Boston secondary school deemed inadequate in damning Ofsted report

Staff at Giles Academy in Old Leake have been left shocked and disappointed by the rating, which follows an Ofsted inspection in November last year.

The findings of the report were that the school was inadequate in four of five key areas and required improvement in the other.

The overall rating for the school was inadequate, with the report stating the school requires special measures ‘because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education’.

The report states: "Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school."

The school’s senior leadership team has vowed that they will aim to improve their rating as quickly as possible.

In a statement today, they said: “Our staff, governors and students are all extremely proud of our school, and we are both shocked and disappointed by Ofsted’s rating.

“Our immediate aim is to address the concerns raised in the report as swiftly as possible, to ensure we provide the best possible education for every student.

“Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working with the Regional Schools Commissioner’s office and Her Majesty’s Inspectors to tackle the issues identified head on.

“We aim to improve our rating as quickly as possible and will continue to work towards becoming the best school in the local area.”

The four categories that are rated as inadequate are quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and sixth form provision. It was rated as requires improvement for personal development.

An Ofsted team visited Giles Academy on 26 and 27 November last year. The previous inspection, in July 2017, had rated the school as requires improvement.

The Ofsted report says that some pupils do not feel safe at the school and many are not proud of their school.

“Too often, pupils are disruptive. The behaviour of some pupils interferes with and stops others learning. Pupils say that behaviour has deteriorated in the last few terms,” it states.

“Many teachers do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can do and achieve. Pupils are not challenged by their learning.”

It does state though that pupils learn well and enjoy art, photography and graphics work.

In terms of what it does well and what it needs to do better, the inspector states: “Senior leaders lack the capacity to improve the school. They do not recognise the extent of the school’s weaknesses.”

It does say the governors have improved the schools financial situation, but have not challenged leaders to improve behaviour and the quality of education.

It goes on to say: “Leaders have not fulfilled their statutory responsibilities. They have not established a secure and effective culture of safeguarding. The quality of education is not good enough.”

It also says there are too many occasions of poor behaviour, with lessons are repeatedly disrupted and many pupils telling inspectors about the negative effect that poor behaviour has on their learning.

The report also raises concerns about safeguarding. “Some pupils say that they do not always feel safe in the school. Some staff expressed the same view.”

It did say that safeguarding leaders know pupils well and Inspectors saw some examples of how they work with external agencies to support.

The report says standards have declined since the previous inspection. “Governors should fulfil their responsibilities and hold senior leaders to account effectively. Senior leaders must accurately evaluate the school’s weaknesses and strategically plan to improve the school.”