A FOREST secondary school is a step closer to being taken out of special measures following a monitoring inspection from Ofsted.

The government body that inspects and regulates schools, has decided that Forest High School in Cinderford has made enough progress to undergo a full inspection, stating that, “leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.” It goes on to add that, “senior leaders are continuing to improve the quality of teaching and learning.”

The move comes nearly two years after the school was deemed not to have met acceptable standards and was placed in special measures.

The Forest High School was judged to be inadequate in May 2015 just weeks after it was sponsored by South Gloucestershire and Stroud College Academy Trust (SGSCAT).

Kevin Hamblin, CEO for the trust, said: “For years the school had struggled, firstly under the local authority and then as an academy within the large E-ACT Multi Academy Trust.

“SGSCAT was asked to intervene by the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) and the school was transferred from E-ACT in 2015 after further deterioration of results. It was a last-chance move by the RSC and unless the situation was improved, there was a real chance that the school would be closed.

“This latest monitoring report highlights many areas of the school that have progressed and comments upon improvements in mathematics, science and English GCSE results in summer 2017.

“We are delighted that the changes introduced recently have provided the inspector with the confidence that improvements have been made at the school. Whilst we take nothing for granted and there is still work to do, we look forward to the next inspection and hope we are lifted out of the special measures category.

“The combination of a fantastic headteacher, good recruitment of experienced staff and changes in our approach are now yielding results.

“This is a happy school and our learners enjoy being here. We are small but that brings significant advantages to the wellbeing of young people. Our intention has always been to create a school which is the first choice for the local community, of which we are an integral part.

“Everyone who looks around the school comments on the young people and the pride they have in the school and I would like to thank the parents and pupils who have stuck with us on the journey to this point.

“The timing is perfectly in step with the increase in applications for next year that are expected. It is clear that if this school turns itself around academically, more local families will look to their local school for secondary education.”

For more information on The Forest High School and to read the recent Ofsted monitoring visit report, please visit www.foresthigh.org.uk