Two Notts schools among the 100 worst in England
PUPILS STAY AWAY BECAUSE PARENTS FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY
TWO Notts primary schools have been named amongst the worst 100 in the country, according to education watchdog Ofsted.
There are around 100 primary schools currently rated “inadequate” by Ofsted across England, two of them in Sutton-in-ashfield and Mansfield.
Ofsted’s grading system evaluates schools on quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management.
Ofsted sends inspectors into schools all over the country every week.
Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School – a mixed school of 3-11-year-olds with
360 pupils, on Westbourne View, Sutton in Ashfield – was inspected in November last year and rated “inadequate” in three key areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management.
Personal development and early years provision were rated as “requires improvement”.
Speaking to pupils and staff, inspectors found some “do not feel safe in school”. The report says: “Pupils’ behaviour is often poor; incidents of disruption and aggression are too common.” Headteacher Sarah Griffith said that staff and governors were disappointed by the rating. “We are very disappointed and concerned by the findings of the latest Ofsted report,” she said. “The school has already begun to implement a robust action plan to address the areas of improvement required, with a focus on safeguarding. “Staff have received further training, and significant changes have been made to the curriculum in order that we rapidly address the issues raised. “However, we recognise that the pace of change has not been as rapid as it needs to be. “Some children are not making enough progress and expectations of what they can achieve need to be higher.” The Ofsted report added that the behaviour of some pupils was disrupting learning and that pupils were “potentially unsafe”. Other areas that have come under fire are safeguarding, the quality of education, attendance by students, and that its governing body is not challenging school leaders.
Ms Griffith added: “Our focus is now on urgently raising standards and rectifying concerns and, with the help of the local authority, we will continue to address the points raised in the Ofsted report to ensure that the quality of education provided by the school is of a high standard.
“The recent changes to the governing body will continue to ensure that leaders are held to account and improve the pace of change, raise standards and rectify concerns.
“The governing body and the teaching and support staff would like to reassure all of our parents and carers that the pupils, their safety, wellbeing, and education are our top priority. We are committed to working together to ensure that children receive the high-quality education that they deserve and that each and every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Harlow Academy, on Nottingham Road, Mansfield, was inspected by Ofsted on January 19, and also rated “inadequate”.
Children at the special school were put at a “risk of harm” and some were neglected due to a lack of staff, according to the watchdog’s damning report.
Ofsted also found Harlow Academy did not meet pupils’ basic care needs when inspectors visited on January 18, 19 and 20.
The former Fountaindale School in Harlow Wood was given an “inadequate” result in each of the six “overall effectiveness” assessments, which include leadership and management and quality of education.
Part of the assessment stated that some children were not currently attending the school because parents feared for their safety.
A spokesperson for the academy said: “As an academy we take our duty of care extremely seriously, which is why, following our recent Ofsted inspection, we worked closely with our pupils, parents, carers, staff and the wider community to take immediate action to address areas for improvement.
“Changes already made include appointing new leadership – both an interim CEO of our trust and an executive headteacher at the academy – who are working closely alongside colleagues, parents and carers to ensure the best educational and care environment possible.
“We are also pleased to share that from September, the academy will officially join Nexus Multi Academy Trust, a trust specialising in special educational needs provisions.
“Nexus has been a key part of the team supporting our academy since the Ofsted inspection, which means we will retain our academy’s new leadership team and the positive momentum we have already gained in order to give our pupils the best possible start in life.”
We recognise that the pace of change has not been as rapid as it needs to be
Sarah Griffith, headteacher