Following OFSTED’s judgement that Denton Community College is reclassified as an “inadequate” school, which is the lowest rating possible, the town’s MP is urgently seeking assurances for pupils and parents about the next steps.
MP Gwynne has asked for separate urgent meetings with Tameside Council (DCC is currently a Local Education Authority-maintained school), Ministers and Officials at the Department for Education and OFSTED, in order to set out his concerns, and the anxiety of parents about the next steps, and the plans for rapid improvement.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“The OFSTED findings were shocking and unacceptable. Those responsible have let this community down badly. Every child has the right to a good quality education and every parent has the right to expect their child is safe in school. It’s clear there are serious failures in both areas at DCC.
“Given this is, for many Denton families, their only realistic choice for a local school, we need to see rapid improvements, as children only have one chance at this. I won’t accept drift from any quarters. This school needs to start performing better. And quickly.
I also want to ensure that any new Academy Sponsor for DCC is chosen quickly, and is the right fit for the school to turn things around. I want to ensure the best interests of the pupils and parents are uppermost when these decisions are taken, and that the new management is held fully to account to get swift improvements in behaviour, standards, safety and educational outcomes.”