School where staff said they were ‘on their knees’ is put in special measures
THE LEADERS’ WORK’ OVER PUPIL SAFETY AND BEHAVIOUR
A DERBY school where staff said they were “on their knees” because of poor pupil behaviour has been placed in special measures.
Ofsted inspectors were sent into Chellaston Academy following a number of complaints to the education watchdog “that caused serious concerns” and they concluded that the quality of education, leadership and management and pupil behaviour and attitudes were all “inadequate”. Only the sixth form provision was said to be “good”.
The inspectors’ newly-published report on the 1,725-pupil school said that there are “widespread failures in the leaders’ work to keep pupils safe” and that many pupils feel unsafe “because of the poor and inappropriate behaviour of other pupils”, with the inspectors being told the same thing by parents and members of staff.
It said: “Senior leaders and members of the local governing body are not aware of the extent of the school’s weaknesses. They have not acted with urgency to address significant weaknesses. They have not shown that they are able to bring about sustained improvement.”
The inspection took place last month, within a few weeks of staff saying in early May that they were “on their knees” because of poor pupil behaviour and added that
OFSTED REPORT SAYS THERE ARE ‘WIDESPREAD FAILURES IN they no longer felt safe in their own school. The school leadership responded by saying that the poor behaviour was down to a group of pupils who had been admitted in September last year because they were in danger of being excluded from other schools.
The report said: “Disrespectful behaviour and wilful disruption to lessons distract pupils from learning. Some pupils truant their lessons. Some pupils behave poorly at break and lunchtime. Many pupils accept that this is how things are.” It continued: “The arrangements for safeguarding are not effective. Leaders, including those from the trust, preside over a poor culture of safeguarding. They do not provide all staff with up-to-date and effective training. Many members of staff do not understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
“Safeguarding leaders do not recognise when pupils are at risk. They do not take timely and appropriate steps to keep pupils safe. They do not work effectively with all relevant external agencies to provide support when needed. Record-keeping is poor.
“Leaders have not ensured that attendance registers are accurate. They do not have effective systems to ensure the whereabouts of all pupils in the school day. Many pupils truant their lessons. Leaders do not have secure processes in place to check the safeguarding of pupils who attend work experience. They are not assured of pupils’ welfare.”
The inspectors said that the leaders are “not ambitious for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND)”, they have “not secured a calm and orderly environment”.
Their report stated: “The behaviour of too many pupils in years seven to 11 is unacceptable. Pupils struggle to focus on their learning in many classrooms. Some teachers have low expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Some teachers do not manage behaviour effectively. Senior leaders do not support staff to improve pupils’ attitudes and conduct. Pupils are not challenged when they truant lessons.”
The inspectors praised the curriculum to promote pupils’ personal development and said: “They have developed a well-thoughtthrough personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum. This includes ageappropriate relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), and a well-structured approach to careers guidance.
“The sixth-form curriculum is ambitious and coherently planned. Students, including those with SEND, are supported well.
Previously, the Swarkestone Road school was found to be “inadequate”, but not placed in special measures in 2019, when it was part of the PEAK Multi-Academy Trust with Ryan Metters as head teacher. In March 2021, a monitoring visit indicated that progress was being made in turning the school around but in June 2021, the school was rebrokered and became part of another academy trust, QEGSMAT, instead.
Following the Ofsted inspection this year on May 17 and 18, it was announced that Mr Metters would be replaced the following week by Phil Smith, who was head of another QEGSMAT school, City of Derby Academy.
Writing to parents following the publication of the Ofsted report, Mr Smith said: “Although, I was not head teacher for this inspection, I am disappointed in so many elements of the report and I want to reassure the community that significant steps have already been put in place.
“From my brief time, I have witnessed and experienced a wonderful community, where the vast majority of our students flourish in a safe and orderly environment. I want you to stay positive despite some of the negative commentary in the inspection report. I passionately believe that we will work together to fulfil your dreams.”
In order to improve, the inspectors said that “as a matter of urgency” leaders must improve the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements, ensure that staff have high expectations of what pupils can do and achieve, ensure that the curriculum is ambitious for pupils with SEND, develop pupils’ love of reading, implement an effective behaviour policy, improve pupils’ attendance and demonstrate “the capacity to improve the school” in order “to gain the confidence of parents, staff and pupils”.
QEGSMAT chief executive Anne Martin said: “There have been so many positive changes at Chellaston Academy since the Ofsted inspection was carried out. The new head teacher is providing clear and decisive leadership and is driving appropriate change at pace.
“Already, the vast majority of students are flourishing in a safe and orderly environment, and provision is developing well for those students whose behaviour has sometimes fallen short of expected standards. The effectiveness of the school’s safeguarding arrangements has been a focus and the recording of safeguarding concerns has already improved.
“An action plan to address the outcome of an independent safeguarding review is being implemented, and rigorous quality assurance processes are in place, to improve the quality of education. Developing reading remains a priority.”
Special measures is a status applied when providers fall short of acceptable standards. Inspectors will visit the academy to check on its progress until it can be removed from the category, and will have up to two years to turn the judgement around.