‘CHAOTIC and dangerous behaviour’ has caused pupils at an ‘inadequate’ rated Slough school to feel ‘unsafe,’ a report found.
The Grove Academy in Ladbrooke Road had its first inspection by education watchdog Ofsted since it opened in 2017.
Following the two-day inspection from February 16, inspectors heavily criticised the behaviour and attitudes of pupils as well as the leadership and management of the school, resulting in an ‘inadequate’ rating, which is the lowest score possible.
The report states behaviour from students can, at times, be “chaotic and dangerous” and some pupils find this “intimidating and unsettling,” causing them to feel unsafe at school.
An example of this is derogatory comments on their race, gender, or sexuality.
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Some students don’t feel confident or are unsure who to go to with any concerns or worries.
Many pupils are wanting to learn but “small but significant groups” of pupils do not behave well. Neither staff nor pupils are sufficiently clear about what is expected of them under these circumstances.
The report states: “Staff are inconsistent in their expectations of pupils’ behaviour and attitudes to learning. This is because the staff have not received the training and support required. Leaders from the multi-academy trust are formulating plans to strengthen staff training.”
The inspectors suggested leaders must urgently review their behaviour systems and levels of supervision to ensure behaviour is respectful and safe.
A spokesperson from Grove Academy stated: “We are committed to securing positive behaviour through creating extra capacity, expanding the pastoral team and working with partner schools.
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“We are keen to collaborate with parents making sure our expectations are clear and are reviewing behaviour systems to ensure we secure a safe, calm learning environment.”
They also said the school is recruiting to expand its safeguarding team and is developing its structure. Regular external reviews of this will be shared with governors and trustees to ensure children are safe at school
Leaders ‘do not have the full picture’ of a pupil’s wellbeing when there is a concern over their safety or wellbeing because the action is often not fully recorded.
Inspectors also found the quality of education pupils are receiving and their personal development ‘requires improvement’.
However, the watchdog considered the school’s early years provision to be ‘good’.
“We are totally committed to addressing the areas for improvement outlined in the report and will work to address them,” the school’s spokesperson said.
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