School improves after 'scissors thrown at staff'

While a school where teachers reported having scissors thrown at them has "taken effective action to improve," more needs to be done, an education watchdog said.

Westbourne Academy was rated Inadequate following an inspection by Ofsted in June, weeks after teachers went on strike in protest of pupils' poor behaviour.

Some students at the school, in Marlow Road, Ipswich, were reported to have used "derogatory language" about race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

After putting it in special measures, inspectors returned to monitor its progress. While some improvements had been made, Ofsted said "continued work" was needed.

Principal Martin Higgon accepted there was "more to do".

Since the last inspection, the Academy Transformation Trust, which runs the school, has changed how it holds the school to account, an Ofsted report said.

It appointed an improvement partner and an improvement board to "drive forward rapid change", and made new appointments to its leadership team.

Those alterations had resulted in some change, with inspectors citing that pupils' behaviour, for example, had "substantially improved".

It was also noted that, while attendance was still low, more pupils were going to school regularly and plans to improve their personal development were in motion.

Inspectors said improvements were being made to its SEND and early reading offering, and pupils' experiences with learning across the school were better.

They also acknowledged that leaders were more "sensitive to the demands they place" on staff and would now "prioritise their workload and wellbeing".

"Staff are aligned with the school's vision for improvement, and they see the difference their actions and unified approach are making," the report added.

The school, which recently adopted a no-phone policy, was also said to have "strengthened" the support that pupils receive across the board.

"Leaders have focused sharply on changing the culture of the school so that pupils feel they belong here," the inspectors said.

The report also added that an "overhauled" personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum had resulted in a "greater focus on diversity and respect for all".

However, while there had been a reduction in incidents of racial discrimination, some pupils still use profanity or abusive language, and staff do not consistently address it.

It was also said that some staff were not applying their training, and some SEND pupils were not able to access learning effectively, therefore hindering their progress.

Inspectors concluded that the school, which has nearly 1,000 pupils, should "continue to work to address the priorities for improvement identified".

"Leaders and trustees are taking effective action to improve the school, but continued work is needed to remove the special measures designation," they said.

Higgon said he was "pleased" that Ofsted had "recognised the significant progress" the school had already made.

"The report reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff, pupils and families, as well as the strong support from our trust and academy improvement board," he said.

"We know there is more to do, which is why this term we are focusing on strengthening staff wellbeing, raising student attendance, building on the gains we have made in behaviour, and improving quality first teaching.

"We are dedicated to delivering the excellent education our community deserves."

The Academy Transformation Trust was contacted for comment.

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