THORNS Community College’s principal has admitted the school is in a “very disappointing position” after being branded “inadequate” in a damning Ofsted report.

The Quarry Bank secondary school has been placed in special measures after inspectors highlighted serious failings throughout the institution following visits on May 4 and 5.

School leaders and its governing body failed to ensure effective safeguarding, the report stated, and as a matter of priority they must ensure new safeguarding leaders and all staff receive appropriate training.

It also said leaders had not acted quickly enough to improve the quality of teaching and outcomes for pupils - and that instability within the school’s senior leadership had hindered its ability to improve. The school’s governance was also branded ineffective.

The report also said the quality of teaching remains “too variable”, although it has recently begun to improve, and information is not being used to check the impact of teaching on the progress of particular groups of pupils.

It also criticised pupils’ low attendance – especially for those who have special educational needs or disabilities.

Principal Andy Cox said he accepted Ofsted’s findings and efforts had been made to tackle the problems highlighted in the report.

The report did praise the principal for his ambition and vision for the school, adding: “The senior team, some of whom are recently appointed, are committed and have absolute determination to succeed and improve outcomes for pupils.”

Inspectors also wrote: “Most-able pupils do well, making good rates of progress that are in line with similar pupils nationally.”

The proportion of year 11 pupils successfully moving on to education, employment or training after leaving the school was also pointed out to be “higher than the national average”.

Mr Cox said: “We accept the findings from Ofsted, some of which are related to issues in the way we kept records, others to student attendance rates.

“They have been, for the most part, quickly resolved.

“We have also recently made appointments to increase the capacity of the leadership team to continue to drive forward improvements in the quality of lessons and in our results.

“The safety, wellbeing and education of all pupils at Thorns remains our highest priority, and we will work together to continually raise standards at this college.

“Currently however, this is a very disappointing position to be in after working so hard to move forward.

“I urge everyone connected with Thorns to read the report in its entirety.”

Click here to view the report in full.