Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of Huntcliff School on February 27, 2024, following its designation of serious weaknesses after the graded inspection in April 2022. The purpose of this inspection was to assess the progress made by the school since the last inspection, rather than to evaluate its overall effectiveness. The inspection involved discussions with the headteacher, senior leaders, and trustees, as well as observations of pupil behavior, attendance records, and safeguarding measures.
The inspection revealed that while the school has made some progress, further work is required to fully address the serious weaknesses identified. The current acting headteacher, who took on the role in January 2024, is leading efforts to improve the school, supported by a multi-academy trust. This trust is expected to assist in the school’s improvement and is working closely with school leaders. The school has appointed a permanent headteacher who will start in April 2024.
The focus of the inspection was primarily on the actions taken to enhance pupil behavior. The school has implemented a new behavior policy aimed at creating a more conducive learning environment. This policy has led to calmer lessons and reduced disruptions for many pupils. However, there remains inconsistency in how effectively some staff apply this policy, and a minority of pupils continue to face removal from lessons due to poor behavior. To address this, the school has provided targeted training for staff to help them create effective learning environments.
In terms of behavior management, the school has seen an increase in suspensions, which was anticipated as expectations for pupil conduct were raised. The school is now providing effective reintegration support for pupils who have been suspended, and leaders have a clearer understanding of the behaviors leading to these suspensions. There is an expectation that as the new policies and training take effect, the number of suspensions will decrease.
The school is also working on improving its curriculum. Staff training has been informed by current research, focusing on effective lesson sequences. A coaching program is being developed to support teachers, and middle leaders have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from other settings to revise subject curriculums. Access to subject association materials is also being provided to enhance this work.
Governance has seen decisive actions, including engaging with a multi-academy trust and restructuring the board of trustees. These changes have contributed to stability and increased leadership capacity. However, there has been a lack of detailed oversight regarding the school’s performance, and the board has not sufficiently challenged school leaders on the impact of their improvement actions. Current scrutiny is largely provided by external partners rather than the governing body.
Overall, while there has been progress and momentum in recent months, the school recognizes the need for continued efforts to embed current initiatives and secure sustained improvements for its pupils. The inspection highlighted the importance of maintaining focus on the necessary improvements to provide a high-quality education for all students. The letter detailing these findings will be shared with relevant stakeholders and published on the Ofsted reports website.
