again glad that your childs needs are being met by Ashton Middle School.
I am sure many others share your childs experiences, however “abscence of evidence is not evidence of abscence”
If “Every Child Matters” then the fact that my child and others (out of a total of 600) have been failed by this school, and that the areas of failure catalogued by OFSTED correlate closely with our experience, then I must conclude that this report is accurate.
On a positive note, now the school has been made aware of its specific areas of weakness, once addressed, should enable all to share the positive experience your child enjoys.
I am a parent with a child at Ashton Middle School, my child has complex special needs and frankly I could not speak more highly about the school.
They have accommodated all my child’s needs, he is well cared for by all staff and he has made exceptional progress.
I know other parents who have children with SEN who are also delighted with the support and care their children receive, I just wish they would speak up too.
Unfortunately people are more interested in negativity than being positive.
I wonder out of 600 parents how many are unhappy with the care and education their children receive at Ashton Middle school?
Paul, I’m sorry to hear that your child had a miserable time at Ashton too but am glad to hear that it wasn’t just us that had this experience. Mr Sharp was exactly the same whenever we tackled him on issues, i feel he was unable to ‘tame’ the more discriminatory members of his staff.
X20 i am pleased to hear that your child’s experiences at Ashton have been positive ones but i can only say, as you have that i can only speak as i and others have found, including OFSTED who have given Ashton the report it so definately deserves.
Whilst I understand Mr Coker’s concerns I can only say that my experience has been completely the opposite. The school listened, acted and improved my child’s experience, as a result he is more confident, well integrated and very happy to attend school. Incidents of bullying, even minor school child banter was dealt with quickly and efficiently. I do not understand why your child did not have an IEP mine did and I contributed to it, I also know of other parents whose children have special educational needs, all of whom have an IEP.
As several have said we can only speak as we find, the OFTSED report bears no resemblence to the school I know and am very happy to send my child to.
@T_Bow81 Have you seen the building works they have been doing recently? not forgetting sharpe’s drinks cabinet!
My son was involved in an accident at ashton in 2010, resulting in him being severly concussed, glasses irreparable. it was nobodys fault. but when reporting it (he has vision problems and being without glasses causes more head pain) he was told by his tutor ” i don’t have time to fix this”
that evening when i took the head on about it he seemed more concerned about hiding the situation from the public eye.
Following the discussion it was confirmed my son had severe concussion, we were instructed to watch him closely.
I go in the next day to discuss it, nobody cares. it’s already swept under the carpet until I kick off. The resulting disucussions made me move our son to priory, which was done ASAP thanks to the council.
Shame the school tried to stir by stating my son was violent and abusive and could not be bothered with lessons. (class discussions on masturbation were more important than english and maths according to staff)
thankfully priory chose to speak to his lower school.
From recollection of my time there in the 90’s anyone (including me) with special needs was a retard. glad to see Ashton kept this tradition. may it be one of it’s many failing.
My autistic son attended this school and his lack of social skills led to bullying by both classmates and some members of staff. I was asked on more than one occasion by the SENCo “what more did we expect the school to do?”. ( I would have thought that an I.E.P. would have been a good start!!!) My wife and I were labelled as over-anxious parents by the SENCo, despite reports from CAMHS and the educational psychiatrist highlighting our son’s educational and emotional needs. After three violent episodes in a period of less than a week, and a report of assault made to the police, we were forced to remove our son from the school for his own safety. Attempts were made to re-integrate our son into the school but we were informed that a “Hardcore of Teachers were set against our son receiving any special consideration and that they did not believe our son had a disability but that he was rude and arrogant.” During the time our son attended the school his confidence, academic interest and ability plummeted and I do not believe that it would be over-exagerating to say that it harmed him both emotionally and educationally.
I am a parent who has child with special needs and can only speak as i have experienced.
The school have provided excellent one to one tuition when needed in maths and english.
They have also put in place when requested extra measures to help my son learn. The special needs department in my sons case have always been extremely good when needed.
Nick Sharpe’s comment “We pride ourselves on …” just does not tally with Ofsted’s rating of inadequate for ‘effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination’
you may be right Shaun but one of (or the) the main roles of a head teacher is leadeship, leading all members of the school community by example and this failure is costing the pupils a chunk of their learning and development. Kids aren’t stupid, they get the message of ‘do as I say and not as I do’ and those that object get stigmatised.
Any and every school does have a plan, Nick Sharpe no doubt dusted one off for Ofsted. It is the schools that use their plans as living tools for growth and development that deliver the best outcomes for all learners and this is what Ofsted endeavours to track. Thus the plan, in a possible Nick Sharpe’s senario would be the result of an inspection, as in, that is why it is dusted off. But you are right that Nick Sharpe responds to the Ofsted report and not concern over the outcomes for the pupils – after all who are they to voice their concerns and opinions? For the unprofessional, it makes for a nice easy salary.
Thanks for your comment on Ashton Middle School,
of course there should be a robust action plan for any and every school but clearly there isnt, if there was Ashton Middle School would not be implementing one now, clearly there was not one in place, clearly you are wrong about any and every school having a plan and these plans are not the result of an inspection, Nick Sharpe clearly states they have put one in place because of the Ofsted report and not because of their own initiative.
Any and every school programme has organic and robust action plans that are evaluated on genuine evidence; plans evolve with the targeted pupils (remember ‘every child matters’). These plans are not paper exercises that are dreampt up in response to an official assessment!
I am aware of this report as the school is local to me. Beyond the obvious lack of accountability that Nick Sharpe has shown – the most damning score is the:
‘effectiveness with which the school promotes equality of opportunity and tackles discrimination’
As Ashton Middle School receives a high level of funding for pupils with special needs. So where are these resources going? Not to the children who need it as the pupils with special needs are dumped in low attainment classes – immediately discriminating them.
Nick Sharpe thinks he can gloss over this damning report by adopting some crude polished response you expect to hear on a media handling course and releasing the information just before the Easter break in a bid that it might get swept under the carpet.
I would be interested in seeing a copy of his ‘robust action plan’ to turn the school around.