FOUR East Riding schools have been told to improve in the latest wave of Ofsted findings after an inspection blitz in the East Riding.
Fifteen schools were visited last month in a standards sweep of the area to find out why so many schools were under- performing.
The results of more than half of the inspections have been published so far, with the rest expected in the coming days.
The latest Ofsted reports call for improvement at Pocklington's Woldgate College and at three primary schools – Hutton Cranswick, Beeford and Bay Primary in Bridlington.
Woldgate College headteacher Jeff Bower admitted he had been concerned about his school being included in Ofsted's targeted inspection of the East Riding.
He said: "We felt a bit concerned in advance. We thought there would be another agenda driving our inspection, but if that was the case, it was not obvious to us. The inspectors were fairly guarded about the bigger agenda about performance in the East Riding.
"I know Ofsted is doing these targeted inspections in other authorities, too."
Mr Bower was disappointed to be told his 1,325-pupil secondary required improvement.
But he accepted the new inspection regime has a stronger focus on teaching and achievement.
He said: "I think the new inspection framework is better than the previous one. At least they are getting into classrooms and they are looking at the stuff that really matters.
"There was still the feeling they have their pre-inspection hypothesis in their heads – they have got their data and they are trying to find evidence to back up their data, and it's probably difficult to shift their view but at least they are spending more time in classrooms."
Woldgate College was previously rated as "satisfactory" – a finding that has been replaced with "requires improvement" under Ofsted's new get-tough inspection regime.
Mr Bower said: "They have changed the terminology from 'satisfactory' to 'requires improvement'.
"The pressure is being ratcheted up on schools. If you stay the same, you are not really the same, because of the pressure you are under to improve."
Woldgate has been told to improve its overall effectiveness, achievement, teaching, leadership and management.
Ofsted rated the behaviour and safety of pupils as good.
Beeford Primary, which also underwent a two-day inspection, was downgraded from its previous "good" rating to "requires improvement".
Ofsted found achievement and teaching needed to be improved but good ratings were awarded for the behaviour and safety of pupils, as well as leadership and management at Beeford.
Hutton Cranswick Primary was also downgraded from its previous "good" rating to "requires improvement".
Ofsted said achievement, teaching, leadership and management needed to be improved.
The behaviour and safety of Hutton Cranswick pupils was rated as good.
Bay Primary in Bridlington, previously rated as "satisfactory", also "requires improvement".
Inspectors said achievement, teaching, leadership and management must be improved.
Pupils behaviour and safety was rated as good.
