‘MOST PUPILS ARE HAPPY AND DO WANT TO DO WELL’

But school told to improve and classed as requiring improvement

A SCHOOL has been told to improve after inspectors found ‘too much variation in what pupils learn’ and some inappropriate behaviour going unchallenged.

But the Ofsted report also acknowledges that most students at Clayton Hall Academy are ‘happy and want to do well’.

They also benefit from a detailed careers programme, which helps prepare them for life after leaving the school.

Clayton, which was previously rated as good, is now classed as ‘requires improvement’.

Principal Caty Reid stressed work is already underway to address the issues. She said: “This Ofsted experience was unique, given Covid-19, and this has made us more determined to ensure that, at our next inspection, we show that the academy is at least good.”

One of the areas flagged up in the report is the variation between subjects. English lessons, for instance, are generally well planned and students ‘encounter challenging literary texts and topics’, including classical myths and dystopian literature.

But the report adds: “This is not yet the case for all subjects. Leaders have planned their curriculums in order to identify what pupils should know by the end of each year in mathematics, science and languages. However, by the end of Year 8, pupils are not given sufficient time to secure the depth of knowledge and understanding they need. Consequently, they struggle to make connections in what they are learning.

“This means that pupils are not well prepared to begin their key stage four courses in Year 9.”

The teaching of personal, social and health education (PSHE) is a particular area of concern, with students telling inspectors ‘they do not think the content meets their needs’. Staff receive insufficient training to deliver the PSHE sessions effectively.

Clayton Hall is now planning to revert to a three-year key stage three, which will help pupils to cover subjects in more depth before they choose their GCSE options. In recent years, Ofsted has been a vocal critic of schools teaching GCSES from Year 9, claiming it leaves too little time for a broader curriculum.

The report says students at the Clayton Lane school generally behave well and they move between lessons calmly. They are also ‘polite and courteous’ to visitors. Students themselves spoke positively about the school’s behaviour policy.

But inspectors say the policy is applied inconsistently, and this means some lessons are interrupted by ‘low-level disruption’. “In addition, staff do not always respond effectively if pupils use derogatory language towards each other,” says the report.

But Mrs Reid maintained that feedback from the inspectors showed they didn’t see any actual disruption in the lessons they observed and they commented on improvements in behaviour. She added: “We will continue to ensure that all staff have the same high expectations for all students, and that students continue to be motivated to behave and perform well in school.”