Winter 2018
Newsletter
Raring to go in our efforts to make Caterham the best Head’s vow to make big improvements
Potential: Ms Chapple says the students have a desire to achieve
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ew headteacher Belinda Chapple believes the school’s latest Ofsted inspection will be the catalyst needed to make improvements. The school was rated Good in the areas of leadership and management, personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils and for the sixth form but Requires Improvement overall. The inspection came two weeks into the tenure of the new Headteacher, Belinda Chapple, who took over from Dr Alan Atkins, who was at the helm for 32 years. The report says changes put in place by the “purposeful leadership” of Ms Chapple are already making a “substantial difference” to pupils and achievement at the school. Where the school fell short, Ms Chapple (left) backed the inspectors’ findings, agreeing that exam results and teaching and learning need to improve in some areas. Ms Chapple, who as Deputy Headteacher helped to significantly improve George Mitchell School in Leyton so that it now sits in the top 1% of all schools, said: “It is pleasing the inspectors have clearly recognised that the changes we have already made are beginning to have an impact on both pupil experiences and achievement. “However, in my view there are clearly areas where we can improve to ensure very high expectations for our young people. “In the short time I have been here, it has become abundantly clear that I am working with students with tremendous potential, with a limitless capacity and desire to achieve. “Our teachers here are raring to go, and fully committed to getting the best for their students – they want change. “We have more to do to nurture that talent, and more to do to raise expectation and aspiration. We will make those changes now. “I have no lesser ambition than to make this the very best school in the area, the school of choice for the local community. Rest assured, I will not stop until that is the case.”
On the right path to a better future Chair of governors Peter Waller says the Ofsted report shows the school made the right decision to appoint Ms Chapple. He said: “It is less than ideal that this inspection came just two weeks into Ms Chapple’s time as Headteacher. “As a school with huge ambition for our students, we are confident that we will rapidly improve from our Requires Improvement judgement. “The report makes clear that steps taken by Ms Chapple and her team have already
Caterham High School Newsletter n Winter 2018
made a significant impact on pupils and the school. “We now have an experienced and motivated Senior Leadership Team in place to bring the stability and focus required to meet the very high aspirations and expectations we have for all our pupils. “Our ambition is to become the best school in the local area and the school of choice for the community. “This inspection confirms that we are now on the right path.”