The school is now making improvements. (Image: Google Maps)
HEATHFIELD Community School are working hard to improve standards following an 'inadequate' Ofsted rating.
The latest inspection took place on March 13-14, where it was found that there were key issues around behaviour, attendance, quality of education and safeguarding.
In the report, it was recognised that the current headteacher, seconded from Cabot Learning Foundation (CLF) since September 2022, and the Interim Executive Board (IEB) had identified areas requiring improvement.
The school are keen to make changes and are now working with the Cabot Learning Federation, an expert school improvement partner, to do so.
In a letter written to parents, headteacher Hannah Johns and chair of the Interim Executive Board Gail Webb said: “Although we do not dispute the overall rating of ‘inadequate’, we are of course disappointed that this is Ofsted’s judgement; it reinforces the need for the urgent improvements in line with the plans we already had in place. There is still a great deal of work to be done, which the Ofsted inspection has highlighted.”
In a letter written to parents, headteacher Hannah Johns and chair of the Interim Executive Board Gail Webb said: “Although we do not dispute the overall rating of ‘inadequate’, we are of course disappointed that this is Ofsted’s judgement; it reinforces the need for the urgent improvements in line with the plans we already had in place. There is still a great deal of work to be done, which the Ofsted inspection has highlighted.”
Councillor Tessa Munt, Somerset Council’s lead member for Children, Families and Education, said: “We understand this report will be incredibly concerning for parents and carers of Heathfield’s students, as well as the staff and students themselves.
“Although Heathfield’s leaders and the Cabot Learning Federation had identified the school’s need to improve prior to the inspection, it is clear the pace of change must accelerate. The Interim Executive Board is working with the school’s leadership team to respond to this challenge urgently.”
Cabot Learning Federation CEO, Steve Taylor, added: “We are very much looking forward to working more closely with the school and the community over the coming weeks.
“Although Heathfield’s leaders and the Cabot Learning Federation had identified the school’s need to improve prior to the inspection, it is clear the pace of change must accelerate. The Interim Executive Board is working with the school’s leadership team to respond to this challenge urgently.”
Cabot Learning Federation CEO, Steve Taylor, added: “We are very much looking forward to working more closely with the school and the community over the coming weeks.
"In addition to the initial secondment of our colleague, Hannah Jones, we had already anticipated providing further on-the-ground capacity in the summer term, as we explored together the possibility of the school joining our trust.
“The secondment of additional leadership capacity from Easter has already allowed us to deepen the relationships we have been building with staff and families at the school. We are confident that with this leadership now in place, we will be able to accelerate action to address weaknesses identified by both Ofsted and the CLF.”
“The secondment of additional leadership capacity from Easter has already allowed us to deepen the relationships we have been building with staff and families at the school. We are confident that with this leadership now in place, we will be able to accelerate action to address weaknesses identified by both Ofsted and the CLF.”
For more information, please visit the Heathfield Community School website.
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