A SECONDARY school in the York academies chain is in special measures.
Ofsted has put special measures in place at Archbishop Sentamu’s Academy in Hull.
The school is part of the Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, which has 15 academies in York, Hull, Selby and Scarborough.
It was created last year following the merger of York-based Hope Learning Trust and Hull-based Sentamu Academy Learning Trust.
Hope at the time included: Manor CE Academy, Vale of York Academy, Barlby High, Graham School, George Pindar School, Poppleton Ousebank Primary, Burton Green Primary, Forest of Galtres Anglican Methodist Primary and Skelton Primary.
Helen Wynne, chief executive of Hope Sentamu Learning Trust, said following the inspection, the Trust had attracted significant additional school improvement capacity to support her and the staff team.
The work that the Trust and the school do has been positively recognized in the Ofsted report, which says: “Headteachers, working alongside trustees and other leaders from the Trust, know the school well. The results of this inspection did not come as a surprise. These leaders were already fully informed of the schools’ priorities and helped develop detailed improvement plans. Although the leaders’ efforts to improve the school are hampered by a number of internal and external factors, they are currently working at a frantic pace to ensure that the school receives the help it needs to improve.’
The report also highlights areas where the school needs to improve.
Inspectors said: “The school does not have a calm and orderly environment.
“The behavior of too many pupils is disrupting the experience of others. Too many pupils are disrespectful to staff. There are high levels of bad behaviour, and levels of ‘isolation’ and suspensions.
“There is an inconsistency in the application of the conduct policy. Leaders must take further steps to ensure acceptable standards of student behavior.
“Too many students are not attending school regularly enough. These students are falling behind because they are missing lessons. They are not as prepared for their next steps as they could be. Leaders must engage with the community to promote and ensure higher levels of attendance pupils.
“The PSHE curriculum is not designed to help pupils learn important information over time. Heads do not apply an academic approach to this important learning. Enrichment opportunities are not planned in the curriculum. Heads’ plans to improve this area of learning need to be adopted by the curriculum.”
Helen said: “We have already drawn up a clear action plan for the areas Ofsted have confirmed need improvement and we are committed to implementing it. I have every confidence that the changes we are making will bring the positive results we all want to see.
“Our immediate priorities are restructuring the system of behavior and attracting additional management potential. These are two key areas and they are related. The Ofsted report highlights the improvements that have already been made to the leadership plan and that we have appointed new leaders and brought in additional staff, including pastoral staff. However, we know there is more to do. My experience tells me that these changes will then have a positive impact on behavior along with the new behavior system we are introducing.”
Click here to read the full report.
