Catholic school in special measures

We’re frequently told that parents are rushing to send their children to “faith schools” because they perform so well. But, to show that this is not universally true, we can reveal that last week OFSTED inspectors placed a Northampton Catholic school into special measures.

St Gregory's Catholic Primary, in Eastfield, received a critical report from the Government's education watchdog for failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education and not demonstrating the capacity to secure necessary improvements. Reacting to the findings, headteacher Eamonn McMorrow said: "I am bitterly disappointed at this report but we will use this as a platform to improve our school, so it becomes the great school which everybody knows and loves."

Inspectors said: “The overall effectiveness of the school is inadequate because insufficient progress has been made in tackling issues for improvement identified at the previous inspection.”

09 May 2008