Special needs school 'inadequate' - Ofsted

A NEW special needs school has been judged inadequate by Ofsted.

- By TESS RUSHIN

Inspectors said Spark Vale Academy, in Melton Road, Leicester, had not considered the full scope of its safeguarding duties, including measures to prevent pupils from leaving the building unnoticed.

Ofsted looked at five areas: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management and sixth-form provision.

It found leadership and management inadequate. But there was insufficient evidence in the other four areas because the inspection took place three months before the school had admitted its first pupils, said proprietor Mital Thanki.

The first pupils were enrolled earlier this month.

Inspectors said in their report that the school’s ambition for pupils to “belong, grow and thrive” was not fully realised because its curriculum “does not adequately consider the specific needs and aptitudes of the pupils who are likely to attend”.

They added: “Until recently, the proprietor was also the head teacher.

“A new leadership structure has provided further capacity - however, there remains uncertainty regarding leaders’ roles and responsibilities at the school, including at governance level”.