Ofsted conducted a monitoring inspection of The Telford Park School on June 29, 2023, following a previous inspection that identified serious weaknesses in May 2022. The inspection aimed to evaluate the progress made by the school in addressing these weaknesses. The findings indicate that while some progress has been made, the school remains inadequate and continues to have serious weaknesses.
Leadership has taken steps to improve the school, including appointing a new staff member responsible for safeguarding and pastoral care, and recruiting an additional assistant headteacher focused on engaging pupils with behavioral challenges. Changes have been made to the school day structure, including the timing of tutor sessions and the organization of break and lunchtime, which have positively impacted pupil behavior. Observations during the inspection showed that pupils were generally calmer and more orderly compared to previous assessments.
Safeguarding remains a high priority, with all new staff undergoing appropriate checks. Training has been provided to heads of year to enhance their ability to support vulnerable pupils. However, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in the documentation of safeguarding incidents and the timeline of actions taken.
The school has implemented a revised behavior policy aimed at fostering a more focused learning environment. Most staff and pupils reported positive experiences with the new policy, which allows for quicker removal of disruptive pupils from classrooms. Nevertheless, some pupils still reported ongoing disruptions in learning, indicating that further work is needed to ensure consistent engagement and focus among all students.
Attendance remains a significant challenge, with overall attendance just below 90 percent and a considerable number of pupils classified as persistently absent. Leaders are aware of the attendance issues and have developed strategies to support improvement, which are beginning to show positive results. The Education Advisory Board continues to provide oversight and support, regularly evaluating the school's action plan and the effectiveness of implemented changes.
The school is also part of the Department for Education's Behaviour Hub, which has provided valuable support in improving behavior management. External consultants have been engaged to assist in curriculum development, further indicating the school's commitment to improvement.
While there have been notable changes and some positive developments, the school acknowledges that more work is necessary to fully address the serious weaknesses identified in previous inspections. The leadership team is committed to ongoing improvement and is actively seeking to enhance the educational experience for all pupils. The inspection highlighted the need for continued focus on behavior management, attendance, and safeguarding practices to ensure that the school can progress towards a more favorable evaluation in the future. The commitment of the leadership team, alongside the support from external partners, is crucial in driving the necessary changes to foster a better learning environment for all students.
