Driffield School set to become academy after Ofsted places it in special measures

OFSTED has put an East Riding school into special measures in a report which warned it did not ensure all pupils were kept safe.
Former headteacher Simon Jones left Driffield School and Sixth Form shortly after the Ofsted inspectionFormer headteacher Simon Jones left Driffield School and Sixth Form shortly after the Ofsted inspection
Former headteacher Simon Jones left Driffield School and Sixth Form shortly after the Ofsted inspection

The education watchdog’s report into Driffield School also said leaders and governors do not ensure all pupils learn to respect people who are different from them. The report said this meant pupils were not being prepared to be good citizens in Britain.

It also said leaders did not make sure all staff followed the school’s policy for managing pupils’ behaviour or bullying. The report adds: “Leaders have not maintained an acceptable quality of teaching since the previous inspection. As a result, outcomes are inadequate.”

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It follows the resignation of former headteacher, Simon Jones, who left the school shortly after the inspection last month.

Ofsted’s report adds: “Leaders have lost the confidence of a significant number of parents.”

Interim head teacher, Dave McCready said the school had already begun implementing changes. He said: “There will be challenges ahead but this is to be expected. It is vital that we all now work together to secure a brighter future for the school.”

East Riding Council said the school would now become an academy sponsored by Education Alliance multi academy trust based at South Hunsley School.

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Mike Furbank, the council’s head of children and young people, education and schools, said: “Clearly the outcome of the Ofsted inspection is very disappointing, but major steps are already in place to address the issues raised.

“Working with the Department for Education and the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner, the local authority and the governing body have identified the Education Alliance multi academy trust based at South Hunsley School as the long term sponsor, from September, for Driffield School and we are confident that this will support both its immediate improvements, alongside the work of Mr McCready, and its long term success.”

Mr McReady said: “Although the news that Driffield School has been placed into special measures will come as a shock to students, parents and the local community I am confident that the school has the capacity to make the rapid progress required to move out of this category. I am looking forward to working with everyone associated with the school and I welcome the support of the local authority, other external partners and the Driffield community as together we deliver the quality of education our students deserve.”

The Ofsted report rated the school as being inadequate in all key inspection areas including the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and the outcomes for pupils.

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The report also said the sixth form is inadequate because safeguarding is ineffective across the school.

It also said sixth formers do not make the progress they are capable of to reach higher A-level grades.

Ofsted praised the majority of pupils as being well meaning and considerate.

It adds: “They want to do well at school. They appreciate and benefit from the extra opportunities the school provides for sports and drama.

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The report also says some teaching is effective and some pastoral staff are skilled in supporting vulnerable pupils. And it adds that some parents are positive about the work of the school, including parents of children who have

special educational needs or disability.

At its previous inspection Driffield School had been rated as good.

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