A HIGH school at the heart of Chester’s largest housing estate has been declared an “inspirational model” for learning and education.
Weeks after being declared among the top 100 improving schools in the country, Blacon High has been awarded the national Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM).
The award seals ambitions for the Melbourne Road educational trust school – which has already witnessed a significant intake rise for 2012 – to become a first choice high school in the city.
Inspectors invited into classrooms and to meet with governors, staff and pupils during a two-day IQM assessment concluded the school demonstrated model working practices and solid transitional partnerships with the five feeder primary
schools in Blacon.
Elated headteacher Sue Yates, who collected the award from Minister for State Schools Nick Gibb in London, said IQM inspectors had hailed quality of teaching, learning and relationships at Blacon High as “some of the best he had seen”.
The head said: “Congratulations go to each and everyone involved, from staff, pupils, governors and parents.
“Significant work is being carried out in and out of the classroom in terms of teaching and learning. Excellent leadership and planning is also being
demonstrated.
“We are extremely proud of our achievements to date. We are making great strides.
“The Inclusion Quality Mark inspector said the school demonstrated working and partnerships of the best he had seen and felt Blacon High School could be a model as certain areas of learning were found to be inspirational. They said the school demonstrated real enthusiasm and effectiveness.
“Given that we are among the most improved schools in the country for our excellent Keystage 4 GCSE results, we were very encouraged. Indeed we are well on the way to becoming a first choice school.”
The school was named as among the most improved in the country on the basis of sustained improvement in GCSE results with more than 75 per cent of students gaining A*-C grades this year. As a result, the school was also named as the second most improved in the Cheshire West and Chester Council area.
Blacon High was named as an educational trust in January 2010 in line with the National Challenge Programme launched by the then Secretary of State.
The move secured an injection of £750,000 for the school’s coffers for improvements and led to working partnerships with Liverpool Hope University and West Cheshire College which is working to expand sixth form opportunities.
College principal Sarah Mogel, a Blacon High governor, said: “This award reflects the efforts everyone at Blacon High School makes to ensure it is a place every student has the opportunity to flourish and be successful.
“We are delighted the school has been recognised for its achievements and proud to be working in partnership with the school’s teachers and pupils.”
Blacon councillor Reggie Jones, said: “The school is going from strength to strength and the current headteacher continues to be outstanding.
“The high school is now in a great position to make parents sit up and see Blacon High School as the first choice.”
Cllr Jones, this year’s Sheriff of Chester, also praised the “energy and enthusiasm of all the headteacher’s work in Blacon Education Village”.