A Gedling academy has been rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted after its latest inspection. Carlton le Willows Academy was inspected from November 15 to 17, 2022, and officials say the judgement is 'disappointing'.
The academy on Wood Lane, which has 1,771 pupils on its books, was given an overall effectiveness ranking of 'inadequate'. They received 'requires improvement' rankings for the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and for the sixth-form provision.
Carlton le Willows' leadership and management was rated 'inadequate' by the education watchdog. The school had a previous overall Ofsted rating of 'good' in its full inspection in 2013 and short inspection in 2017.
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Acting Headteacher Rod Bond-Taylor said: “This Ofsted judgement is disappointing for the new senior leadership team at Carlton le Willows and the whole staff body. It will also be disappointing to our students and parents, a great many of whom are proud to attend Carlton le Willows Academy and achieve excellent exam results.
“We sent all parents a detailed letter (on Monday, January 9), along with a copy of the latest Ofsted report, outlining a number of steps that had been taken since September and before the HMI inspectors’ visit.
“Measures have been brought in immediately to address concerns. Most importantly the issue relating to the inadequate judgement was regarding students educated off-site. This was rectified within two days of the Ofsted visit and is now fully compliant.
“Clearly there is work still to be done, but staff remain committed to working with parents/carers and achieving the very best outcomes for all students at Carlton le Willows.”
The Ofsted report says the school has gone through a period of change and recently appointed senior leaders have identified significant weaknesses in the quality of the provision. However, leaders have failed to create a culture of effective safeguarding, the report adds.
The report says they do not have effective processes to check on, and support, 27 pupils who access their education away from the school site and they do not keep accurate registers for these pupils. They are unsure exactly where some of these pupils are, or if they are accessing their provision, the report goes on to say.
As a result, some pupils have gained little education for considerable periods of time. The report also says governors and trustees have not consistently met their statutory responsibilities, nor provided a level of rigorous accountability for leaders.
Ofsted say leaders have not ensured that there is a well-planned and sequenced curriculum in place for all subjects, meaning pupils do not always learn the important knowledge they need at the right time. Weaker readers are not supported well enough to access the wider curriculum, inspectors said. Leaders are not ambitious for all pupils with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) so the support for these pupils is not always precise enough to enable them to acquire the knowledge and skills that they are entitled to, Ofsted found.
The report found staff do not consistently have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour or apply the school’s behaviour policy. Pupils are also said to not be as well equipped for life in modern Britain as they could be. Pupils do not all fully appreciate the differences and similarities between cultures and religions, inspectors said. The report said leaders have not ensured religious education has been provided inaccordance with statutory requirements.
Carlton le Willows wrote to parents and carers to address the issues raised in the Ofsted report. They say since September the school has met statutory requirements by bringing back PE for Year 11 and PHSE, introduced a school reading strategy, reinforced and re-evaluated the behaviour policy and expectations on uniform.
Mr Bond-Taylor also said the school has reviewed the alternative provision and made immediate safeguarding improvements. Since the Ofsted visit in November, staff say they are reviewing and tightening processes for students who study off site.
Leaders have reworked the curriculum, reinforced expectations across all subjects, introduced new sign in systems for sixth formers and new members and governors are working closely with senior leaders to work on areas of improvement.
In the letter, the acting headteacher says at the start of this term they are going to review and improve provision for all students with special needs. They say they will also re-structure pastoral support, apply consistent behaviour policies and re-embed British values.
Mr Bond Taylor-added: "While the report recognises that there are inconsistencies at Carlton le Willows, it also notes that students enjoy attending school and many feel safe. In lessons, many students work hard and want to do their best.
"Parents also told Ofsted they appreciate current leaders' recent efforts to address concerns about the school." It comes at a time when the academy undergoes a significant expansion.
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