Steps are being taken for improvement says under fire city college
A COVENTRY college hit with sexual assault claims insists steps are being taken to protect students.
Schools regulator, Ofsted, said that there were “worryingly high incidents of sexual behaviour” at Hereward College, and “in some cases sexual assaults by one learner on another”.
Inspectors said they felt that college leaders did not have the ability to tackle the issues.
Following the October report, the college, which caters for young people with complex disabilities and learning difficulties, said that action was being taken.
New governing board members and interim principal are in place.
A spokesman said: “The college welcomed the Ofsted monitoring visit in December, and whilst there was recognition that progress had been made by the college since the October inspection, it was noted that more needed to be done and more rapid progress made.
“The college has fully taken on board the Ofsted report and has put in place a number of actions to make the necessary improvements more rapidly.
“The college can confirm that the college’s safeguarding manager has been in post since January 3, 2017.
“The college has always had appropriately qualified managers responsible for safeguarding, but this new, dedicated role has enabled the college to progress safeguarding issues more rapidly.”
The mother of one pupil at the college alleged that her child has been the subject of inappropriate sexual behaviour. Inspectors said: “Leaders do not have a sufficiently wide range of strategies to tackle this endemic issues.” “However, despite the issues, the inspections have led to staff members becoming more aware of the issue.” The report also said: “Leaders and managers now have a greater awareness that these incidents are occurring.”
The college spokesman said: “It should be noted that following the Ofsted process in October, the college was inspected by the Care Quality Commission and received an overall grading of ‘good’ for its residential provision.
“The college is moving forward with a new chair of governors, new board members, a new interim principal and a determination from its dedicated staff to embrace the challenges that the college faces, a resolve to put things right and build upon the good work the college has done and continues to do in supporting its students.”
The college has been told by Ofsted to: Urgently devise a specific strategy to tackle the incidents of unwanted sexual attention paid by one learner to another, which sometimes result in sexual assaults; they should seek external advice and guidance as needed.
Urgently ensure a greater focus on the development of current learners’ personal, social and emotional skills and their understanding of safeguarding.
Build relationships with the police vulnerability, early help and referral officer in order to support with training staff and educating and supporting learners with appropriate behaviours, as necessary.