'Improvements' at school, but still more to be done

'Greater stability' say watchdogs of site they rated as inadequate last year

- Sentinel Reporter

WATCHDOGS say there is ‘greater stability’ at a Stoke-on-Trent secondary school they rated ‘inadequate’ last year - but warned ‘there is still more to be done’

Birches Head Academy underwent its second monitoring inspection from Ofsted in the final week of the summer term.

The ungraded inspection acknowledged ‘the positive trajectory of improvement to date’ but concluded further work is needed ‘for the school to no longer be judged as having serious weaknesses’

‘The Sentinel reported in March 2024 that the school had been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, following an inspection the previous October.

Now, following the latest visit, inspector Nicola Beech has written to principal Paul Masher.

She stated: “The time since the previous monitoring inspection in January 2025 has been one of consolidating the many changes that have taken place since you joined the school in May 2024.