By Richard Guttridge
Copyright birminghammail
Two secondary schools in the West Midlands had been considered among the worst in the region before recent Ofsted visits. Willenhall E-ACT Academy and Wednesfield Academy had suffered years of troubles while regarded as failing schools before recent turnarounds. The hard work of leadership teams has paid off with both now having shaken off their inadequate ratings which had weighed them down for so long and damaged their reputations locally. READ MORE: UK motorists face new driveway charge from October POLL: Do you support a ban on pavement parking? It means both have gone into the new academic year in September with a new lease of life and looking ahead to brighter futures. Willenhall E-ACT Academy spent over a decade rated as either inadequate or requires improvement, amid longstanding concerns over bad behaviour and poor teaching. But the school is now rated good in all areas following a recent inspection which recognised the turnaround spearheaded by head Tim Marston. Inspectors praised the school’s “ambitious curriculum”, “positive culture of success” and “unwavering determination to provide a high-quality education for all pupils” – a complete contrast to what Ofsted had previously witnessed. Not far down the road, Wednesfield Academy has gone through a similar journey. Get our local newsletters like Black Country News, MySolihull and MySuttonColdfield straight to your inbox Concerns over safeguarding, attendance and behaviour resulted in inadequate ratings in both 2013 and 2017. Real change happened after the school was taken over by the Matrix trust in 2023, finally putting it on the road to recovery with a solid plan for improvement. It was rated ‘good’ in all areas at its most recent inspection. Tim Marston, head at Willenhall E-ACT Academy, said: “We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and even more excited about where we’re going.” He added: “Every young person, no matter their background, deserves an exceptional education, and we’re determined to deliver just that.” Wednesfield Academy deputy headteacher Rachel Beazley, who has been at the school for 26 years, said: “It is very emotional for those of us who have been here for some time like I have. “I am so happy the school is finally ‘good’. I am very proud to be part of this school, which is now the best it has ever been!”
