Achievement is inadequate and there is a significant weakness in the quality of teachers’ marking – those are the words of an Ofsted report that has found Carisbrooke College to be failing following a recent inspection.
The college, located at Mountbatten Drive on the outskirts of Newport, joins Sandown Bay Academy and Cowes Enterprise College as schools in ‘special measures’, as implemented by the schools watchdog Ofsted.
The report indicates that the schools reorganisation here on the Isle of Wight may be partially to blame, as the report states that “too many teachers lack the necessary skills to teach across the full age and ability range of the school”.
Bad behaviour by pupils was indicated as a reoccurring issue, and the school’s joint sixth form requires improvement as not all teaching is good and students’ achievement, although average, could be better.
The school is now under the control of headteacher Peter Shaw, who took over from Shaheen Kahn-Jones in January. Mrs Kahn-Jones now heads Sandown Bay Academy, a school which is also under special measures.
Mr Peter Shaw said: “Although a grade 4 judgement is disappointing, it was not unexpected and is an accurate reflection of where the school currently is. We are improving on a number of fronts and I am pleased that inspectors acknowledged our direction of travel. However, I understand fully that we need time to fully embed improvements and bring about the necessary changes in ethos, expectations and performance. “
