Waterhead Academy among 15 schools in Greater Manchester who have the worst possible rating from Ofsted inspections

Waterhead Academy in Oldham is among a total of 15 schools in Greater Manchester which have the worst possible rating from Ofsted inspections carried out over the last two years.

And it is now approaching the time of year when children moving up into primary or secondary school in September will find out where they will be going.

Parents of pre-school children will hear on April 16 which primary school their kids will be attending, as local authorities notify families.

For secondary schools, places are allocated in a fortnight’s time, on March 1.

Ahead of the announcements we are revealing the schools which have received the lowest possible ratings from school inspectors, Ofsted.

Ofsted carries out inspections of schools around the country every week on a rolling basis.

Schools in England are regularly assessed by the watchdog and receive a rating based on the findings of the inspectors.

These range from outstanding – the highest possible rating – through to ‘inadequate’ at the other end of the scale.

Schools can also be classed as ‘good’ or ‘requires improvement’.

Schools deemed to be ‘inadequate’ are then placed in one of two additional categories – ‘serious weaknesses’ or ‘special measures’, with the latter being the most serious. 

However, independent schools do not receive these classifications.

A total of 15 Greater Manchester schools had an inadequate rating as of January 31 this year, as a result of an inspection completed after May 2021.

Three of them are independent schools, seven are state-funded primaries, four are state-funded secondaries, and one is a special school.

All 12 of the state-funded schools have been flagged for special measures.

The Greater Manchester schools with inadequate ratings are as follows:

Secondary schools

Waterhead Academy, Oldham (special measures)

Inspection date: October 19, 2022.

The Huddersfield Road school was placed in special measures after a damning inspection report found pupils were ‘unhappy’ and bullying was ‘commonplace’.

The ‘inadequate’ rating was a downgrade from from 2019 when it was classed as ‘requires improvement’.

Ofsted slammed the education provided at the high school and said the 1,358 pupils on its roll had been ‘failed for far too long’.

However, acting principal James Wilson said the school had already begun working to create ‘positive change’.

“The recent Ofsted inspection raises several issues that we are quickly addressing,” he said, following the report’s publication in January.

“Things are changing for the better at our school, and we’re working closely with parents, carers and students to create positive change.”

St Matthew’s RC High School, Moston, Manchester

Inspection date – November 17, 2022.

The north Manchester high school was urged to make urgent improvements after school inspectors found that an ‘unsafe and unruly’ environment was ‘failing’ pupils.

Racist, homophobic and misogynistic bullying was said to be  ‘rife’ has been at the Nuthurst Road school, with the inspection report highlighting how pupils ‘are not happy’ and ‘do not feel safe’ due to the behaviour of other children.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Salford said: “The Trust and the staff are clearly very disappointed with the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection.

"We are implementing a robust action plan that will rapidly address the concerns raised in the report.

“The school joined the Emmaus Trust in June 2021, we are a growing Trust with a leadership track record for improving standards and outcomes.

"We are confident that with the support and leadership the trust brings we will continue to see improvements for the pupils at St. Matthews."

Beis Yaakov High School, Broughton, Salford (special measures)

Inspection date: September 14 2022.

The all-girls’ secondary school was placed into special measures after an inspection found governors had ‘failed in their statutory duties to safeguard pupils’.

A scathing Ofsted report said that ‘over time, leaders have prioritised the needs of staff to the detriment of pupils’ education’.

They rated the school’s overall effectiveness as ‘inadequate’ and reached the same conclusion in all other areas of assessment – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership.

The school was contacted for comment when the report was published in November, but did not respond.

The school has twice been contacted for comment.

King David High School, Crumpsall, Manchester (special measures)

Inspection date: November 11, 2021 

Monitoring visits: July 12, 2022 and November 22, 2022

The Jewish faith school, which was deemed outstanding by Ofsted until late 2021, still remains in special measures.

Based in Crumpsall, it is the highest performing secondary state school in Manchester – and  has been praised for making progress in addressing the safeguarding concerns that were raised.

But inspectors identified a ‘lack of urgency’ in improving governance at a monitoring visit last month.

Executive headteacher John Dalziel said: “We recognise that we are not where we need to be yet. But we’re delighted with the direction of travel.

“We are very happy with where we are, but we recognise there’s still work to be done.”

However, Joshua Rowe, chair of trustees said that the judgement of ‘inadequate’ was ‘unrecognisable to anyone who is familiar with the school’.

Independent schools

Lilford Centre, Wigan

Inspection date: July 14, 2022.

The Lilford Centre, in Tyldesley, was slammed by inspectors over concerns about pupils’ safety and staff delivering ‘poor lessons outside their expertise’. 

The damning report published by the moderator in October last year said students’ learning was ‘hampered by a poorly delivered curriculum across many subjects’.

One of two independent Progress Schools in the borough, it takes students referred by the local authority who have previously disengaged with education due to non-attendance or behavioural issues. 

Charlotte Barton, managing director at Progress Schools, said: “We work with our students to deliver a provision which is appropriate for them, with the specific aim of helping them to return to a mainstream setting, or positively progress onto further education or training upon leaving us in Year 11.

“Since the Ofsted visit in July 2022, we have been working tirelessly to embed the investment programme which we had already launched.

"This programme has the specific aim of driving up the quality of education and learning for our students, ensuring that they receive a rounded and robust education which best suits their needs.

“It is my hope that when Ofsted returns for their next inspection, they will see the clear steps that we have been taking to drive up the quality of our provision.”

Mechinoh School, Salford 

Inspection date: May 26, 2022

Inspectors found that pupils at the Upper Park Road school have a ‘poor educational experience’.

The report, published in July last year, says leaders’ expectations for ‘what pupils should know and be able to do by the time they leave school are low’.

It adds: “Pupils do not achieve well. Pupils do not have experiences that help to develop them socially and culturally.”  

Educational visits were said to be limited, while officials found there were ‘no clubs in place and pupils’ talents and interests are not taken into account or developed’.

Mechinoh School has been contacted for comment.

Beis Hatalmud School, Broughton, Salford

Inspection date: November 11, 2021

Additional inspection: September 12 2022

Inspectors found that pupils at the Wellington Road West school enjoyed going there, respected one another and behaved well. 

Staff were praised for setting high expectations for conduct and acting quickly to prevent any misbehaviour – including bullying or other unkindness – from escalating. 

Despite these positive features, leaders’ expectations for pupils’ learning were found not to be high enough. 

The report adds:  “All too often, pupils’ achievement across all subjects is limited by a narrow secular curriculum. In addition, pupils are not as well prepared for life in modern Britain as they should be.”

However, a follow-up inspection in September revealed things were moving in the right direction.

“Since the previous standard inspection in November 2021, leaders have taken extensive action to improve the quality of education,” it states.

“For example, pupils now learn citizenship and finance.

"The mathematics and science curriculums have been developed further and the quality has been strengthened.”
Primary schools

Crosslee Community Primary School, Blackley (special measures)

Inspection date: November 9, 2022

Crosslee Community Primary School was criticised by inspectors who found pupils did not feel safe due to ‘boisterous and unruly’ behaviour. 

‘Homophobic and derogatory language’ was said to be  commonly used while officials also said that bullying was not dealt with effectively. 

The standard of education was also described as ‘unacceptable’.

The school said it ‘fully accepted’ the findings but said inspectors had noted the school had begun to make progress following an intense programme of school development across all areas of the school.

A spokesperson added: “This work has continued since the inspection – including firm action to address the concerns raised about pupil behaviour – and will carry on at pace until each of the areas identified by inspectors has been fully addressed.”

Brentnall Primary School, Salford (special measures)

Inspection date, September 22, 2022

Rated as ‘good’ before the pandemic, inspectors said leaders and those responsible for governance at the Higher Broughton school had  ‘failed pupils’.

“They have overseen the decline in the quality of education that pupils receive,” a scathing report said. 

It added that the curriculum was ‘narrow and unambitious’ and did not serve pupils well – particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Responding to the findings, Coun JIm Cammell, Salford city council’s lead member for children’s and young people’s services, would be ‘fully supported to make the necessary improvements’.

He said: “Changes and improvements to the curriculum, staff training, behaviour and attendance management and support for all pupils are being made.

"We are determined to look to the future, build on the positives that the report highlighted, address the areas for improvement and bring this school back to a high standard.”

St Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitefield, Bury (special measures).

Inspection date June 22, 2022

Officials found that pupils at the Ribble Drive school did not ‘receive the quality of education that they deserve’ during a visit last summer.

A highly critical report says the curriculum is ‘weak’ and pupils ‘do not achieve well because leaders do not have high enough expectations of them’.

“This is particularly true for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND),” It adds.

However behaviour was said to have improved and it was also noted that leaders dealt with bullying more effectively than they did previously.

While pupils said staff were kind and caring and acted quickly to sort out problems, some did not feel their concerns were always taken seriously – a view shared by ‘many parents and carers’.

Lily Lane Primary School, Moston, Manchester (special measures)

Inspection date: May 25, 2022

Inspectors found pupils at this primary school did not ‘receive an acceptable standard of education’.

A scathing report, published last July, said leaders had low expectations of pupils and curriculum being taught was ‘too narrow’.

“Many pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive an even weaker deal than other pupils in the school,” it adds.

“Some of these pupils are not taught by suitably trained teachers.”

Officials also found that leaders ‘do not ensure that children and pupils are kept safe’ or have high enough expectations of how they should behave.

Lily Lane Primary School has been contacted for comment.

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School, Ashton-in Makerfield, Wigan (special measures)

Inspection date: April 21, 2022

The Downall Green Road school will close at the end of the current academic year due to ‘financial pressure’ and ‘falling pupil numbers’.

Despite hundreds of objections during the consultation period, the council’s cabinet said the decision was ‘not taken lightly’ and would ease the process for the Year 6 students moving on to secondary school.

Cath Pealing, assistant director for education at Wigan Council, said: “The decision to close a school is never taken lightly. We know how much our schools mean to pupils, local families and the community.

“Projections have shown that there are too many school places in this area, and this has a negative impact on the school’s finances, on the viability of all schools in an area and on educational standards.

Manor Green Primary Academy, Denton, Tameside

Inspection date: April 6, 2022

Monitoring visit: November 2, 2022

The Mancunian Road school was slammed after inspectors found staff and pupils were being ‘physically hurt’ and were ‘worried’ to come into school.

Their report, published last July, found serious failings in regards to students’ behaviour and safeguarding. 

It added that leaders had allowed the ‘violent outbursts of a small but significant number of pupils’ to ‘repeatedly disrupt’ the learning and playtimes of other pupils.

Manor Green Primary Academy agreed there were ‘some areas of the school which needed addressing’ but‘ passionately disagreed’ with the overall rating of ‘inadequate’.

However, a letter to new principal Victoria Saville following a monitoring visit in November, said she and other leaders had ‘taken decisive and effective action to tackle the considerable shortcomings identified at the previous inspection’.

It added that ‘rebuilding parents’ trust and confidence was now a top priority for the school.

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Stockport (Special Measures)

Inspection date January 12, 2022

The Diocese of Salford began the process of closing down the school after it was awarded the lowest possible rating by Ofsted last year.

Inspectors said pupils did not achieve well, were uninspired by the curriculum and had to learn in an environment that was ‘tired, cluttered and scruffy’.

The diocese does not want to absorb the school into its trust, believing it to be ‘unviable’ due to the falling number of Catholic pupils.

However, families launched a campaign to save the school which says it wants to ‘remain at the heart of the community’.

A statement from the school read: “We understand the challenges that many of our parents and families face on a day to day basis and are acutely aware of the impact this process is having. We will continue to provide support wherever we can.”

The first part of a public consultation closed on January 15.

Special schools

Samuel Laycock School, Ashton

Inspection date: June 24, 2021

The school, which had already been told to improve, was rated as ‘inadequate’ after inspectors found failings in the quality of education, leadership and management.

However ‘behaviour and attitudes’ and ‘personal development’ were both said to be ‘good’, with inspectors praising the relationship between staff and pupils.

Since the report the school has become a sponsored academy, and is now part of the New Bridge Group.

The move was expected to ensure ‘good progress’ to make improvements would continue.

It has yet to be inspected since becoming an academy.

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