School criticised for ‘moving pupils on’ before exams
Osted downgrades formally outstanding comprehensive for so-called ‘off-rolling’
AFLAGSHIP comprehensive school in Birmingham has been downgraded by Ofsted for removing some pupils from the school roll in a bid to improve exam results.
An Ofsted investigation revealed the previously top-rated Holte School, in Lozells, was ‘off-rolling’ some pupils in the January before GCSEs, a frowned-upon practice which critics say is designed to embellish academic records.
Holte School has now been graded as “requiring improvement” as a result.
The report states the school leaders “could not give inspectors a clear reason why they remove these pupils from the school roll in Year 11”.
An unspecified number of pupils were taken off the roll and sent to finish their education at alternative provision, the inspectors found.
It is a reputational hit for a school hailed as one of the city’s best and previously rated outstanding for its teaching and leadership.
The education regulator has previously condemned off-rolling, which it described as ‘removing any pupil from a school without using a permanent exclusion for the best interests of the school rather than the pupil.’
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson went further, describing the practice as “disgraceful and unethical”.
He fears youth crime.
Holte School has 1,138 pupils on roll, and is led by head teacher Jaswinder Sohal. Around four out of five pupils speak English as a second language and more than half are said to be disadvantaged.
At its last inspection five years ago, under a previous headship, the school was rated outstanding.
This time inspectors ruled that pupils’ personal development was “outstanding”, the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of pupils, and sixth form provision were all “good” – but leadership and management “requires improvement”.
It gave an overall rating of “requires improvement” as a result.
A report said: “This is a school that does many things very well indeed, but there are important areas where it needs to improve. A small number of pupils study away from the school.
“Leaders remove some of those in Year 11 from the school’s roll. They should not do this. This is the
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The report identifies that the school “makes use of two alternative providers for a small number of pupils – Titan St George’s Academy and Titan Aston Academy.”
It says that “most pupils attending alternative provision are currently removed from the school roll in January of Year 11. This means they are not included in information the government publishes about the school, for example, about pupils’ achievement and post-16 destinations.”
Last month Birmingham City Council revealed that some 210 pupils in its schools across the city were ‘moving on’ during Year 11 – in some cases just ahead of sitting GCSE exams.
The Post put a series of questions to the school and the city council about the report and whether authorities knew about the off-rolling practice or were going to investigate.
The school did not provide response to any questions.
Instead the council gave a short statement on the school’s behalf: “We note the comments by Ofsted and are working to address the areas for development identified.
“The school remains committed to providing the highest standard of education and care for its pupils, which was recognised by inspectors rating personal development at the school as ‘outstanding’ and the quality of education, behaviour and sixth form provision as ‘good’.”
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