A FAILING Basingstoke secondary school remains ‘inadequate’ and requires ‘special measures’ after Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit.

As previously reported, Coppice Spring Academy was graded as ‘inadequate’ in March by Ofsted with the education watchdog finding pupils were provided with an “unacceptably poor education”.

Ofsted inspector Aimee Floyd visited the Pack Lane school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties in September, and a report published on November 14 said it remains 'inadequate'.

READ MORE: Basingstoke secondary school in 'serious decline' with behaviour 'beyond control'

Writing to interim headteacher Paul Mundy-Castle, she said: “Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is necessary for the category of concern to be removed.”

Ofsted found that since the previous inspection pupils and staff “recognise how the expectations of senior leaders have increased”.

It said: “You have renewed the focus on the education of pupils alongside providing the pastoral care required. The recruitment of new specialist leaders in English and mathematics and the appointment of a new special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo) reflect this.

“Extensive work has also taken place in redecorating classrooms and purchasing much-needed resources to ensure the learning environment is purposeful. Some improvements have been made to the school’s curriculum.

“Leaders are becoming much clearer in their ambition for pupils and what will be achieved.”

The inspector also found improvements had been made to the personal, social and health education curriculum and leaders have thought about the support pupils need to stay safe.

The school, which is part of the Catch 22 Multi Academies Trust, was previously told by Ofsted that its safeguarding arrangements were “not effective”.

The trust has since decided to hand over all of its seven academies, including two others in Basingstoke, following a string of poor Ofsted inspections.

SEE ALSO: Failing academy trust handing over three Basingstoke schools to another provider following decline

Pupils, staff, parents and carers told Ofsted in March that the school “is not a safe place for pupils to be”.

The education watchdog found that disruptive behaviour and low expectations from staff were “a constant backdrop to school life” in March. 

At the monitoring visit, the inspector found that pupils’ needs are “being more carefully considered”.

She said: “While staff and pupils recognise the initial improvements, leaders know there is still much more to do. As outlined, the new curriculum is in its very early stages of development.”

Ofsted found there has been an increase in attendance but added that “too many pupils still do not attend school regularly enough”.

It added: “In addition, some pupils still behave in a disrespectful and, at times, dangerous way, resulting in leaders choosing to suspend these pupils from school. Systems are being used by staff to analyse patterns of behaviour, but these are in their infancy and have not yet had the intended impact.”

Ofsted said: “Trust leaders recognise where they have not acted quickly enough to make the necessary improvements. They also acknowledge where there has been a lack of expertise and capacity at all levels of the trust and governance to ensure robust oversight.”

It said the trust is now focused on “ensuring both staff and pupils have the support they need as the new headteacher takes over the leadership of the school”.

As previously reported, Andrew Hatherley will take over the headship in January 2023 and spend the autumn term “transitioning into the role”.

SEE ALSO: New headteacher taking over failing Basingstoke secondary school

Ofsted said safeguarding processes are “now carried out more thoughtfully and diligently”.

It added that the trust has “overseen improvements to recruitment processes, meaning appropriate checks are made on adults working in the school”.

Ofsted said that the local authority is “keen to continue to provide further assistance as the new headteacher joins the school”.

A statement from Catch-22 said: "We are pleased that the progress and reforms made at The Coppice Spring Academy have been recognised by Ofsted.

"Included in these are changes to our curriculum planning, safeguarding protocols and SEND provision. In addition, we have recruited new specialist teachers and redecorated the school premises to create a more purposeful learning environment.

"As acknowledged by Ofsted, these improvements are a significant step in the right direction and have ensured that the Coppice Spring Academy is in a very good place for both the re-brokering of the school to a new trust and the arrival our new headteacher, whose focus from January will be on continuing to drive forward the school’s ambitious improvement plan."