Trust may lose school if improvements are not made

The government has ordered an education trust to urgently improve a school where teachers walked out over poor pupil behaviour.

In June, Ofsted inspectors found that learning at Westbourne Academy in Ipswich was "frequently interrupted by the poor behaviour of some pupils" and rated the school inadequate in four key areas.

Now the Department for Education (DfE) has written to Academy Transformation Trust, warning it could terminate the school's funding agreement and transfer it to another trust.

The trust said the termination warning notice was standard procedure following an Ofsted report, and improvements were being made.

Staff at the school staged a strike in May, claiming chairs and scissors had been thrown at them by pupils.

Ofsted said the poor behaviour stemmed from a "minority" of students, but it was enough to intimidate other pupils and staff.

Inspectors also reported the use of "derogatory language" linked to race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

The DfE said the school must implement a "clear, consistent behaviour policy" and improve early reading support.

It also called for a stronger culture of respect, better attendance strategies and faster identification and support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

Jonathan Duff, regional director for the DfE, has given the trust until 25 September to provide a response.

He wrote: "I need to be satisfied that the trust has capacity to deliver rapid and sustainable improvement at the academy.

"If I am not satisfied that this can be achieved, I will consider whether to terminate the funding agreement in order to transfer the academy to an alternative academy trust."

A spokesperson for Academy Transformation Trust said: "We had already acted with urgency before Ofsted's visit. A robust improvement plan is in place and the senior leadership team at Westbourne Academy are working in earnest to deliver rapid change.

"Significant steps have already been taken, including the appointment of two new senior colleagues who have hit the ground running and are already making an impact.

"We care deeply about Westbourne, its pupils, families and the wider Ipswich community. Regardless of any external report or letter, we would always be moving forward to make the school the best it can be."

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