Basically, School Gets Top Marks After Banning Slang, Innit

A school has managed to turn its reputation around after banning a whole host of slang words, including ‘innit’ and ‘ain’t’.

Harris Academy Upper Norwood has been given top marks by Ofsted, just two years after the 346-pupil academy replaced the Westwood Girls’ College for language.

The college had been placed in special measures in 2013 but the all-girls school in Croydon, South London, imposed a strict rule on slang words.

Words like “coz" and “woz” were outlawed and pupils were barred from starting sentences with “basically” and ending them with “yeah”.

Chiefs received criticism in their ban of “informal language” such as “bare” and “extra” in an attempt to make their students more employable after leaving.

Students at the secondary school heard using slang including “ain’t” - a word that originated in the 18th century - were asked to “reflect” on its use.

The academy is now celebrating after being awarded the “outstanding” rating earlier this month.

Head teacher Sam Hainey said: “Everyone at the academy is thrilled with this report as it puts in writing what we know to be true.

"This is happy school community which has not only made significant progress over the past two years, but has a very bright and positive future.”

When inspectors visited last month they noted students were “polite and considerate” and that attempts to raise standards of teaching had been “extremely successful”.

The report said: “The principal combines his leadership experience with energy and enthusiasm.

"These are seen in his success in giving all students equal opportunities to achieve their best in an environment that promotes outstanding teaching, good behaviour and excellent relationships.”

Got that, yeah?